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Pensacola staff: $1 million Arbor Day federal grant terminated; city to rely on violation fines and local funds for tree work
Summary
City staff told the Environmental Advisory Board that a federal Arbor Day grant worth about $1 million has been terminated. Staff said the city will rely on tree-trust and enforcement funds to keep tree-planting programs and will pursue outreach and ordinance changes to reduce future violations.
Catherine, a city staff member, told the Environmental Advisory Board that the federal Arbor Day grant the city expected to use for urban forestry work has been terminated. "The one and only federal funding that the city of Pensacola has lost is our million dollar Arbor Day grant. It's officially terminated," she said.
Staff said the termination will not halt planting plans, because the city has collected violation fines that have bolstered the tree trust fund. Catherine estimated those funds amounted to roughly a quarter of a million dollars in recent months and said the city expects to continue planting, though projects may take longer.
Catherine described enforcement options used by the forestry program. She said staff can pursue violation actions against arboriculture companies, homeowners, or both, depending on the case, and that penalties have produced much of the recent deposit into the tree trust fund. She also said that many violations involve out-of-town contractors who are unfamiliar with Pensacola's permitting rules; staff plans to create outreach materials for contractors and the public.
Catherine said a city-funded renovation at City Hall is delayed about six to seven months because roughly $20,000 of the project budget covered demolition and stump removal work that city tree-ordinance language currently does not allow to be paid from tree-planting/maintenance funds; staff indicated they will propose ordinance changes to allow different uses or reclassify funding. She encouraged board members to provide input when staff proposes ordinance edits.
The board and staff discussed continuing community events and outreach. Staff plans a seedling giveaway at East Hill Market and noted the city remains obligated to hold at least one Arbor Day event per year to maintain Tree City status. Board members were also invited to participate in Earth Day Pensacola on April 19 at Bayview Park for outreach and a booth.
Why it matters: The loss of the federal grant reduces near-term federal funding for urban forestry, but staff said local enforcement funds and tree-trust resources will keep projects moving. Proposed ordinance adjustments and outreach to outside contractors are intended to reduce future violations and preserve mature trees.
