*Authorize competitive solicitation and execution of price agreements for tree procurement, planting, and maintenance services not to exceed $10 million
The City of Portland ordains.
Section 1. The Council finds:
- Expanding Portland’s tree canopy is essential to achieving environmental and public health outcomes established by the Urban Forest Management Plan, Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund’s (PCEF) Equitable Tree Canopy Program, and other plans and policies adopted by the City of Portland.
- The Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) tree planting program is guided by Portland's citywide tree planting strategy, Growing a More Equitable Forest, which prioritizes planting where trees are needed most to address existing inequities in the urban canopy
- PP&R has funds budgeted in fiscal year 2025-26 to deliver tree procurement, planting, and maintenance services through contractual agreements.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- The Chief Procurement Officer is authorized to perform a competitive solicitation in accordance with Portland City Code 5.33 for the purchase of services for tree procurement, planting, and maintenance.
- Upon Council acceptance of the Chief Procurement Officer's Report, Procurement Services is authorized to negotiate and execute one or more contracts for a cumulative amount not to exceed $10 million for five years, provided each contract has been approved as to form by the City Attorney's Office.
Section 2. The Council declares an emergency exists because community tree planting goals will not be met for the 2025-2026 tree planting season if a solicitation is not approved at this time; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
Establish multiple contracts with providers for tree planting and establishment services. These contracts will be utilized by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) tree planting programs to expand the urban canopy in prioritized neighborhoods as guided by Portland's citywide tree planting strategy, Growing a More Equitable Forest. This work is essential to achieving environmental and public health outcomes established by the Urban Forest Management Plan, Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund’s (PCEF) Equitable Tree Canopy Program, and other plans and policies adopted by the City of Portland.
The proposed legislation does not change any current City policies.
The selection of contractors will be conducted through a QBS (Qualifications Based Selection) process where the most qualified firms who receive the highest scores on their written proposals and verbal interviews will be issued Task Orders.
This ordinance is being filed as an emergency to ensure community tree planting goals can be met for the 2025 tree planting season.
Council previously approved Ordinance 191377, passed on July 19, 2023, for the establishment of up to four price agreements that have been proven to be an effective and efficient means of completing work of this type and are routinely utilized by the City.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
No change to the PP&R budget is requested through this ordinance.
PP&R has budgeted funds to support tree procurement, planting, and maintenance for the 2025-26 fiscal year. PP&R funding is provided by the Tree Planting & Preservation Fund and PCEF Equitable Tree Canopy project.
Economic and Real Estate Development Impacts
Not applicable.
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
Trees are infrastructure that provide essential services to Portland residents, including cooling shade, cleaner air, stormwater mitigation, and more. The current tree canopy of Portland is inequitably distributed across the city. These tree planting and establishment price agreements will be used to add tree canopy along streets, in schoolyards, and on private properties in priority neighborhoods by PP&R. Priority neighborhoods are based on low tree canopy coverage and demographic data to ensure that our efforts go to the most vulnerable communities first. Our planting programs are guided by the citywide tree planting strategy that was informed by robust outreach and community guidance. PP&R expect to plant and establish up to 7,000 trees under these price agreements.
100% Renewable Goal
Not applicable.