Philomath has more than a few nicknames in its midst — “City of Volunteers,” “Lover of Learning,” “Timber Town” and “Home of the Philomath Frolic and Rodeo” all come to mind. But beyond those references, the community has also earned the Arbor Day Foundation’s “Tree City USA” designation.
It’s been a constant for three decades now with Philomath continuing to meet the qualifications for the distinction. To earn the title, cities must meet four standards of sound urban forestry management — have a tree department, enact a community tree ordinance, spend a specified minimum amount of money per resident on urban forestry and host an Arbor Day celebration.
The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Brittany Oxford, community assistance forester, was on hand for the Tree City USA 30th-year recognition. A new flag designating the achievement will go up on the east end of town. New Tree City USA signage will also be installed on the east and west ends of town.
Garry Black, Public Works supervisor, has been instrumental in Philomath’s tree programs through the years, including the implementation of an annual Arbor Day-related outdoor classroom activity in 2016.
The presentation served as a segue into the city’s induction of two new Heritage Trees. The program, in its second year, now has seven trees recognized around the community.
The two new Heritage Trees are a ponderosa pine at 233 N. Seventh St., and a bigleaf maple at Mount Union Cemetery.
Giana Bernardini, who was instrumental in the Heritage Tree program’s establishment and sits on its committee, nominated the ponderosa pine.
“Commonly associated with arid high-elevation Eastern Oregon, this huge ponderosa pine has thrived in our soggy town,” Bernardini wrote in her nomination paperwork. “These trees are easily identifiable by their long needles and deep orange bark broken into irregular plates. In northwest Philomath, Westbrook Park features a grove of small ponderosas. Given the opportunity they can reach 200 feet tall and live to be 700 years.”
The Mount Union Cemetery bigleaf maple was nominated by local resident Christina Catricala.
“Maybe the most beautiful tree in Philomath,” she wrote. “Huge, with a mossy trunk and wide-spreading limbs, this native Oregon maple graces the northeast corner of the cemetery. In summer, the leaves — the largest of any maple species — offer deep, cooling shade, and in fall the colors are extravagant and spectacular.”
Kyle Cupp, representing Mount Union Cemetery, was on hand to accept a framed certificate of the designation. Black accepted the certificate for the North Seventh Street tree, which sits on the city’s right-of-way.
The evening of recognition didn’t stop there with Oxford presenting an Oregon Heritage Tree Hero of the Year award to Bernardini on behalf of the Travel Information Council and Oregon Heritage Tree Committee.
“The Heritage Tree Hero is designated to honor the work of people who contribute to their local communities by educating about and advocating for Heritage Trees,” said Oxford, who in addition to her ODF work also sits on the state’s Heritage Tree Committee.
Bernardini served on the Planning Commission from 2020 to 2023.
“Giana gathered information, ideas, images and examples from other city tree programs, helped craft criteria and ultimately resigned from her position on the Planning Commission to apply for an appointment to the Tree (Advisory) Board,” Oxford said.
Oxford read a quote that Bernardini had included in her application to the Tree Advisory Board.
“I moved to this area because I love the forests and I love this town because of the trees,” Bernardini wrote. “I am a strong believer in the ability of an urban forest to improve livability, benefit the environment and increase overall joy in a community.”
Oxford then presented a plaque to Bernardini “who understands that trees can be the best storytellers of our histories, our cultures and our ways of life.”
In addition to the Tree City USA recognition, Heritage Tree presentations and Bernardini recognition, there was also the reading of a mayor’s resolution to proclaim April 26 as Arbor Day in Philomath.
In other news out of the April 8 meeting:
• The council unanimously approved a $3.8 million bid from Mid-Valley Gravel for the South 16th Street extension project planned for this summer near Philomath Elementary and connect with the intersection of Cedar and South 17th streets. The work also includes sewer collection system improvements on 16th, 17th and 18th streets. The lowest qualified bid was a little more than $800,000 higher than an initial project estimate. In addition, the council unanimously approved amendments to the city’s Capital Improvement Plan to keep the two projects on track and cover any budget shortfalls. A few projects were postponed to accommodate the CIP amendments, including an updated crosswalk at Main and 17th to fiscal year 2025-26, an effort that does not yet have financing in place in terms of a grant and fundraising for a match.
• The council approved a resolution on a 7-1 vote to adopt a multi-jurisdictional natural hazard mitigation plan with Benton County. City representatives participated in the completion of the plan, which was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Councilor Christopher McMorran requested the issue to be tabled until the next meeting so the document could be reviewed but a motion to that effect failed on a 5-2 vote (McMorran, Jessica Andrade yea). McMorran reiterated his concerns and said, “I can’t vote yes on something that I have not seen; it just feels like a line I don’t want to cross” before casting a nay vote on the final motion.
• The council unanimously approved a resolution to authorize the city to finalize an application for a Local Government Grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for improvements to Skirvin Park (public restrooms, rodeo arena bleachers, ADA-compliant walking paths and other accessibility improvements).
• City Manager Chris Workman provided details to councilors on a “What’s Up, Philomath?” city booth that’s planned to be a part of this year’s Philomath Farmers’ Market. Councilors were invited to volunteer for the booth, which will present information on various topics throughout the summer. With the transition to the farmers’ market, Councilor Coffee will go on hiatus after an April 20 event (9-10:30 a.m. at Timber Towne Coffee). This year’s market is scheduled to run from May 26-Oct. 20.
• The council unanimously approved to allocate up to $1,000 to go toward CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) training and up to $250 to go toward a Philomath Pride event.
• The council approved a resolution to proclaim April 7-13 as Library Week.