Forest Advisory Board Meeting - June 17, 2026

Agenda

1.   Call To Order - Introductions
2.   Citizen Input 
3.   Business 
   1. Review of Minutes from November 19th, 2025, meeting 
   2. Timber Sale Updates 
   3. Review of citizen input letter 
   4. Position paper on planting adjustments due to climate
      1. Review: proposed timeline and action steps
      2. Subcommittee nominations
   5. Emerald Ash Borer
      1. Presence in region
      2. Quarantine policy
   6. Trespass on Cedar Ridge/Cedar Flats
   7. Future Topic – Five Year Plan
4.   Good of the Order
5.   Adjournment

Minutes

1. Call To Order – Introductions
   • Meeting called to order by BK at 6:46pm.
   • Members attending – Brent Keller, Molly McKnight, and Dan Green.
   • Staff attending – Andrew Dobmeier, Lisa Harman.
2. Citizen Input
   • No citizen input.
3. Business
   • Review of Minutes from November 19th, 2025, meeting
     • Minutes were reviewed and accepted but not approved by vote due to lack of quorum.
   • Review of By-Laws – proposed changes
     • The last by-law update was in 2017. Forestry staff proposed reducing the required members from 7 to 5. BK noted that we need to elect a Vice-Chair. DG nominated MM for the position but no vote was possible due to lack of quorum. There was discussion on the definition of a quorum and how vacant board positions affect the quorum number. It was decided that a quorum does include vacant positions, so a quorum would be 4 or more members. There was discussion on whether a secretary role is needed.
   • Timber Sale Updates
     • AD – Stella-Jones is 50% finished. They were concerned about a bad fire season, so decided to start the sale sooner than previously planned. Semele and Quinn were able to start the sale in Andrew’s absence. Semele and Quinn started with road construction, and some trees were damaged during construction. They cut some right-of-way, through a 10- or 12-year-old plantation. Stella-Jones started shipping in May. County staff have toured the harvest area and seen a demo of the shovel logging. Logging should be complete next week.
     • Semele will be a seasonal employee in Forestry from July 1st until sometime in fall at 40 hours per week.
     • There was discussion of the forestry program structure and expenses.
   • Review of citizen input letter

     • A letter from a citizen regarding fir die-off on their private land with concerns for species of trees being planted in County-owned forests was reviewed.

     • AD – Fir die-off is in areas with a different climate than where our forest stands are located, and we are not seeing this occur with County trees. Wood Borer can kill off more trees when the winter is warmer. BK – Region surveys are done on all areas, and firs can get going in most areas, at different growth rates. There is no need to make major changes in planting. MM – There were droughts that occurred in the 1970’s. DG—Older trees have died, but not younger trees.
     • AD – The County utilizes 60% fir, 20% cedar, and 20% white pine in its current replanting plan.
   • Position paper on planting adjustments due to climate
     • Review: proposed timeline and action steps
       • MM – There is a 2022 Technical Report for the Willamette, Mt. Hood, and the Gorge from the US Forest Service. DG – OSU may also have a position paper on assisted migration or planned migration.
     • Subcommittee nominations
       • The board decided to table the discussion until the next meeting when more members are present.
   • Emerald Ash Borer
     • Presence in region
       • AD – Fernwood Quarry is losing some trees due to the Ash Borer. There are signs of the borer in Newberg, Woodburn, Silver Falls State Park, and Wilsonville. A worm is being introduced that will attack the eggs of the larvae to slow it down. There is a huge seed bank being created of the Oregon Ash, and there is an ongoing search to find trees that might have a natural resistance to the borer. BK – Trees can also be injected to slow the beetles.
   • Trespass on Cedar Ridge/Cedar Flats
     • AD – The state will press charges – Failure to notify and the illegal removal of wildlife trees. A crew has been sent in to do a release in the unit. Andrew will bring in the excavator and open the roads so they can get in and take a look. 25 or 30 trees were removed from the area. DG – Wildlife and buffer trees still have value.
   • Future Topic – Five Year Plan
     • AD – Semele is cruising the next harvest area, and then the County will work on the future forest management plan. Wildcat is the only timber area left for harvest in the near future.
     • There was discussion on the role of the County Forester.
4. Good of the Order
   • An email update was provided from MR on the Parks System Planning meetings.
5. Adjournment
   • Meeting was adjourned by BK at 8:04pm.