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Oregon City commission seeks tougher penalties, tiered fines for unauthorized street-tree removal
Summary
City staff recommended options ranging from raising the $300 civil infraction to a tiered penalty tied to tree size and zone; commissioners favored stronger deterrents and asked staff to return with code and fee language. No vote; staff to consult municipal court and bring back options.
Oregon City commissioners on March 18 debated whether to raise the municipal civil infraction for unauthorized street-tree removal and to adopt a tiered penalty structure that would impose larger fines for bigger trees and enhanced charges in downtown corridors.
City Manager Conkle opened the discussion by saying the issue has been a commission priority after multiple recent unauthorized removals downtown and at Waterbury Park and that staff prepared comparisons with Lake Oswego and Milwaukee. Staff told commissioners the current civil infraction for many code violations is $300 (a figure last updated in 1994) and that a CPI-based update would place an equivalent fine nearer $725. Staff presented two models: a higher base civil infraction and a separate tree penalty tied to tree size or an enhancement fee applied in high-priority zones.
The co…
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