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Speakers tell council city tree‑trust spending and canopy loss need clearer oversight
Summary
Multiple speakers questioned how the city spent the tree trust fund, citing invoices they said show small, non‑shade plantings and asserting the program has favored ornamental trees over canopy‑building species.
Speakers at the Tampa City Council meeting pressed for greater transparency in the city’s tree trust fund and said current expenditures are not restoring canopy where shade trees were removed.
Public commenters pointed to recent invoice line items and departmental reports they said show money going to ornamental plantings rather than replacement shade trees, and urged the council to tighten rules to favor live oaks and other canopy species.
Steve McElhinney, representing builders and homeowner…
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