Troutdale wins state grant, hires Dudek to develop urban forestry master plan and street-tree manual

Troutdale received a grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development to develop an urban forestry master plan and a street-tree manual, City staff told the Parks Advisory Committee on July 16, 2025.

Jonah Jacobson, Troutdale Parks staff, said the city solicited proposals and selected Dudek Consulting of Portland to conduct public outreach, review current policies and produce suggested changes to the city's street-tree code. Jacobson said the project aims to "streamline our street tree code, provide increased incentive for planting and maintenance of street trees," and to reverse a declining street-tree inventory.

Jacobson said the consultants will conduct outreach over the coming year and that the city expects to bring proposed code amendments to the City Council once staff and the consultants have recommendations. He said one likely product is a planting list and a street-tree manual that would guide species selection, planting practices and maintenance.

Jacobson described expected benefits of a stronger urban forest such as reducing stormwater runoff, providing summer shade and improving property values. He said the consultants will likely appear at advisory-committee meetings during outreach and code review.

The committee did not take formal action at the July 16 meeting but was asked to serve as a potential outreach channel and to discuss street-tree priorities with neighbors during a planned short break in committee meetings.