Tree advisory board seeks city participation with SUNY Oswego on state reforestation grant

The Tree Advisory Board asked the Administrative Services Committee to authorize city participation with SUNY Oswego and Atlantic States Legal Foundation on a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Core reforestation grant.

Mary Bannhaus, chair of the Tree Advisory Board, introduced Kate Spector from SUNY Oswego's sustainability office and said the college is pursuing roughly 303 acres of reforestation on its campus through a Great Lakes Restoration/GLRI initiative and that adding a municipal partner could strengthen a Core reforestation grant application. Bannhaus identified potential city-owned planting sites that could contribute about 30 acres, including the Munn Street Reservoir site (29.6 acres) and smaller undeveloped "paper street" parcels near West Fifth Street and East Avenue.

Bannhaus said the grant is available without a local match and would be administered by Atlantic States Legal Foundation; she described the city's obligations as limited and noted tree stewards could assist with monitoring and watering saplings during drought conditions. Craig Grover, Commissioner of Public Works, said initial proposed sites contained underground infrastructure but he believed the city can identify appropriate sites for the roughly 30 acres with minimal cost and limited public works support.

The committee discussed the item as a request for discussion and authorization to move the item to the full city council. A motion to forward the matter to the full council next week passed by roll call. The meeting record does not show final grant acceptance or specific planting plans; those would be determined as the grant application and partnership are developed.