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Oregon City commission approves removal of dead elm at Library Park, asks staff to seek stronger replacement
Summary
After a staff and arborist report, the commission unanimously approved removal of a 43-inch-diameter American elm classified as dead at Library Park and directed staff to return with an improved mitigation plan, preferably a larger caliper or multiple replacement trees.
The Oregon City City Commission on Aug. 6 approved the removal of a dead American elm at Library Park and asked staff to pursue stronger mitigation steps, including planting a larger-caliper disease-resistant elm or multiple trees.
Scott Archer, parks and recreation director, said the tree at the corner of Seventh and John Adams has been in decline and showed no leafing this spring despite three inoculations between 2019 and 2023. Archer said a master arborist’s report categorized the tree as dead and noted loose and sloughing bark and a decayed crown. The tree’s trunk diameter was measured at 43 inches, a size that triggers commission-level review under city code.
Lyle Feldmeier, the master arborist from Bartlett Tree Experts who participated in the report, told the commission elms were historically appropriate to the Carnegie-library landscape and recommended replacing the removed tree with a disease-resistant elm, if available. Commissioners questioned the size and survival prospects of replacement stock; several said they preferred a larger-caliper specimen if possible, or more than one replacement tree to increase the chance of long-term canopy restoration.
Commissioner Smith moved to approve removal of the dead elm with staff to return with an improved mitigation plan and larger replacement options. The motion passed unanimously: Commissioner Wilson, aye; Commissioner Mitchell, aye; Commissioner Smith, aye; Mayor McGriff, aye.
Why it matters: Library Park is a prominent, heavily used public park that historically featured mature elms. The removal responds to a health-and-safety hazard and begins a mitigation plan to preserve canopy and the site’s historic character.
What’s next: If removal is approved by the commission (as it was), Parks staff said replanting would likely occur in the fall depending on procurement and that staff would consult the arborist about caliper size and the option of planting multiple trees to improve survival odds. The commission expressly asked staff to pursue larger-caliper or multiple-tree mitigation and to inform the commission if a larger specimen is not feasible.
