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Troutdale seeks public input for first urban forestry management plan
Summary
City staff outlined outreach steps for a $100,000 state‑funded urban forestry management plan, including bilingual surveys, tabling at events, a street‑tree manual and a code audit; staff invited CAC members to help spread the word.
Erica Palmer, Troutdale community development director, told the Citizens Advisory Committee on Sept. 3 that the city received “a $100,000 grant from the state of Oregon this past spring to complete our first ever plan for the city that deals with trees and public right away.” The grant funds development of an urban forestry management plan and a public engagement program to gather community input.
The public‑engagement effort currently includes an online street‑tree survey (available in English and Spanish), social media posts, a project web page, tabling at First Friday and Movies in the Park, and notices to boards and commissions when draft materials are posted for review. “We completed…we’ve created a survey, and that survey is up online,” Palmer said.
Palmer described planned tasks: a code audit to clarify planting and maintenance rules, preparation of a short street‑tree manual for property owners, and use of the Parks Advisory Board as a technical review committee. She said the city will keep boards and the public notified as the project moves to a final draft and then through an adoption process at city council next spring.
Committee members and attendees urged more targeted outreach. Committee member Tiffany and others recommended working with Friends of Trees and the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District on native‑plant guidance and planting events; Palmer confirmed staff will “talk[ ] to Friends of Trees who are local experts” and to Multnomah County because county rights‑of‑way contain many city street trees. Members suggested distributing flyers on park bulletin boards, dog‑waste bins, the library and near high‑traffic commercial corridors, and using neighborhood groups, apartment managers and social media groups to broaden reach.
Palmer said staff will review survey participation at the end of September and decide whether to extend the survey for two weeks of targeted outreach. She also said staff is checking with city legal counsel about whether incentives or raffles (for example, giving away trees) are allowed before committing to any giveaway.
The committee recommended adding guidance on invasive‑plant management and public notification of herbicide or vegetation control work, citing recent spraying near Beaver Creek that residents said affected edible mushrooms and berries. Palmer said maintenance goals and best management practices for invasive species will be part of the urban forestry plan.
The city asked CAC members to help distribute flyers and QR codes; staff will add recommended outreach tactics to an existing community outreach matrix and incorporate committee suggestions in future outreach steps.
