Milwaukie adopts stronger tree‑preservation code and updates consolidated fee schedule

The Milwaukie City Council completed a continued public hearing and adopted an ordinance amending Municipal Code Chapter 16.32 (the tree code) to strengthen tree preservation during development and declared an emergency for the amendment.

The council completed the second reading and final roll-call vote. The record shows the motion carried with three votes in favor, one opposed and one abstention; the clerk recorded the ordinance as No. 2261. Councilors present recorded votes during the roll call; Mayor Lisa Beatty abstained from the vote because she was not present at the January 20 first-reading session.

Following the ordinance vote, the council considered a resolution to revise fees and charges and to update the consolidated fee schedule for fiscal year 2026. Councilor [unnamed] moved to approve the fee schedule revision and the motion was seconded; the resolution passed with the same 3–1 vote and one abstention.

Councilors who participated in the hearing discussed tree preservation objectives and the need to strengthen protections during development; opposition at the earlier reading resulted in the continued hearing and the non-unanimous votes recorded in the second reading.

What's next: The ordinance amendment and fee schedule update are now adopted; council and staff will implement the code provisions and updated fees per the adopted schedule.