Committee forwards two Urban Forestry Commission nominees to full council

The Climate Resilience and Land Use Committee on April 10 voted to forward two mayoral nominees — Matt Sanchez and Vesla Lee — to the full Portland City Council with recommendations for confirmation to the city’s Urban Forestry Commission. The nominees would serve four-year terms ending March 31, 2029.

The Urban Forestry Commission is an 11-member advisory panel that reviews citywide tree policy, advises on updates to the Portland Urban Forest Plan and participates in the city’s heritage tree program and appeals process under Title 11 of the City Code. Jen Cairo, Portland’s city forester, told the committee the two appointments will fill two of the commission’s three current vacancies.

Matt Sanchez, a certified arborist who said he has worked in the Portland area for more than 14 years, told the committee he “have[s] a deep passion for trees” and emphasized protecting neighbors’ trees during construction. “I think strengthening the code comes a lot from being a consulting arborist, in a construction sense,” Sanchez said, and described wanting to help shape the appeals process if confirmed.

Vesla Lee said she would bring policy and community engagement experience to the commission and described her approach as “a funnel of other voices, in the community.” Lee told members she would use outreach and community input to inform commission recommendations.

Committee members pressed both nominees about the tree code and recent storm response. Sanchez described field experience during the major storm response, saying crews worked “seven days a week for two months” and that the city later waived some retroactive permit fees for storm damage removals. Lee said recent coverage of the tree code raised questions for her and that she would rely on technical staff and community input to form recommendations.

Cairo also used the briefing to provide two program updates: the bureau is launching a private-property tree-care financial support program funded by the Portland Clean Energy Fund and is proposing to eliminate some permitting fees using those funds so residents may access city tree advice and hazard-abatement services without paying existing cost-recovery fees.

After questions and public-comment opportunities (none signed up for this item), the committee moved both nominations to the full council with a recommendation they be confirmed. Committee members who were recorded voting in favor included Councilor Jo Ann Canal, Councilor Ryan, Councilor Carmen Murillo and Councilor Rene Avalos; the clerk called the roll under standard procedure prior to forwarding the nominations.

If confirmed by the full council, Sanchez and Lee will join the commission as it finalizes the updated Portland Urban Forest Plan this summer and continues to administer the heritage tree program and the Urban Forestry Appeals Board.

The committee meeting record shows the Urban Forestry Commission appointments will be considered at full council; a separate confirmation vote will be required to finalize appointments.