In order to assure compliance with the standards and requirements of this chapter, “Tree and Vegetation Protection/Urban Forest Management,” foresters, arborists, and logging and land clearing contractors or others involved in land clearing operations in the city of Lacey shall be required to sign and submit a “Statement of Tree and Vegetation Protection Acknowledgment” to the city of Lacey. This statement shall attest such forester’s or contractor’s knowledge of the city of Lacey’s tree and vegetation protection requirements. This statement shall be required in conjunction with normal city licensing requirements for persons performing work in the city of Lacey. The required statement shall be in substantially the following form:

“I, ______________________, a duly licensed professional contractor in the State of Washington, or professional forester, hereby attest that I have read and am knowledgeable of Chapter 14.32, “Tree and Vegetation Protection/Urban Forest Management”, of the city of Lacey.

“I further attest that, as a professional doing land clearing work in the city of Lacey, I am accountable for following the city’s tree and vegetation protection and conservation requirements, including obtaining a land clearing permit or exemption prior to performing land clearing work, as defined by Chapter 14.32.030(C) of the Lacey Municipal Code, as well as following all conditions and requirements of said permit or exemption.

“I attest that if I fail to follow tree protection requirements I will be held jointly responsible with the landowner for any restitution required as a result of environmental damage determined by the city tree protection professional to be the result of improper land clearing activities at the site. This may result in claims against my bond pursuant to Section 18.27.040 of the Revised Code of Washington and other monetary penalties as allowed by this chapter or State law.”

Private professionals involved in land clearing operations who do not provide the above statement shall be prohibited from performing land clearing services in the city of Lacey. Said professionals who do not provide this statement and perform land clearing services in the city of Lacey shall be considered in violation of this chapter and may be prosecuted under this chapter, the city’s civil penalties ordinance, or as otherwise provided by law. All foresters, arborists, loggers, or other land clearing contractors involved in land clearing operations shall be jointly responsible with the landowner for any land clearing violation and restitution required at a site as a result of improper land clearing activity. (Ord. 1269 §22, 2006; Ord. 935 §2 (part), 1992).