Public comment at the start of the Dec. 4 meeting centered on recently disturbed plantings on Highway 99 and other gateway sites. Jason Clark, a Talent resident, described trees removed on Monday as "some of the best trees and most important trees in Talent," told the council he believed 14 trees were dug up with rootballs too small to survive and urged the city to replant rather than leave the trees vulnerable. "When your trees are vigorous after 4 years of planting, that's victory," Clark said; he said the damage likely resulted from a contractor that lacked appropriate expertise.

Jane Hargrove, who identified herself as a member of the tree committee and a longtime landscape contractor, told the council she was "heartbroken" and urged the city to use available grant funds and the tree committee’s expertise to avoid wasting the opportunity to plant thousands of trees under the OWEB grant.

Later in the meeting staff reported that the city’s Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) post-fire grant aims to plant roughly 1,000 native trees with two years of post-planting monitoring; staff said Plant Oregon has planted a substantial share and expected about 590 trees to be in the ground by the end of that week and estimated roughly 80% of the work is now obligated. Staff also described outreach efforts to place trees along Highway 99, noting some property owners initially declined and that the city is reengaging to place additional trees; staff reported discussions about temporary water-service extensions from Medford Water Commission and potential SDC waivers to support irrigation for newly planted trees.

Councilors and staff suggested mitigation steps: replanting where trees appear nonviable, involving the tree committee in oversight, and using public-works nursery space for surplus stock if needed. Staff said they will continue to update council and coordinate with Plant Oregon and OWEB on scheduling, irrigation permissions and reallocation of trees to available sites.

Next steps: Staff will continue outreach to property owners along Highway 99, pursue temporary irrigation solutions where appropriate, and provide progress updates to council.