The Park and Tree Committee meetings are open to the public and held in the Sweet Home City Hall, 3225 Main Street, Sweet Home, OR 97386 at 4:00 PM on the third Tuesday of each month.
The majority of members must be City residents; no more than two members can be non-city, or At Large, members (residing within School District No. 55 boundaries).
| Member | Residency | Original Appointment Date | Most Recent Appointment | Term End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vacant | 12/31/2026 | |||
| Matthew Bechtel, Chair | City Limits | 3/28/2023 | 3/28/2023 | 12/31/2026 |
| Lena Tucker, Vice Chair | At Large | 12/31/2015 | 12/13/2022 | 12/31/2026 |
| Deena Bechtel | City Limits | 3/10/2026 | 3/10/2026 | 12/31/2029 |
| Melanie Jones | City Limits | 8/12/2025 | 3/10/2026 | 12/31/2029 |
| Debra Northern | City Limits | 3/13/2018 | 2/13/2024 | 12/31/2027 |
| Scott Swanson | City Limits | 10/22/2024 | 3/10/2026 | 12/31/2029 |
| Council Liaison: Aaron Hegge | ||||
The Park and Tree Committee is responsible for recommending the following to City Council:
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To conduct an inventory of existing street trees, including historical trees and public properties in need of beautification and plantings and present a written report to the City Council of its findings;
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To develop and recommend to the City Council, for its adoption, a master list of trees suitable for planting within the city. The list shall be reviewed annually, a copy of which shall be kept on file in the office of the City Recorder for public information;
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To develop and recommend to the City Council, for its adoption, ordinances, and policies for the planting, care, maintenance, replacement, and protection of trees throughout the city;
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To act in an advisory capacity to the Planning Commission with respect to landscape design, suitable plantings, protection of natural vegetation, and street tree requirements;
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To submit recommendations to the City Council regarding the beautification of public properties and rights-of-way;
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To promote public knowledge and acceptance of the value of tree planting and maintenance programs and requirements;
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To develop a capital development program for each fiscal year, to include acquisition of new land and/or development of existing property for parks and other recreation areas;
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To recommend recreation programming needs to be produced by the city;
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To recommend an operating budget to carry out the recreation program as outlined for the forthcoming fiscal year; and
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To perform additional duties and studies as may be required from time to time by the City Council.
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To meet a minimum of four meetings a year, beginning with the month of December, which meeting should be devoted to the development of the next year's capital and recreation programs.