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Vernonia council declines ordinance to protect Hiroshima Peace Tree; supporters say city must honor prior agreement
Summary
Council debated Ordinance 9-49 to formalize protections for the Hiroshima Peace Tree (an Oregon Department of Forestry program gift). Supporters urged honoring the original agreement; opponents preferred a resolution. The ordinance failed after at least one abstention in roll call.
Council considered Ordinance 9-49, which would establish protections and care standards for the city’s Hiroshima Peace Tree, a specimen provided through an Oregon Department of Forestry program. Supporters said the council previously agreed to protections when it accepted the tree and that an ordinance would provide lasting legal force; opponents said a resolution would be simpler and that regulating a single tree via ordinance seemed excessive.
"This is a very historically important part of history, and it's not just any tree," one councilor said while urging the council to keep its prior commitment. Another councilor questioned why an ordinance was necessary for one tree and noted that a resolution would be easier to change in the future. Staff said the parks committee recommended amendments and that arborist consultation would be used when necessary.
The council moved to adopt Ordinance 9-49 and proceeded to roll-call voting. One councilor abstained, citing lack of sufficient history to vote yes or no; with the abstention the measure failed. Councilors favoring a less formal approach discussed pursuing a resolution that would protect the tree but not carry the same legal weight as an ordinance.
Next steps: because the ordinance failed, council may consider a resolution or other protective measures at a future meeting; staff flagged that parks committee input and arborist recommendations remain available to council.
