637-2022

Ordinance

Amend Trees Code to improve clarity, efficiency, and outcomes of tree regulations (amend Title 11)

Referred

The City of Portland ordains:

Section 1.  The Council finds:

  1. Portland' s urban forest is a unique community asset, providing a broad array of valuable ecological, social, public health, and economic benefits, including cleaner air and water, cooler summer temperatures, reduced stormwater runoff, reduced landslide and flood impacts, carbon sequestration, neighborhood beauty and walkable streets, and public health outcomes.
     
  2. The City Forester, together with the Bureau of Development Services (BDS) Director, administers Portland City Code (PCC) Title 11, Trees.
     
  3. Title 11 was adopted on April 13, 2011 (Ordinance No. 184522) and was amended by Ordinance Nos. 185448, 185654, and 186053 before it was effective. Title 11 was effective January 1, 2015.
     
  4. On January 8, 2020, through Resolution 37473, the Portland City Council directed Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and the Bureau of Development Services (BDS), together with the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS), to develop a scope of work to strengthen Title 11.
     
  5. In fulfillment of the directive in Resolution 37473, in May 2021 PP&R, in coordination with BDS and BPS, presented a multi-phase project to update Title 11 and the Urban Forest Management Plan. The first phase of the project proposed technical and minor policy changes to Title 11 to be completed in 2022.
     
  6. In July 2021, staff briefed the Urban Forestry Commission (UFC) and the Planning & Sustainability Commission (PSC) on the amendment project. Both Commissions provided feedback and expressed preferences for their participation in the process.
     
  7. On March 17, 2022, staff briefed the Urban Forestry Commission on the proposed amendments. On the same date, staff also briefed the Development Review Advisory Committee (DRAC). All subsequent electronic notices of project updates were sent to DRAC members.
     
  8. On March 22, 2022, staff briefed the Planning and Sustainability Commission on the proposed amendments.
     
  9. On April 16, 2022, notices of public hearings of the Urban Forestry Commission and the Planning and Sustainability Commission were published in the Oregonian and The Business Tribune. Notices were posted online and submitted to additional interested parties as required by Title 11.
     
  10. On April 19, 2022, the proposed amendments were published on the PP&R website and distributed electronically through various channels with a comment period through May 19, 2022.
     
  11. On May 19, 2022, the UFC held a public hearing on the proposed amendments and voted to support the amendments.
     
  12. On May 24, 2022, the PSC held a public hearing on the proposed amendments and voted to support certain amendments and requested that staff make revisions to others.
     
  13. On June 14, 2022, the PSC reviewed the revised amendments and voted to approve the full package of amendments.
     
  14. There are multiple proposed changes to Title 11 impacting multiple chapters. The proposed changes are presented in Exhibit A. Exhibits B and C provide additional information on the proposed changes.
     
  15. In accordance with the notification requirements of Title 11, on June 20, 2022 a notice of the City Council hearing was mailed to those who testified at the Planning and Sustainability Commission and Urban Forestry Commission hearing, either in person or in writing, and those who requested such notice. On the same date, notice of the City Council hearing was published The Oregonian and Business Journal in accordance with the notification requirements of Title 11.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:

  1. Amend Title 11, Trees, as shown in Exhibit A.

Impact Statement

Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information

On January 8, 2020, through Resolution 37473, the Portland City Council directed the Bureaus of Development Services (BDS), Planning and Sustainability (BPS), and Parks & Recreation (PP&R) to return to City Council with a scope of work to proposed updates to Title 11 Trees. In March 2021, PP&R presented to Council a multi-phase approach to making needed Title 11 improvements and update the Urban Forest Management Plan.

  • Phase 1: Technical and minor policy amendments to clarify existing code, resolve conflicts with other city codes, formalize current code interpretations, and improve code implementation.
  • Phase 2: Update the Urban Forest Management Plan. The 16-year-old UFMP predates implementation of Title 11 and currently includes outdated canopy targets and inadequate consideration of critical issues such as climate change and environmental justice, particularly in relation to low-income, BIPOC, immigrant, and refugee communities.
  • Phase 3: Propose additional substantive Title11 amendments informed by the updated UFMP.

This ordinance fulfills Phase 1 by submitting a package of technical and minor policy amendments for City Council’s consideration.

Financial and Budgetary Impacts

The amendments in this package were primarily selected to improve the clarity and efficiency of Title 11. Attention was taken to minimize the resources necessary for implementation. In many cases, the amendments will reduce workload by improving clarity and process efficiency. As such, staff do not anticipate any financial or budgetary impacts for the PP&R operating budget.

Community Impacts and Community Involvement

Project staff established a project website with up-to-date information on project status and opportunity for involvement. Staff also provided briefings and updates at each stage of the process to the Urban Forestry Commission, the Planning & Sustainability Commission, and the Development Review Advisory Committee.

On May 19, 2022, the Urban Forestry Commission held a public hearing on the proposed amendments. The majority of the public comments received supported the package. Some comments urged the City to go beyond the proposed amendments to improve protections for trees in both development and non-development situations. Additionally, some comments expressed disappointment that a proposed amendment to reduce permit requirements for pruning in the Environmental Overlay Zone and Wildfire Risk Hazard Zones were removed from the final draft.

The Planning and Sustainability Commission held a public hearing on May 24, 2022. Written testimony was generally supportive of the proposed amendments. The PSC voted to support most of the amendments with the condition that staff make revisions to the amendments impacting stop work orders and the definition of a dangerous tree. Staff revisions were reviewed and accepted by the PSC.

The proposed amendments are expected to have positive community impacts by improving clarity, addressing known deficiencies, and improving the overall implementation of Title 11.

100% Renewable Goal

N/A

Financial and Budget Analysis

No fiscal impact. This amendment to City Code does not change appropriation, nor are the changes to the code expected to generate any new expenses—General Fund funded or otherwise.

Document History

Item 637 Time Certain in July 20-21, 2022 Council Agenda

City Council

Referred to Commissioner of Public Utilities

    City department

    Contact

    Requested Agenda Type

    Time Certain

    Date and Time Information

    Requested Council Date
    Requested Start Time
    10:05 am
    Time Requested
    20 minutes
    Confirmed Time Certain
    Changes City Code