2025-150

TO THE COUNCIL:

February 19, 2025

As Mayor, I request Council confirmation of the following appointments to the Urban Forestry Commission:

Appointment                                     Term                                              Replacing

Matthew Sanchez                            4/1/2025 – 3/31/2029                      Ivory Iheanacho

Vesla Lee                                          4/1/2025 – 3/31/2029                      Roberta Jortner

Respectfully submitted,

Keith Wilson

Mayor

Matthew Sanchez

Bio: Matt Sanchez is a citizen of Portland, Oregon who has utilized his passion for trees towards being a professional arborist serving the private sector. His knowledge of practical arboriculture standards has been cultivated and applied to countless urban/ suburban/ and rural trees through management techniques that are intended to preserve and promote healthy and viable forests for current and future generations. Matt earned a Bachelor of Science from Oregon State University, majoring in Natural Resources with an option in Urban Forestry. He has applied his education to hands-on tree care and has worked with crews in Corvallis and Portland since 2011. In addition to his professional capacity as a tree worker he continues to be the primary consulting arborist on multiple projects funded by Federal, State, and Local agencies including City of Portland, METRO, and Oregon State University. Currently, he is employed as a consultant by Harrity Tree Specialists, Inc. where he helps the private and public sector navigate tree management strategies with a goal of striking a realistic balance with the urban forest.

Interest Statement: When living in Corvallis, Oregon I was hired by the Urban Forestry Department as an intern to develop the "Neighborhood Tree Stewardship Guide", this experience opened up my eyes to public service and the immense benefits it provides. Later, I was fortunate enough to fill a vacancy on the Civic Beautification and Urban Forestry Board, ultimately becoming Chair, being part of this group is something I have always cherished and found pride in. Since moving to Portland I have not given my expertise back to the community and feel that I can continue to provide an active voice in this great city. 

During the course of my work in Portland I have had countless candid conversations with concerned citizens about the urban forest and how to navigate the tree ordinance. Through client conversation I have become intimately knowledgeable about the tree code and have found areas that can be further improved with the intent of maintaining a healthy urban forest. I would like to use my experience in interpreting the code and offer my point of view with a focus on strengthening the code, especially from a development standpoint. Additionally, I would like to help continue promoting diverse, climate ready, and economically feasible species lists for replanting requirements. Generally, I want to help everyone who currently is fortunate enough to have trees better understand them as well as help bring the benefit of trees to those who do not.  The new tree planting program being rolled out by Urban Forestry has an incredible opportunity to reach empty parking strips and green spaces and I want to be part of a commission that can have a voice in the process.

Vesla Lee

Bio: Vesla Lee is a Portland native, she has 6+ years of Project Management experience, ranging from Tech, Legal, Grocery, and Sports Industries. She also volunteers as a Crew Leader with Friends of Trees. Vesla’s first ever job was as a trail builder in NYC in 2010 where she learned about clearing invasive species, the different ways to secure embankments, wildfire mitigation techniques, and bringing people closer to nature. Over the span of 7 years working at Airbnb, she mainly focused on Laws & Regulations, Nondiscrimination & Defamation Policy work, Project Management, Team Coordination, Litigation case management, and Paralegal work. After that, she started work at the Alberta Cooperative Grocery as a Grocery Buyer & Collective Manager, aiming to bring good quality and affordable food to the community, as well as being able to offer a platform for local, black and brown businesses. Currently, Vesla is a full time Treatment Coordinator at a Dentist office in Southeast Portland, and a part-time Program Manager at Girls Rugby Inc.

Interest Statement: Being a Portland native, I feel a kinship with the natural areas of the city because they have been the framework for so many of my favorite memories growing up. Now that I am a professional and an adult that cares for children in this space, I am emboldened to help preserve and take care of what makes Portland such a special city, and a great place to live for generations to come. The jobs I have chosen, whether it was my work on Policies, Grocery Buying, or Volunteering, have had a central guidepost; how can my work have a positive impact on my community? Through this opportunity, I plan to continue doing that work and learn as much as I can from my fellow Commissioners. Much of my professional skill set is focused on forecasting and looking ahead to plan for positive future outcomes. Change can be good, but when it comes to making changes to natural areas, it is extremely important to me that decisions are made thoughtfully, deliberately, and take a holistic approach considering long-term impact. That is what I understand the UFC does, and I want to be part of that team.