Agenda Index City of Vancouver

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

TO:

Vancouver City Council

FROM:

The Director of Development Services

SUBJECT:

Tree Removal Permit Fee Increase

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

COUNCIL POLICY

Council originally approved tree replacement provisions in the Zoning and Development By-law in 1990. In 1994, Council enacted a new Private Property Tree By-law that maintained the same level of regulation, but within the legislative context of Bill 77, the new Provincial Tree Legislation.

In 1996, Council approved further amendments to the Private Property Tree By-law, that included the requirement for a tree permit to remove any tree on private property that exceeds 20 cm in diameter, measured 1.4 m above the ground, subject to fulfilling specific criteria to allow removal. An exception was made whereby any property owner may remove one tree during any twelve month period, with a permit, subject to the requirement for a replacement tree. A $10.00 single tree permit fee was also established, while multiple tree removals would be $50.00 for the first tree and $20.00 thereafter. At that time, Council also approved an increase in the fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than $20,000, for any person who commits an offense against the Private Property Tree By-law.

In 1997, Council raised the fees for tree removal permits to $25.00 for single tree removal and to $50.00 for the first tree and $25.00 thereafter for multiple tree removals.

PURPOSE

This report seeks Council approval for an increase in Tree Removal Permit fees.

BACKGROUND

On April 20, 2000, Council, as part of the Year 2000 Operating Budget provisions, directed staff to increase tree permit fees to raise an additional $50,000 per year in revenue.

The Tree Program is responsible for landscape and the review for all development applications. The Program also handles general phone inquiries and conducts inspections relative to tree permits, development permits and other tree related inspections.

Tree removal permits are issued for single and multiple tree removals. The single tree removal permit fee is $25.00; the multiple tree removal is $50.00 for the first tree and $25.00 for each subsequent tree removal. The latter permits are generally associated with redevelopment sites.

In 1999, the City issued permits for 2,163 tree removals of which 1,111 were single tree removals and 1,052 multiple tree removals. Tree permits generated approximately $63,000 in revenue last year. (This represents slightly less than one-third of the cost of Full Time Equivalent staff associated with permitting, which costs approximately $190,000 for 2.15 FTEs.

For the year 2000, an increase of 1% is expected in the number of tree removal permits issued. Staff is projecting the 1% increase based on a rise of approximately 1% in the number of trees removed in the first three months of this year over the first three months of 1999. This will result in the issue of permits for 1,122 single tree removals and 1,063 multiple tree removals.

DISCUSSION

Staff believe Council's instruction to raise an additional $50,000 in permit fees is best accommodated as follows:

i. Increase single tree permits from $25.00 to $40.00, which is expected to raise an additional $17,105.

ii. Increase all multiple tree permits to $65.00 each which is expected to raise an additional $33,768. This is a change from a two level fee of $50.00 for the first tree and $25.00 for each additional tree.

Historically, a fundamental intent of the Private Property Tree By-law has been to encourage the retention of trees. This higher single fee for all multiple tree removals will act as a disincentive to removing large numbers of trees and will be more in keeping with the principle of retaining trees where possible. In addition, the majority of multiple tree removals are associated with redevelopment. Tree removals on development sites involve additional staff time and expertise in the form of site visits, consultations with developers and additional inspections. Single tree removal permits require a significantly lesser amount of staff resources. For example, the replacement tree requirement is not applicable if the site continues to provide more than the minimum number of trees specified in Schedule B to the By-law; hence there is no inspection requirement for replacement tree planting.

CONCLUSION

Based on the expected 1% increase in the number of tree removals in the year 2000, the single and multiple tree removal fee increases will amount to an estimated $50,873. This will meet Council's target of $50,000. Staff believe these increases will have only minor affects on compliance. Staff will report back to Council if any significant differences occur.

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APPENDIX A

Tree By-Law No. 7347, as it currently reads:

12.B. A non-refundable application fee of $25.00 shall be charged for a tree permit to remove one tree, and where more than one tree are to be removed by permit the fee shall be $50.00 for the first tree and $25.00 to remove each additional tree.

Tree By-Law No. 7347, as it is suggested it be amended:

12.B A non-refundable application fee of $40.00 shall be charged for a tree permit to remove one tree, and where more than one tree are to be removed by permit the fee shall be $50.00 for the first tree and $25.00 for every tree removed within a 12 month period thereafter, to $65.00 for all multiple tree removals on the same site.

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