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Council directs staff report on urban‑forestry recommendations for Gateway site and tree relocation
Summary
The council directed staff to return with a staff report—developed with the Urban Forestry Committee—on a tree protection plan, an updated planting/relocation plan tied to a DLCD grant for 60 trees, and other recommendations for the Gateway site; the motion carried on roll call.
Jason Clark, chair of the Urban Forestry Committee, presented a set of recommendations aimed at protecting and relocating trees tied to redevelopment of the Gateway site and other city properties.
Clark described two primary recommendations: a tree protection plan showing tree‑protection fencing, irrigation‑protection measures and relocation needs for perimeter trees; and a planting/relocation plan tied to a DLCD grant written to cover planting of 60 trees, with contingency language to supplement with nursery stock if fewer than 60 suitable transplants are available. “The grant was written to cover the planting of 60 trees and said specifically that the project would supplement with trees from the nursery if less than 60 trees were available,” Clark said.
Clark reported an on‑site inventory that found 44 trees in very healthy condition and about 10 with health concerns. The committee also recommended restoring irrigation to Highway 99 medians north of Valley View (also grant‑dependent), transplanting shrubs from interior Gateway to other city properties, and forwarding an urban forestry master plan to council for review.
After discussion about sequencing and staff capacity, Councilor Cole moved and the council voted to direct staff to return with a staff report developed in consultation with the Urban Forestry Committee; councilors indicated support for prioritizing the tree‑protection plan and the updated planting plan as high priorities.
Why it matters: the recommendations affect the Gateway redevelopment, grant spending, and once implemented would change tree locations and public landscape on several city properties. The directive to staff will create a return item with prioritized sequencing, costs and implementation details.
