Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Urban Forestry topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Yamhill committee finalizes street-tree pitch, readies slides for Feb. 11 council meeting
Summary
The Yamhill Economic Development Committee agreed to finalize a PowerPoint on street trees to submit for the Feb. 11 city council agenda, plan a field trip to measure sidewalk widths, confirm grant funding logistics and enlist community volunteers to help plant and water new trees.
The Yamhill Economic Development Committee spent a Feb. 3 work session finalizing a PowerPoint the committee will present to city council about installing street trees downtown and on other city streets.
The committee agreed to refine slides with local photos, cite image sources and include a clear goals slide stating the project aims to expand the city’s street-tree canopy. Speaker 2 said the presentation will be submitted to the council agenda by 6 p.m. the Wednesday before the Feb. 11 council meeting and Speaker 3 offered to present the slides with assistance and scripted remarks from committee members.
Committee members discussed logistics and costs. Speaker 2 noted that Yamhill’s narrow sidewalks and a 0-foot setback rule could trigger ODOT requirements for bump-outs or other adjustments that would increase project costs. The committee agreed it would be prudent to contact ODOT early to learn what design constraints or approvals the agency might require.
On funding, speakers described the project’s ties to a TGM grant for the Transportation System Plan and said the city had been placed on a line item after a prior denied application. Speaker 2 said the city was awarded a Berkeley grant for $200,000 but that the reimbursement check had not yet been received and that confirmation of funding and receipt of funds are separate steps.
Practical steps were also set: Speaker 2 will measure sidewalk widths in Carlton as a local model and the committee will consider a site assessment to set tree spacing and sight-line rules at corners. Speaker 2 described coordination with nursery representative Rob Sloan, who has offered to transport trees and advise on planting; Public Works would dig holes while the nursery would assist on-site, though the level of any charge to the city was not specified.
The committee discussed volunteer roles and outreach: members suggested a community liaison to manage sign-ups and a volunteer watering rota to reduce Public Works overtime. Members also proposed using upcoming community events and downtown-association activities to recruit volunteers and display before-and-after photos.
Next steps: finalize the PowerPoint, replace filler images with credited local photos, contact ODOT for design constraints, confirm grant reimbursement timing with planner Walt Wendelowski, schedule a measuring trip to Carlton, and prepare to present to city council on Feb. 11.
