Tumwater City Council has begun discussing whether it's feasible for the city to take on managing the 400-year-old Davis Meeker Garry Oak tree instead of having the historic landmark chopped down.
Mayor Debbie Sullivan originally moved to have the tree cut down last year to avoid any liability for potential injuries from falling branches or larger failures. A large branch fell from the tree in 2023 and landed partially on Old Highway 99. Through a number of professional assessments, it was found that the tree is in better health than originally thought.
However, there are more costs associated with keeping the tree standing there than cutting it down, and managing the tree means having a long-term maintenance plan in place.
City administrator Lisa Parks said Tuesday the estimated cost of removing the tree is between $26,000 and $40,000. Maintaining the tree would cost $45,000 to $85,000 with additional ongoing expenses.
Parks presented the council with a number of cost factors for retaining the tree. They include creating a work plan and cost assessment to get a better understanding of how much money will be devoted to the tree. The tree would also need long-term arborist supervision, and the city would need to obtain permits from the state Department of Archaeology and Historical Preservation, which cost $5,000 to $10,000 annually.
The order of operations would be to purchase DAHP permits, then select contractors and develop a work plan, then implement that plan. Parks said the city is currently on a 5-year analysis timeline.
Parks further broke down the costs associated with retaining the old tree. Basic pruning and monitoring, which would include traffic control and limited deadwood pruning, would cost about $12,000.
Decorative fencing installation, parking space removal, soil restoration and power service relocation would cost anywhere between $47,000 and $89,000.
Reduction pruning, which included traffic control and ongoing maintenance and monitoring, could cost upwards of $37,000. A support system like cabling could cost upwards of $18,000.
Parks said aside from historic preservation grants, the money would come out of the general fund of the city's budget.
Council member Eileen Swarthout said there was a time when the city and public had a funding opportunity to save the historic brewery tower. She wondered if a similar effort could be undertaken to save the tree. There is an option of making the project a publicly-funded initiative, Parks said.
Sullivan said to maintain the tree, the city needs to have a very substantial plan in place.
"Like so many things, everybody's enthusiastic in the beginning. Are they still going to be enthusiastic five years from now, 10 years from now?" she said. "We need to make sure that something is solid and written, that certain criteria are met as long as this tree is standing."
Council member Joan Cathey said she feels like things that have to do with the environment such as trees, water, and the air are becoming more important to people. She said she doesn't think interest in keeping the tree standing will fade.
Tumwater has always been a bit risk-resistant in a lot of ways, which is something that has frustrated her and other community members at times. She said she'd like to see the city do something "really bold" with this project.
"We got responses from the first time around from people out of the state, out of the United States, who care about this issue, the environmental issues of climate change and so forth," Cathey said. "So I think we're right in the midst of a good time to take a risk."
She said the city stepping up to retain the tree would show they believe in the historic value of the tree and the significance it has to local tribal communities.
Sullivan said this is an ongoing discussion and a project the council will be working on for a period of time.
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