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11.20.020 The Urban Forestry Commission.

City Code Section

(Amended by Ordinances 188647, 191030, and 191988, effective January 3, 2025.)

  1. A. Membership. The Urban Forestry Commission consists of eleven members who have demonstrated an interest in the protection and enhancement of the urban forest, appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. Women and multi-cultural groups must be represented. At least three members must have experience and expertise in arboriculture, landscape architecture or urban forestry. One member must be on the board of a nonprofit organization that has a demonstrated direct interest in the urban forest, who is not a City employee. The remaining seven members, insofar as possible, must represent diverse geographic areas, interests, and expertise of the community.
  2. B. Terms. Members will serve for terms of four years and may be reappointed for one additional consecutive term. After serving two consecutive terms, at least one year must elapse before a member may again be reappointed to the Commission. Notwithstanding the limitations of this Section, a member of the Commission will continue to serve until the member’s replacement is appointed.
  3. C. Rules of order. The Urban Forestry Commission will elect its own chair and adopt such rules of procedure as it deems necessary to the conduct of its duties. Unless otherwise stated in the rule, all rules are effective upon adoption by the Commission and will be filed in the office of the City Forester and in the Portland Policy Documents repository described in Chapter 1.07.
  4. D. Meetings. The Commission will meet at least 10 times per year and may meet more often.
  5. E. Duties. The Commission is responsible for carrying out the following duties:
    1. 1. Providing assistance in the development, periodic reviews, and updates to the Urban Forest Plan, and submitting those plan updates to the City Council for approval.
    2. 2. Reviewing and providing input on plans, policies, and projects developed pursuant to other City Code provisions that contain elements or that affect matters related to urban forestry and other matters to ensure that the policies of the Urban Forest Plan are fully considered.
    3. 3. Advising the City Forester, the PP&D Director and City Administrator, and Citizen’s Budget Advisory Committee on the preparation and contents of the annual Forestry Division budget request.
    4. 4. Considering and making recommendations to the City Council pertaining to:
      1. a. Proposed amendments to this Title;
      2. b. Heritage Tree nominations; and
      3. c. Other City bureau budget proposals that may substantially affect programs relating to trees and the urban forest.
    5. 5. Preparation of an annual report that specifically addresses the relations with and concerns of the various City bureaus and other matters brought forward by the City Forester. The report will include an evaluation of the opportunities and barriers to effective management of the urban forest, and assessment of progress of these issues identified in prior annual reports.

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