Troutdale resident urges ban on backyard burning, council suggests options and follow-up

A resident who identified herself as Christine told the Troutdale City Council she wants the city to ban backyard burning and fire pits, saying smoke from a neighbor’s fire pit caused headaches and asthma attacks for her and her cat.

Christine told the council she had spoken with Multnomah County elections staff and Creston Fire Department staff and had left a voicemail from a firefighter explaining that county and state burn-day rules limit what fire officials can do. She said she is considering an initiative petition limited to Troutdale and requested advice from the council on next steps.

Council members responded during public comment that they do not typically make direction from the dais at public comment but offered options: work with city manager staff, gather an informal neighborhood petition, or pursue an initiative petition to change city ordinance. City Manager Ray Young said staff had already offered three options and would follow up. One councilor suggested the mediation program that had presented earlier might be a resource for neighborhood-level conflict resolution, though Christine said she did not think mediation would address the broader citywide policy question.

No formal council action was taken at the meeting. Councilors said the issue is on their radar and that staff would follow up with Christine on next steps.

Why this matters: The complaint raises potential public-health and nuisance concerns and highlights limits on local enforcement under county/state burn-day regimes. The resident sought both a policy change and practical next steps; councilors outlined procedural pathways for changes that would require petitions or ordinance amendments.

What’s next: Staff said they would follow up with the resident about options already provided and the council may consider the matter further if residents pursue a petition or formal ordinance change.