General:

With a few exceptions, the common properties of the Victoria Park Homeowners' Association (VPHA) are to be maintained as a greenbelt whose state is as similar as possible to that which was in existence prior to development of the surrounding properties. The exceptions are:

• Asphalt paths on the common properties
• Children's Park (King County parcel #8899000500)
• Eastern Teasdale Park entrance property (King County parcel #8899100500)
• Talbot Road greenbelt (King County parcel #8899210800) in the immediate vicinity of the south entrance sign

The asphalt paths are intended to provide walking access thru various parts of the greenbelt, the Children's Park is intended to provide a landscaped playground area for small children, the eastern Teasdale Park entrance property is generally considered to be too small to be maintained as a greenbelt, and the Talbot Road greenbelt in the immediate vicinity of the south entrance sign is intended as a small landscaped area that surrounds the Victoria Park community sign. All other common-property areas are to be managed as a natural greenbelt that is inhabited by native plants and native wildlife.

Native Plants:

Greenbelt vegetation shall consist of plant species that are native to the greenbelt and that are maintained in as natural a state as possible. Non-native species of plants shall not be planted within the greenbelt, and where non-native species have been introduced intentionally or by other means, they shall be removed as budget and volunteer efforts allow. Native greenbelt plants shall not be removed from the greenbelt.

Species of trees that are known to be native to the Victoria Park greenbelt include: Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Western Hemlock, Bitter Cherry, Big Leaf Maple, Vine Maple, Red Alder, Oregon Ash, Willow, and Black Pacific Cottonwood. Species of shrubs and small plants that are known to be native to the Victoria Park greenbelt include: Common Snowberry, Indian Plum, Ninebark, Ocean Spray, Oregon Grape (tall and dull), Red Elderberry, Red Flowering Currant, Salal, Orange Honeysuckle, and Trillium. Species of ferns that are known to be native to the Victoria Park greenbelt include: Bracken Fern, Lady Fern, Shield Fern, and Sword Fern.

Native Wildlife:

Species of wildlife that are native to the greenbelt and/or the Talbot Hill area shall be allowed to reside within the greenbelt properties. These species shall not be trapped, poisoned, or otherwise disturbed. Wildlife that is native to the greenbelt includes many species of insect, bird, reptile, and mammal.

Herbicides, Pesticides, and Poisons:

No herbicide shall be used on any greenbelt vegetation, regardless of whether the vegetation is a native or non-native species. Similarly, no pesticides or poisons shall be applied within any common property; however, Victoria Park Board of Trustees may grant a limited exception to this policy regarding herbicides, pesticides, and poisons in order to manage moss on greenbelt paths.

Tree Maintenance:

Native species of trees shall be allowed to grow within the greenbelt without encumbrance; however, because large trees may pose a danger to persons and property as a result of disease, damage, or natural events such as storms, the greenbelt trees shall be inspected on an annual basis by an International Society of Arborculture (ISA) Certified Arborist who shall report to the board recommendations for tree removal and/or trimming. The inspection shall encompass all common properties; however, it is recognized that certain areas of the greenbelt cannot be readily accessed without significant difficulty due to thickness of vegetation and due to respect for private property. Consequently, the arborist shall be tasked with making a good-faith effort to inspect as many of the trees on common properties as is reasonably possible within these limitations.

The following guidelines apply to the removal and trimming of trees:

• A tree that the arborist declares to be an "eminent hazard" shall be trimmed or removed per the arborist's recommendation as quickly as can be performed by the Board's preferred tree-removal contractor. To be declared an eminent hazard, the tree must have a significant probability of falling in whole or in part within a short time, and the tree is likely to cause human injury, damage to developed property, or blockage of greenbelt paths, city sidewalks, or streets. The cost of removing or trimming a tree as described in this paragraph shall be born entirely by the VPHA.
• A tree that is dead, dying, diseased, or that is structurally deficient due to damage shall be removed or appropriately trimmed per the arborist's recommendations provided that the tree or its limbs have a significant probability of falling in whole or in part within a year, and the tree is likely to cause damage to developed property, or blockage of greenbelt paths, city sidewalks, or streets.   The Board's preferred tree-removal contractor shall perform work on such trees on an "in turn" scheduling basis. The cost removing or trimming a tree as described in this paragraph shall be born entirely by the VPHA.
• A tree that is dead, dying, diseased, or that is structurally deficient due to damage, and that has a high probability of falling within the confines of the greenbelt where it would neither cause injury to persons, cause damage to developed property, nor block a greenbelt path, city sidewalk, or street shall not be removed or trimmed.
• A healthy tree that a homeowner has requested be removed or trimmed due to blockage of views, or that provides excessive shade to the homeowners' property shall not be removed or trimmed.
• A tree that a homeowner has requested be removed due to potential damage to the homeowner's house or property shall be evaluated by an International Society of Arborculture (ISA) Certified Arborist as selected by the Board of Trustees and whose consulting fees shall be paid by the VPHA. If the tree is deemed by the arborist to be healthy and does not pose a risk beyond that posed by any normal tree of its size and location, in general the tree shall not be trimmed or removed; however, the Board may authorize trimming or removal of a healthy tree in consideration of the following factors:
• Likelihood of uprooting or bending failure in a major storm
• Likelihood of falling in a direction that would cause severe damage to the homeowner's house. The likelihood of falling in a given direction shall be based on factors that include the lean of the tree (if any) and the probability of wind direction during a major storm.
• Severity of damage in a worst-case failure of the tree.
• Whether or not the tree is a native species of tree.
• If the VPHA Board of Trustees agrees to a homeowner's request to trim or remove a healthy tree, the cost shall be split evenly between the homeowner and the VPHA, and the homeowner shall be required to pay his share of the removal in advance of the tree's trimming or removal. The work to remove or trim a greenbelt tree shall be performed by a contractor as selected by the Board.
• All work involving removal or trimming of any greenbelt tree shall be performed by a contractor as selected by the VPHA Board of Trustees. The contractor shall meet all requirements for VPHA contractors as established by the board.
• In all instances of a tree on Victoria Park common property that is to be removed or trimmed, trimming shall be preferred to complete removal of the tree, provided that trimming adequately mitigates the hazard. Trimming shall be performed on the basis of the best health of the tree and the ecology of the greenbelt, and not on a basis of visual appearance.