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City staff confirm second urban-forester position funded through watershed restoration fund
Summary
City urban-forest staff told the Finance Standing Committee that the watershed restoration fund will fund a second urban-forester position for FY25–26 and that funds programmed for tree planting will be spent; committee members asked about outreach to increase planting on private property.
Mr. Adams, the city’s urban-forest representative, told the Finance Standing Committee on May 5 that the city plans to use watershed restoration funds to support the urban-forestry program and that the budgeted funds will be spent this fiscal year.
When asked about capacity to plant the number of trees the council has discussed, Adams said the immediate planting needs can be met but warned that publicly owned planting space is finite and “as we go into the next few years, it’s gonna become increasingly difficult to find space.” He added that much future planting will depend on private-property owner willingness.
Alderman Savage and others asked whether the watershed restoration fund increase programmed in the FY25–26 proposal covers a second urban-forester position. Finance staff and Mr. Trudeau clarified that the $5.15 (thousand? — the transcript refers to “$5.15 that's programmed” and participants confirmed that funding for the additional position is included in the watershed restoration fund for FY25 and FY26) in the watershed restoration fund is intended to cover the additional position and that the department will revise the staffing summary to reflect the second position in code and hiring intentions.
Adams said the department has looked at outreach options to encourage residents to add trees on private property, but consultant-driven public campaigns may be costly. He said the department hopes to add an outreach position in the budget that would focus on engagement, festivals and education to create new planting opportunities.
Committee members asked for confirmation that the city will use the available watershed restoration funds and for follow-up to show where the second position appears in the staffing summary and budget documents.
Ending: Staff said they will update the staffing summary to reflect the second urban forester and will proceed with hiring processes with the goal of filling the position before July 1.
