City Trees

November/December 2016

City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!

Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/744699

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12 City Trees Beaverton, Oregon City Arborist Pat Hoff has worked for the City for 26 years. In 2016, he accomplished the goal of getting his program SMA Accredited. Congratulations, Pat and colleagues! Beaverton has also been a Tree City USA for 22 years. What does the SMA Accreditation mean to you? Pat Hoff: It is just amazing and exciting to be recognized for something that you believe in and work so hard to build and sustain over the years. It also gives you that sense of pride that carries on to your staff and even to the city council and mayor. What publicity did you receive from the local press and/ or local television news channel? PH: On June 7, 2016 SMA Board Member Casey Jogerst came to the City of Beaverton weekly Council meeting and presented us the SMA Accredited Urban Forestry Program Award before the Council. The presentation was televised and shown on our local cable network. A press release was also sent out and there were two articles that I was aware of—one in our Beaverton Buzz and another in the Beaverton Resource Guide. What's one of the biggest pleasures of running an urban forestry program in Beaverton? PH: Here in Beaverton we pride ourselves on our ability to respond to customer service requests in 24 hours—and many the same day. As the city arborist, I respond to numerous customer service calls daily—mostly requests for tree removal and pruning. I try to make sure everyone feels that they have been taken care of and try to leave them with a smile on their face, whether I let them remove their tree or not. Many homeowners are pleased just to actually see someone come out and listen to their issue. I am fortunate to have recourses to offer them, such as free tree pruning; waived permit fees for dead, dying, or diseased trees; and matching grants for sidewalk repair up to $1,500 per home. What gives you extra pride when you think about your city forestry program? PH: I'm very proud of my crew and how eager they are to help. Beaverton Pride Grows with City's SMA Accreditation Beaverton Pride Grows with City's SMA Accreditation From the top of a fir tree, a winter view of Beaverton's City Park. Photo by Mark Rawlings

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