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La Porte sustainability commission scales back Arbor Day after US Forest Service pass-through grant is cut
Summary
City staff said a pass-through grant from the U.S. Forest Service was cut, leaving about $800,000 unaccounted for and forcing a pared-down Arbor Day program; commission members and volunteers plan fundraising and signage to recognize a Rotary donation and preserve planting plans for fall.
La Porte City staff said a pass-through grant from the U.S. Forest Service was cut two weeks ago, prompting the Sustainability Commission to scale back its Arbor Day events and appeal the decision while pursuing local fundraising and recognition for a Rotary donation.
The funding loss “was cut,” said Tucker, a city staff member who has led the grant work. He told the commission the grant previously had “about $800,000 remaining” and that the city is attempting to retain those funds or secure a direct agreement with the Forest Service after a cease-and-desist affected the pass-through grantee.
Why it matters: The funds had been tied to a larger $10 million application that originally included youth conservation corps programming and other activities. Commissioners said the awarded amount was one-tenth of that application and that the city’s immediate priorities now focus on public health and safety, including removal of roughly 900 hazardous trees over the next five years.
What the commission decided and discussed: The Arbor Day event planned for Friday will proceed in a reduced form. Commission members said the library’s story hour at Fox Park Amphitheater will remain and the group will use the event primarily to recognize Rotary of La Porte for a community donation and to share a general planting map for fall work. Tucker said the planting will be scaled back and estimated, based on current prices, that Rotary-donated funds could plant about 20 to 25 trees this fall.
Commission members discussed options for acknowledging the Rotary gift. Ideas included a trail marker or a stone monument and adding Rotary branding to existing trail signage near the Clear Lake Loop. The commission agreed to finalize a signage mock-up before the Friday presentation.
Funding and next steps: Commissioners said the city will pursue local fundraising — including possible annual Arbor Day fundraisers — to make up some of the shortfall. Tucker said the city plans to appeal the pass-through cancellation and explore whether a direct agreement with the Forest Service is possible. He also explained that the city’s inventory and condition assessments for each public tree are in its GIS system and that the inventory has been used as a model for other communities.
Commission context and cost notes: Members noted the cost of replanting can be high. One commissioner said the state helped cover replanting after utility work on Weller Avenue, and estimated a rough market cost of about $1,000 per tree at the low end and $5,000–$8,000 for contracted plantings. The commission emphasized those figures were discussed as approximations during the meeting.
What’s next: The commission will present a signage mock-up and a general planting map to Rotary and proceed with a scaled-back fall planting schedule while continuing appeals and local fundraising for replacement and maintenance work.
