The Equitable Tree Canopy Workgroup kicks off
The Equitable Tree Canopy Workgroup's first meeting was July 29, 2024. In this first year, the workgroup will be selecting priority planting areas for trees.
About the Equitable Tree Canopy Workgroup
The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) Equitable Tree Canopy (ETC) program is a community-centered tree planting and establishment program administered by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) with PCEF oversight. The program was established in the PCEF Climate Investment Plan, adopted September 2023. The ETC program will plant at least 15,000 trees on public and private property starting in 2025. The program will:
- Maintain planted trees on public property for five years after planting to ensure successful establishment.
- Track health and wellness of a meaningful sample of planted trees.
- Build lasting relationships with community-based organizations.
- Offer tree care resources and communication to tree recipients.
- Support the development of a diverse, well-trained workforce and contracting community for tree planting and maintenance.
The details
Role of the ETC Workgroup
The ETC Workgroup will provide advice, feedback, and guidance to PCEF and PP&R staff regarding implementation of the ETC program that includes:
- Evaluating data and recommending neighborhoods and strategies to prioritize for plantings.
- Advising on allocations for street and yard trees in priority neighborhoods.
- Participating in request for proposals review when there are no conflicts of interest.
- Reviewing outreach outcomes and distribution of trees across neighborhoods and property types.
- Monitoring program outcomes.
- Addressing opportunities and challenges, including leveraging partnerships with existing/future programs to improve program implementation effectiveness.
- Advising on the design of the PCEF-supported tree canopy maintenance.
Meeting cadence
The ETC Workgroup will meet 6 - 9 times per year. Meetings may be held online via Zoom or in-person (with hybrid online attendance option). ETC Workgroup members may need to spend a few hours outside of meetings to review materials.
ETC Workgroup members will be appointed to a single four-year term. A stipend of up to $500 will be provided to ETC workgroup members annually for their time. Please let us know if PCEF can provide any additional accommodations such as childcare or interpretation to support your participation.
Volunteer ethics
People who join this workgroup will become “public officials,” which means that while you serve, you must behave fairly and ethically. We will provide training once you are accepted. Part of following Public Officials Ethics laws means you must tell the group when you or a relative may financially benefit (or avoid fees) by your recommendations. This is called a “conflict of interest.” If you tell us about potential conflicts of interest, that does not mean you cannot serve, in fact, many advisory bodies have potential members with conflicts of interest. We appreciate your ethical inclusion of possible conflicts of interest on the form included in the application.
Full ETC Workgroup composition
We began forming the ETC Workgroup by recruiting for 5 - 7 positions. The entire body will be comprised of the following members:
- PCEF staff (workgroup management)
- PP&R staff (content lead)
- Bureau of Environmental Services staff (1)
- Urban Forestry Commission member (1)
- PCEF Committee member (1)
- Tree planting and establishment stakeholders (2-3)
- Community stakeholders (2-3)
- Researcher/academic faculty with expertise in urban heat island or urban forestry and human health (1)
External stakeholders will be periodically invited to participate in the ETC workgroup, as appropriate (e.g., Portland Bureau of Transportation staff).
The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund
Approved by voters in 2018, the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund invests in community-led and community-centered projects that reduce carbon emissions, create economic opportunity, and help make our city more resilient as we face a changing climate. Learn more about us on our YouTube channel or on our website.
Questions?
Email us at cleanenergyfund@portlandoregon.gov.