For the past 8 months or so there has been revision activity regarding the Tree Retention ordinance in the city of SeaTac. The current ordinance is 15.14.160-- Retention of Significant Trees.

I have attended most City Council meetings where presentations have taken place and also a couple of Planning Commission meetings, all regarding the new tree retention policy. There were only 2 or 3 other citizens at these Planning meetings, and the same at the Council meetings. Not sure why so few citizens are interested.

I personally have no stake in this Tree Retention ordinance, but you might.

Just a heads up folks-if you are the owner of a single family lot, 14,400 sq. ft. or larger in SeaTac, you might want to be involved in the process of how your property will be affected by the revised Tree Retention plans.

It's our right and our responsibility to become informed and involved citizens of SeaTac.

Remember:

"The legislature finds and declares that all public commissions, boards, councils, committees, subcommittees, departments, divisions, offices, and all other public agencies of this state and subdivisions thereof exist to aid in the conduct of the people's business. It is the intent of this chapter that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly. The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created."

If you want to comment on the current Tree Retention revisions, the next SeaTac City Council meeting is June 17, at 6 p.m.

Pam Fernald

SeaTac