City arborist outlines plan to plant 100 trees per council district; aims for equitable canopy gains

Justin Gearhart, City Arborist in Public Works, told the Neighborhoods Committee the office is launching an initiative to plant at least 100 trees in each council district. The program bundles several existing efforts — “move and replace,” city giveaways, and three planting levels tailored to site conditions — and relies on partnerships with UF/IFAS extension volunteers and neighborhood groups to identify sites.

Gearhart said the program focuses on public property (rights-of-way, parks) and will not plant on private property without permission. He described site-screening criteria: soil suitability, sight lines, utility and water/sewer mains, and planned road construction. He also said the city coordinates with the Parks Department and will count tree plantings tied to city-funded work along state roads only when a maintenance agreement or other formal arrangement allows it.

Councilmembers asked about timeline and costs. Gearhart said nursery stock shortages affect scheduling and that the city currently has extractors in about 29 fire stations (a separate item discussed at the meeting). He estimated an average fully warranted right-of-way planting cost at about $2,000 per tree with a two-year warranty; using that figure, planting 1,400 trees (100 per district across 14 districts) would cost roughly $2.8 million, though he said combined warranties and cooperative homeowner agreements could lower per-tree costs in some programs.

Councilmembers and visiting members praised the initiative and asked that the arborist’s office share site lists and the one-page flyer distributed at tree giveaways. Gearhart said the office will keep councilmembers updated on plantings in their districts and present a summary when the initiative completes.