PP 21-0008: Urban & Community Forestry Plan Update
The city’s Urban & Community Forestry Plan, first adopted in 2007, is due for an update. The City Council established a goal of updating the Plan after an update to the city’s State of the Urban Forest Report was completed in 2022. The purpose of the Urban and Community Forestry Plan is to bring together policies, practices, and plans related to Lake Oswego’s urban forest and serves as a planning and policy tool for managing our urban forest. Staff and the project consultant, Dudek, will be conducting public outreach, including a public survey, this summer (2023) with the Plan update scheduled to be completed next spring. You can get involved by subscribing to the project email list at https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/newsletter/subscriptions for announcements and updates, select "Urban & Community Forestry Plan Update". More information about upcoming events, including the online survey, will be posted on this project webpage or you may contact the Planning Department at planning@lakeoswego.city, or 503-635-0290.
Updated Urban and Community Forestry Plan Adopted by City Council
At their June 18, 2024 meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to adopt the updated Urban and Community Forestry Plan (UCFP). Links to the 2024 UCFP, as well as the recently updated State of the Urban Forest Report, can be accessed from this project page and on the City’s Urban and Community Forestry page. Thank you to everyone that participated in the public outreach and provided feedback on drafts of the UCFP!
While the implementation of the actions in the UCFP will take many years, there are actions in the plan that are already being implemented and staff will begin implementation of other actions this year. Most notably, the recommended action to update the City’s Tree Code is expected to begin in late 2024. Stay tuned for more information on that project later this year!
Council Hearing on Final Draft of Urban & Community Forestry Plan to be held on June 18, 2024
After more than a year of working on the update to the City’s Urban and Community Forestry Plan (UCFP) the final draft UCFP is complete! The City Council will consider the adoption of the updated UCFP at a public hearing on June 18. The draft UCFP and other meeting documents can be accessed in the Public Records Folder. If you would like to submit comments at the public hearing, you may submit testimony in writing or personally, either at the public meeting or remotely. Please see the public notice for details on how to provide testimony.
Next Steps in the Urban & Community Forestry Plan Update
Thank you to everyone that provided comments and feedback on the early draft of the Urban and Community Forestry Plan (UCFP) in January and February! Staff and the project consultant are busy working on revisions to the UCFP based on the feedback that was received. Those revisions will be included in the next draft, which will be posted online with the Council agenda packet and reviewed by the Council at a study session on May 21. A final draft of the UCFP will be presented to the Council for adoption on June 18. Members of the public are welcome to attend the upcoming Council meetings in person or you can livestream the meeting online (https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/citycouncil/city-council-meetings). Comments can be provided during the public comment portion of the Council meetings or you may submit written comments to planning@lakeoswego.city.
The draft UCFP and other meeting documents can be found in the Public Records Folder.
Early Draft of the Urban and Community Forestry Plan Now Available
An early draft of the update to the Urban and Community Forestry Plan (UCFP) has been completed by the project consultant and will be reviewed by City boards and commissions and stakeholder groups during the month of January 2024 at the following meetings:
January 22 Joint meeting of the Planning and Development Review Commissions, 6:30pm at City Hall, Council Chamber, 380 A Ave.
January 24 Joint meeting of the Parks and Natural Areas and Sustainability Advisory Boards, 4pm at the Maintenance Center, Willow A Room, 17601 Pilkington Rd. (The January 17 meeting has been rescheduled due to inclement weather)
January 25 Online meeting with stakeholders that participated in UCFP focus groups during summer 2023; contact staff for details. (The January 18 meeting has been rescheduled due to inclement weather)
February 20 Study Session with the City Council, 3:00pm at City Hall, Council Chamber, 380 A Ave. To access the Council meeting webpage, click here.
The draft UCFP includes the following documents, found in the Public Records Folder:
- Urban and Community Forestry Plan Update Draft
- Appendix A: Community Engagement Memo
- Appendix B: Pest Risk Assessment
- Appendix C: Municipal Code Redline
Further refinement of the draft will be completed after feedback is received from Boards and Commissions and the Stakeholder Focus Group. The City Council will review subsequent drafts of the UCFP this winter, with final adoption of the plan in Spring 2024.
January 17 Joint meeting of the Parks and Natural Areas and Sustainability Advisory Boards, 4pm at the Maintenance Center, Willow A Room, 17601 Pilkington Rd. Cancelled due to inclement weather.
January 18 Online meeting with stakeholders that participated in UCFP focus groups during summer 2023; contact staff for details. Cancelled due to inclement weather.
Summary Results from Online Public Tree Survey and Community Engagement
Between June and August 2023, the project team conducted the following outreach to help identify goals, needs, and priorities for our urban forest and to better understand the views community members hold about trees in the City and how these perceptions affect our urban forest:
- Engaged with approximately 250 community members at the Luscher Farm’s Pollinator Celebration event on June 22 and the Lake Oswego Farmers Market on August 22. Both events used multiple interactive boards and open dialogue to gain insight into community values and beliefs surrounding the urban forest in Lake Oswego.
- Held 8 focus group sessions between July 20 and August 1 with stakeholder groups organized by themed interest groups to better understand community organizations and agencies’ opinions, perceptions, and considerations about the City’s urban forest.
- Conducted an online survey that was open between June and August 2023 and solicited a total of 582 respondents. The survey was distributed through various City social media outlets, outreach events, neighborhood association meetings and communications sent by City staff.
Results from all of these outreach events and the online public survey are summarized in a Community Engagement Summary Memo that will inform the update to the Urban and Community Forest Plan. A big thank you to everyone that participated at these events and provided valuable feedback!
Online Public Tree Survey Open through August 20, 2023
The City of Lake Oswego wants your input on how we should take care of our trees! The City's urban forest is made up of a collection of trees that grow on private property, along City streets, and in parks. Lake Oswego is in the process of updating its Urban and Community Forestry Plan (UCFP), which will guide the City and tree care professionals to effectively manage our trees. The success of this management plan relies on the public's input. To ensure the UCFP considers the ideas and priorities of community members, an online survey, is provided for your voice to be heard.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LakeOswegoTrees
Public Outreach Events in June and August
Stop by the Lake Oswego Urban and Community Forestry Plan (UCFP) booth at these two events in June and August to provide your input! Our goal is to introduce community members to the Lake Oswego Urban and Community Forestry Plan (UCFP) Update, promote the public tree survey, and understand community members’ opinions, perceptions, and considerations about the City’s urban forest. Enter a raffle to win prizes and pick up some swag while you engage in kid-friendly activities and fun!
- August 12, 2023 from 8:30am-1:30pm at Lake Oswego Farmers' Market: Farmers' Market | City of Lake Oswego
- June 22, 2023 from 4-7pm: Pollination Celebration at Luscher Farm
Stakeholder Focus Group Meetings in July
During the month of July, the project consultant will facilitate eight separate focus group meetings with a wide range of stakeholders in order to elicit meaningful discussion and feedback on the Lake Oswego UCFP update. The focus groups are organized into themed interest groups to better understand community organizations and agencies’ opinions, perceptions, and considerations about the City’s urban forest. The themed groups consist of City Council and Commissions; Arborists and Wildlife and Urban Interface Fire Professionals; Sustainability organizations and SAB board member; Neighborhood Associations (2 focus groups); Natural Resource groups; Parks groups; and Development/builders and businesses.
June 20, 2023 - City Council Briefing/Kickoff
To visit the City Council meeting webpage, use this link: https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/citycouncil/city-council-and-redevelopment-agency-meeting-21
December 20, 2022 - Council Receives Report on State of the Urban Forest
To learn more, use this link: https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/planning/december-20-2022-council-receives-report-state-urban-forest
Jessica Numanoglu, AICP, Community Development Director
Phone: (503) 635-0283
Email: jnumanoglu@lakeoswego.city
Stay informed on our latest news!
Jun 18 2024 - 3:00pm
May 21 2024 - 3:00pm
Jan 22 2024 - 6:30pm
Urban and Community Forestry Plan Updated (June 10, 2024)
State of the Urban Forest Report (January 6, 2023)
State of the Urban Forest Report (2009)
Urban & Community Forestry Plan (2007)
PUBLIC RECORDS FOLDER
Interactive Story Map
Urban & Community Forestry (Home Webpage)