GREY-TO-GREEN TREEBATE PROGRAM
Binding City Policy
BCP-ENB-4.23
Link to Exhibit A (PDF Document, 59 kb)
Link to Exhibit B
PURPOSE
1. In July 2008, the Bureau of Environmental Services launched the Grey to Green Program, a comprehensive set of initiatives to restore and protect the health of Portland watersheds. The initiatives included the planting of 50,000 street trees and 33,000 yard trees by the end of Fiscal Year 2012-2013.
2. The benefits provided by trees are well documented and broadly accepted. A single mature tree with a 30-foot crown can intercept over 700 gallons of rainfall annually, and evergreen trees can capture more rainwater in winter months than deciduous trees. An increased urban tree canopy can reduce street and basement flooding, erosion, combined sewer overflows and sewer surcharging. These benefits are well aligned with the established goals and mission of the City’s sewer and stormwater management utility, and are a cost effective way of managing urban stormwater runoff in a manner that advances City goals for watershed health.
3. The Portland Grey-to-Green Treebate Program provides financial incentives of up to $50 per tree to promote the planting of yard trees by property owners. The Bureau plans to offer the program to all Portland residents, and administer the program using existing outreach and program staff. The Bureau will offer treebates in the form of a one-time credit (adjustment) to the recipient’s City utility bill.
4. Exhibit A of this Ordinance contains administrative rules to govern implementation of the Portland Grey-to-Green Treebate Program.
5. Exhibit B of this Ordinance updates the Bureau of Environmental Services schedule of sewer system rates and charges to include discounts to stormwater management user service charges authorized by the Treebate Program and Clean River Rewards.
POLICY
a. The Director of the Bureau of Environmental Services or his designee is authorized to implement the Portland Grey-to-Green Treebate Program consistent with the administrative rules set forth in Exhibit A of this Ordinance.
b. The Director of the Bureau of Environmental Services or his designee is authorized to modify existing administrative rules, and implement additional administrative rules as deemed necessary to achieve the Grey-to-Green goals for yard trees.
c. The published sewer system rates and charges for the Bureau of Environmental Services is amended as set forth in Exhibit B of this Ordinance to disclose discounts to stormwater management user service charges provided by the Clean River Rewards Program and the Treebate Program.
d. The Portland Grey-to-Green Treebate Program is authorized to issue utility bill credits and incur administrative expenses not to exceed $1,080,000 in aggregate through FY 2012-2013. The authorized revenue adjustments for treebates shall be accounted for in a manner that limits any rate-making impacts to the calculation of stormwater management user service charges.
e. This Ordinance and the attached administrative rules (Exhibit A) are binding City policies.
Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because the most viable period for planting yard trees occurs in the fall, winter and early spring, extending from September 1 through April 30; and the immediate authorization of this program will improve the likelihood of achieving City Grey-to-Green tree-planting goals in the current fiscal year. Therefore, this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.
Link to Exhibit A (PDF Document, 59 kb)
Link to Exhibit B
HISTORY
Emergency Ordinance No. 183307, passed by City Council and effective November 4, 2009.
Amended by Director of Bureau of Environmental Services and filed for inclusion in PPD August 26, 2010.
Amended by Director of Bureau of Environmental Services and filed for inclusion in PPD September 30, 2011.
