Philomath Heritage Tree Board forwards three Douglas firs to council, declines single-veteran memorial tree

The Philomath Heritage Tree Board on March 27 agreed to forward a nomination for three large Douglas firs on North 9th Street to the City Council and declined to advance a separate nomination for a tree at Peace Lutheran Church that was submitted as a memorial to a fallen soldier.

Rich Salazar, a Philomath city councilor and the Public Works Committee chair, opened the board meeting and presided over roll call and routine business. The board approved the consent agenda and minutes before taking up two nominations for heritage-tree designation.

Gary Black, operations supervisor for Philomath Public Works, explained that the board received two nominations this year: one for a tree at Peace Lutheran Church on Applegate Street and one for a group of three Douglas firs on North 9th Street. Black described the Applegate location and noted that one nomination had been submitted previously and brought back for reconsideration. A board member who asked for an initial read of the packet said, “My only reservation is it's not a very unique tree.” The board debated whether the Peace Lutheran tree met the ordinance’s informal criteria—significant age, size or cultural value—or whether it would set a precedent for many memorial plantings.

Salazar reminded members that the board’s action is a committee recommendation to the City Council: “this is a committee recommendation that ultimately then rests with the city council,” and that council could alter or decline any designation.

After discussion about criteria and whether the tree’s memorial status warranted designation, the board elected not to forward the Peace Lutheran nomination. A board member summarized the concern by noting the city already maintains a park honoring veterans and that the Peace Lutheran tree appeared to primarily honor a single individual rather than serving a broader community commemorative function. The decision was reached by consensus; the transcript records discussion and agreement but does not record a formal motion and roll-call vote for this item.

The board then considered the resubmitted nomination for three Douglas firs on North 9th Street, which several members described as large, visible from the sidewalk and potentially about 140 years old. Members discussed structural observations — the trees show codominant stems, have had cabling installed, and could be more prone to large stem failures in storms — but also noted they have been stable and are highly visible to the public. One board member said the grove “frames this very beautiful old house” and recommended protection for trees that are publicly visible rather than those tucked in private backyards.

Gary Black moved to nominate the three North 9th Street Douglas firs to the City Council; Shannon Miller, the Public Works administrative assistant, seconded the motion. Chair Salazar called for the vote; the motion carried and the board agreed to forward the three-tree nomination to the council. The transcript records the motion, second and the chair’s call for a vote; individual roll-call votes are not recorded in the transcript.

Board members also discussed other potential future nominations — including an Oregon white oak in front of a community church and a large redwood on 11th near Pioneer — and reviewed how city right-of-way status affects protection (city right-of-way trees go through a review process; private-property trees can be removed by the owner absent other protections). Members noted that nominations are handled annually and any late submissions are held for the next cycle.

The board adjourned at 9:05 a.m. and a member made an informal invitation to attend a local Arbor Day event.

Sources: Philomath Heritage Tree Board meeting transcript, March 27, 2024.