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Council moves DNR urban forestry reimbursement into spending account for tree plantings
Summary
The Finance Committee approved transferring reimbursement from a 2024 DNR urban forestry grant into an expenditure account to pay for 2024 tree-planting contracts and carry forward remaining funds into 2025.
The Finance Committee voted March 3 to transfer reimbursement from a 2024 Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Urban Forestry grant from a revenue account into an expenditure account to pay for 2024 tree-planting contract work and carry remaining funds forward for 2025 contracts.
Mike, a Parks, Recreation and Forestry staff member, told the committee the money will offset the city's 2024 tree-planting contract costs and support the "free street tree" component of the city's Emerald Ash Borer replacement program. "We have not replaced all of our trees that were removed because of Emerald Ash Borer," Mike said, noting some residents decline replacement and that the city still has fewer trees than before the infestation.
Alderman Sparks asked whether the DNR funds originate from state or federal sources; Mike said the program is a state DNR urban forestry grant but he did not know the DNR's funding sources beyond that. The motion to transfer and appropriate the funds was made by Alderman Allen and seconded by Alderman Schmidt and carried by voice vote.
The committee did not specify the grant reimbursement amount in the discussion; staff described the funding as a reimbursement for 2024 contract planting and as supporting the free street-tree component rather than developer-funded plantings.
