Cape Coral council rejects $300K-era urban forestry master plan after debate on costs and scope

Councilmembers on the Cape Coral City Council voted 6-2 on July 16 to defeat a resolution to fund an urban forestry master plan, a consultant-led study city staff said is intended to map the city’s tree canopy, recommend planting and preservation strategies, and identify code changes and grant opportunities. The motion to approve the plan failed after hours of discussion about costs, outcomes and timing.

Proponents described the plan as a strategic step to grow the city’s canopy beyond its present 11–12% coverage. “In order for us to grow our tree canopy…to 20% you’re looking at having to plant over 500,000 trees in the city,” City Arborist Omar Leon told council, adding the plan would include canopy analysis using lidar and parcel-level mapping and would produce short- and long-term actionable recommendations.

City Manager staff said the arborist has already attracted grants that offset some program costs; the manager said the arborist had “received numerous grants that exceed this” plan’s budget request. Leon and staff said the master plan would also review codes and ordinances so the city can guide private-property canopy growth and preserve existing trees as development continues.

Skeptical councilmembers questioned whether the consultant plan was the best use of limited funds. “If it hasn’t impeded us from obtaining the grants and the recognition that we’ve got thus far…is the juice worth the squeeze?” Council Member Long said, noting recent recognitions and asking whether the money should instead be spent on trees.

Council discussion ranged from technical points—average installed tree costs (Leon estimated a typical 10-foot, 3-inch-caliper “ordinance” tree at roughly $1,000–$1,400 installed with a one-year warranty) and species diversity—to the plan’s role in unlocking future grants, mitigating heat and aiding future capital and commercial development.

After a motion to approve the resolution, the roll call resulted in two “aye” votes and six “no” votes; the motion failed. Council members Steinke and Donnell voted to approve the plan; Long, Gunter, Kaduk, Hillrain, Lastra and Lehman voted against it. No alternate funding or phased approach was adopted at the meeting.

City staff said the arborist will continue developing the city’s urban forestry program and that the proposal under consideration would have been delivered by an outside consultant; Leon explained the plan’s deliverables would include an urban tree canopy assessment, species-diversity analysis, prioritized plantings, short- and long-term action items and recommendations for ordinance changes. Staff also noted the plan was identified in the city’s strategic management plan adopted in 2021 or 2022.

Opponents focused on near-term budget constraints: the council had just completed a budget workshop earlier in the day and several members said they preferred directing funds to planting trees now rather than to a consultant-led plan. Proponents said without a plan the city risks inefficient plantings and missed grant opportunities and that the plan is designed as a 10–20 year roadmap rather than a single-year project.

The item was on the consent agenda as Resolution 180-125 and was pulled for discussion. No follow-up vote or substitute motion was approved at the meeting.