Palouse Mall landscaping

[Kenton Bird <kbird@uidaho.edu>]

Visionaries and others concerned about this topic:

I just spoke with Joanne Reece, University of Idaho assistant vice
president for facilities, and Dan Schoenberg, UI director of auxiliary
services.  (Dan's office oversees the mall's lease from the university.)

Dan said he has spoken briefly with Jim Bendickson, the mall's Spokane
manager, but has been unable to determine why he authorized the removal
of bushes and other vegetation from the public right of way last
weekend.  According to Dan, Mr. Bendickson has been tied up giving court
depositions this week, which may explain why he has not responded to
inquiries from city officials.

Neither Joanne nor Dan nor anyone else at the university had any advance
knowledge of the plans to remove the vegetation.  They are examining the
city's ordinances dealing with tree removal and plan to pursue the
matter.

Moscow residents concerned about the removal of landscaping might want
to contact Mr. Bendicksen directly.  Here is contact information from
the mall's website:

Property Manager: Jameson Commercial Property Management, LLC; Jim
Bendickson, Manager, P.O. Box 2158, Spokane, Washington 99210, Phone:
509-747-2009, Fax: 509-747-2086.
email: jameson@efortress.com

E-mails from concerned citizens might demonstrate to Mr. Bendickson that
we in Moscow take our tree ordinances seriously.

And if you'd like to let city officials know of your concerns, you can
write to Gary Riedner, city supervisor, and ask that he copy your
comments to the mayor and council members.  Gary's e-mail is:
griedner@moscow.com

--Kenton