2026-169

TO THE COUNCIL:

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

Respectfully submitted,

Keith Wilson

Mayor

New Appointments

Paula Byrd:

Biography: Paula Byrd is a life-long community engager and connector who currently serves as the East Portland Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Community Liaison for Rosewood Initiative, a nonprofit community-based organization aimed at fostering a safe, healthy, and vibrant community in East Portland. Paula contributed to the Portland Urban Forest Plan as a member of the Community Advisory Committee and views this role as an opportunity to continue her active engagement with Urban Forestry. Paula has served on several boards for nonprofit organizations, including, but not limited to, Youth Organized and United to Help (Y.O.U.T.H), Decoding Dyslexia of Oregon and Project Family First Inc. Furthermore, she is the founder of PMB Consultants, and co-founder of #BooksNotBarsOR, a program that is aimed at disrupting the School-to-Prison pipeline. Paula holds a Master in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts from Portland State University.

Interest Statement: I began working with Urban Forestry when I served on the Urban Forest Plan Community Advisory Committee in 2024. That experience allowed me to help shape the vision and goals of Portland's Urban Forest Plan and see firsthand how community voices can influence long-term planning. It sparked a deeper interest in staying involved in conversations about Urban Parks and Forestry—especially in East Portland. As a Chicago native, I didn't grow up in a neighborhood with natural green spaces in our backyard. Because of that, I don't take access to trees and open space for granted. In Portland, we have a real opportunity to think differently about our natural resources and who gets to benefit from them. Through my work with THRIVE East PDX, I've spoken with many East Portland residents about the lack of tree canopy and the need for safe, shaded spaces where children can play during the summer. Those conversations reinforced for me how deeply connected tree equity is to health, safety, and belonging. I want to help create a city where all East Portland residents feel they belong and have meaningful access to the natural resources around them. Being part of this team excites me because it allows me to both learn and share—helping translate information in ways that make it accessible and empowering for the community.

Dr. Geoffrey Donovan:

Biography: Geoffrey Donovan is a natural resource economist who has dedicated his career to quantifying and communicating the many benefits we receive from nature with a deep professional and personal commitment to the science and stewardship of urban forests. Geoffrey served for 23 years with the research branch of the US Forest Service and last year established the small business Ash and Elm Consulting, which is focused on translating scientific evidence into policy-relevant research and practical recommendations for organizations, local governments, and advocates striving to make cities healthier and more resilient. Central to this work has been communicating how trees are far more than aesthetic assets: they are life-saving infrastructure that improve birth outcomes, reduce respiratory and cardiovascular illness, and enhance overall wellbeing—all benefits backed by rigorous research. Geoffrey holds a PhD in Forest Economics from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Sheffield University, United Kingdom.

Interest Statement: Trees and nature give us so much. My work as a natural resource economist has been guided by a central question: How can our understanding of nature's benefits lead to better, more equitable decisions for communities? Portland's urban forest is celebrated for the environmental and social benefits it provides to residents, yet the choices the city makes now will shape whether it remains resilient, equitable, and vibrant for generations to come. I believe that decisions about tree preservation, planting, and management should be grounded in thoughtful, evidence-based analysis that considers long-term community wellbeing. This aligns directly with the purpose of the Portland Urban Forestry Commission to advise on policies, plans, and practices that affect the city's forest canopy. I hope to bring a blend of scientific rigor and policy-focused thinking to the table—to support strategies that protect existing canopy, expand equitable access to the benefits of nature, and integrate the best available evidence into urban forest decisions. In doing so, I hope to contribute meaningfully to a future Portland where urban nature thrives alongside a healthy, connected community.

Q.O. Taiwo:

Biography: Q.O. Taiwo is an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist and social network analyst at the Oregon Department of Forestry where he leads stakeholder analysis and relations for the statewide urban and community forestry program. Additionally, Taiwo serves as a Portland Neighborhood Tree Steward and OMSI Science Communication Fellow. During Taiwo's master's education in Portland he undertook a community participatory project that immersed him in issues related to urban ecology and social justice in 13 historically underserved neighborhoods in East Portland. Taiwo views this role as opportunity to continue to contribute and learn from sustainable urban forestry in Portland. Taiwo holds a Master of Science in Geography from Portland State University and a Bachelor degree in Geography and Planning Science from Ekiti State University Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.

Interest Statement: My commitment to Portland's urban forest is rooted in academic research and a passion for hands-on community engagement. As a researcher, I completed a fifty-year assessment of greenspace distribution in Portland, examining the historical planning processes that have shaped today's canopy inequities. This academic foundation is complemented by my active involvement with Portland Parks & Recreation, including graduation from the Neighborhood Tree Stewards Program and ongoing volunteerism, as well as my role as a Science Communication Fellow at OMSI, where I developed public exhibits connecting urban forestry to environmental justice. Through my appointment to the Urban Forestry Commission, I aim to serve as a collaborative partner who bridges research, policy, and community voice to help advance a more equitable urban forest for all, with particular focus on East Portland.

Reappointments

Dr. Adrianne Feldstein:

Biography: Adrianne Feldstein is a semi-retired public and environmental health physician with over 35 years of experience in community settings who has served on the UFC since May 2021 and as co-chair since March 2023. Additionally, Adrianne has served on the Portland Parks Board since June 2024. She is board certified in both general preventive medicine and environmental and occupational health. She retired as the medical director for Population Health and Quality Systems for Kaiser Permanente Northwest, where she was responsible for health promotion, disease prevention and disease management for over half a million people. In addition to continuing part-time medicine, she has worked as a swim instructor with Portland Parks and Recreation. She spent her career working to improve the quality of life of the citizens of Oregon and Washington. She has a BA in chemistry from Barnard College, an MS from the Columbia School of Public Health, NY, and an MD degree from George Washington University, DC. She has a long history of working with and supporting community organizations, including Virginia Garcia Memorial Health, Old Town Clinic, Sisters of the Road and Planned Parenthood of the Columbia Willamette.

Interest statement: I would be honored and happy to serve a second term on the Urban Forestry Commission. As a public and environmental health physician, I have dedicated my life and career to improving environmental health and safety and improving the quality of life for Oregonians. I have taught swimming for Portland Parks and Recreation and I am a passionate user and advocate for our Parks and Tree canopy. I believe that our urban forest and our parks are critical to our future that must address climate change. I stand ready and willing to do whatever I can to preserve and enhance our tree cover and resolve the inequities we now have in it.

Leah Plack:

Biography: Leah Plack is a career educator specializing in science education and teacher professional development who has served on the UFC since May 2021 and as co-chair since June 2024. Currently, she is program director at the Portland Metro STEM Partnership. Leah is passionate about the importance of science education for all students and teachers as a means for community empowerment, as well as facilitating connections (and reconnections) for people of all ages to the natural world. She has a bachelor's degree from San Diego State University in Music Performance, a teaching credential from San Francisco State University and a Master of Science in Teaching from Portland State University.

Interest Statement: I have always been fascinated by trees and the myriad ways they improve the quality of life for the people in Portland. Like many of us, I have experienced the deep sense of connection with the elder trees in my neighborhood and watched with heartbreak as some of these trees were removed to make way for development. It made me wonder what this loss of mature trees would mean for Portland's future, knowing that a tree of that size would never be able to grow in that space again. I began to learn more about the urban heat island effect and the role that trees play to mitigate hotter summers, which led me to become more interested in how our city manages trees, who has access to mature trees in Portland and why, and how to meet the need for denser, more affordable housing while creating the green spaces that are necessary to our local ecosystems and our own health and wellness. Since joining the Urban Forestry Commission, I have learned so much both in how the city functions, and also how policy can impact what happens to the urban forest. I am excited to build on the progress that has been made in building a program for city maintenance of street trees, and the strategic tree planting in high priority neighborhoods, and look forward to participating in the process to update Title 11 to reflect the evolving needs of Portlanders in the coming years. I hope that my background in STEM education and working with diverse communities can continue to be useful to the Urban Forestry Commission and to our city as we continue to plan for the resilient future Portland that we all hope to live in.

Melinda McMillan:

Biography: Melinda McMillan is an urban design and planning professional, licensed designer, and licensed architect who has served on the UFC since April 2022. Recently, Melinda directly contributed to the Portland Urban Forest Plan as a member of the Community Advisory Committee. Her design experience ranges from product design to regional planning with an extensive parallel resume in volunteer and community work. Trained initially as a special educator, Melinda has prioritized accessible and equitable access to public space and parks in both a volunteer and professional capacity. Her volunteer experience includes working with the Deaf community, senior groups, community gardens, Habitat for Humanity, literacy programs, and Arts Councils.

Interest statement: I am drawn to green space and urban areas. A vibrant city must have an integral connection to nature and Portland offers so much. We are known for our urban forest and parks as a green backdrop to our lives. However, our urban forest is climate-threatened and inequitably distributed. My professional work began in Portland in the 90s and although I have studied and traveled elsewhere, I've ultimately returned as this city has my heart. I am invested in our public spaces, the diversity of the people and cultures, and the entwining of the natural and built environments. Urban green spaces must serve residents of all backgrounds and equitable access is a professional and personal focus of mine. I have studied city planning, green infrastructure, urban design, horticulture, community initiatives, what works and what has failed. I would love to offer my passion and professional skills by serving a second term on the Urban Forestry Commission.