Council tables Washington Boulevard all‑purpose trail after tree‑canopy and outreach concerns

City engineers presented a proposal to advertise for design services for a 10‑foot‑wide asphalt all‑purpose trail along Washington Boulevard that would connect Walter Stinson Park to Caine Park, funded roughly 80% by NOACA and ODOT, the engineer said. The proposal drew extensive council questions about tree impacts, resident notice, local matching funds and whether the city had committed local money without council approval.
City Engineer Mott said the trail would mostly replace an existing five‑foot sidewalk and widen it to a 10‑foot path, and that NOACA and ODOT would provide roughly 80% of construction funding. Council members raised several concerns: Councilwoman Weiser said she counted roughly 99 trees near the proposed alignment and asked how many would be removed and how costs to remove and replace trees and utility relocation were calculated; Councilwoman Weiser and others asked whether property owners along Washington Boulevard had been notified; Councilmember Weiser also sought clarity about whether the funding submission and ODOT/NOACA approval had been made without prior council authorization.
Councilman King and other supporters said design work would clarify tree impacts and costs; King cited studies that multiuse trails can raise property values. Several councilmembers asked that future briefings include NOACA or ODOT representatives and an arborist or tree‑canopy specialist so the council could evaluate tree impacts and design tradeoffs. After discussion and no motion to move forward, Councilmember King moved to table the item; the motion passed on a voice vote and council took no further action on June 16.