Port Townsend: Partial City Council OKs interim tree ordinance

Published 12:01 am Friday, August 23, 2002

The Port Townsend City Council voted Thursday to extend the city’s interim tree-clearing ordinance after its passage was blocked Monday night.

The council voted 4-0 to approve the interim ordinance, which regulates large-scale tree removal and is largely aimed at preventing clearcutting of undeveloped properties in the city.

The ordinance will be in effect for six months while a permanent ordinance is crafted.

Passage of the ordinance was blocked by Councilmen Geoff Masci, Joe Finnie and Al Youse on Monday, who voted against waiving a council rule that would have allowed the ordinance to be voted on during its first reading and which would have required a two-thirds majority.

None of those three council members was present during the vote Thursday.