Ginny Welsch Speaks for the Trees…

QUESTION #1

The Fort Negley clear-cutting and the NFL cherry-tree incidents illustrated something obvious: When it comes to the urban canopy, there is a breakdown of communication between the segments of Metro Government responsible for trees. The problem is that trees fall under the jurisdiction of many different departments (codes, stormwater, electrical, parks). What internal operational changes need to be made to better protect the existing canopy?

A council and mayoral statement prioritizing the preservation of trees in metro would be one thing that could easily be done, to encourage coordination between departments and encourage tree preservation. We should look at things like burying electrical lines whenever possible, too, to encourage saving trees. Root Nashville is a public-private partnership between Metro Nashville and the Cumberland River Compact, in collaboration with Nashville Health, The Nature Conservancy, Nashville Tree Foundation, and Hands on Nashville, with the goal of planting 500,000 trees by 2050. With Nashville losing approximately 9,000 trees a year, this type of partnership should be expanded on. Bottom line is we need to take urgent action to save our trees.

QUESTION #2

Do you support the city’s first tree bill in over a decade (BL2018-1416) in its current form? If not, what changes do you want to see? Or should it be stronger and broader in scope? BL1416 impacts only commercial and multi-family land use types. Do you support enacting tree laws for single-family residential?

Yes. Trees are vital to health and livability.

QUESTION #3

Atlanta, Charlotte and Austin all have laws protecting a class of trees they consider to be “heritage trees; property owners must get approval for cutting them down and pay into a tree bank to offset the loss of a large trees in their communities. We feel this sets a tone that makes people more aware and respectful of the urban tree canopy. Do you approve of such legislation?

Yes, it makes sense, and it provides an opportunity to further educate the public about the value of trees.

QUESTION #4

TREES ATLANTA is considered by many to be the model for a public/private cooperative that works to protect urban tree canopy. TREES ATLANTA employees even help the city as on-site inspectors who follow up to make sure developers have complied with tree ordinances. What do you think of this model, or what would you do to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of Nashville’s tree code?

I like this idea. It’s vital that we enforce tree ordinances. We could add a sense of urgency by asking metro students to do projects which include neighborhood surveys and photographs of healthy, threatened trees in our neighborhoods. I would support a city wide contest which would honor elementary, middle and high school students for art projects or essays which educate citizens about the importance of trees to the future of our city.

QUESTION #5

How could we entice private property owners not to cut down mature trees? How can we encourage developers/builders to keep mature trees in the designing of the home and lot?

Metro could use awards, prizes of some sort, and reductions in the cost of building permits for developers and others whose building projects preserve trees.

QUESTION #6

Metro Nashville has just 3 employees to oversee all of Davidson County trees, while other peer cities with less tree canopy coverage have 15 to 20 employees on staff for trees. As a result, the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps has cataloged countless incidents where developers eluded complying with tree codes, the city has hundreds of hazardous trees that need to be replaced, and staff have trouble keeping up with just their everyday responsibilities. Do you support spending the money to bring us up to a par with our peer cities? If not, how will you fix this issue?

Yes, this is an essential expense to preserve our water and air quality and keep our city beautiful and healthy.

BONUS QUESTION FOR COUNCIL CANDIDATES

QUESTION #7

How will you work to bridge the divisions we often experience when talking about advancing tree legislation in Nashville between the community-builder dynamic? How can we advance Nashville’s livability standards while avoiding the risk of State preemption?  

One winning strategy is to secure community benefits that protect trees in "community benefits agreements" with developers. I would provide any support necessary to community members I could to secure such agreements.