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Citrus Heights council reviews $900,000 tree fund, seeks direction on canopy programs
Summary
Staff recommended several urban forest initiatives—tree giveaways, a photo contest, parking‑lot canopy grants and a pilot to add trees along the Old Auburn Road Trail—using about $900,000 in tree mitigation funds; council generally supported drafting program details and budgets for council review.
Citrus Heights — City planning staff presented options to expand the city’s urban forest and spend a balance in the city’s tree mitigation fund estimated at about $900,000. Allison Bermudez described three program categories: community engagement (photo contest, a 'new growth' tree giveaway to commemorate newborns), infrastructure and grants (Old Auburn Road Trail shade, commercial parking‑lot matching grants) and neighborhood planting projects.
Bermudez said the mitigation fund derives from fees paid by developers who remove healthy trees and the fund historically supports an in‑home arborist service that has served more than 300 property owners. She proposed a modest pilot investigation for the Old Auburn Road Trail (estimated initial study cost ~$5,000) and a possible $100,000 kickoff for a commercial canopy matching grant program offering up to $20,000 per site.
Councilmembers were broadly supportive but raised practical concerns: maintenance and watering responsibilities on private property, the risk of trees failing if not irrigated, utility conflicts for plantings along the Old Auburn Road Trail, and choosing species appropriate to narrow utility conditions. Councilmember Middleton suggested safeguards for private grants (matching requirements and drip‑line checks) and Councilmember Nelson asked the city to prioritize youth engagement and categories for a photo contest.
Next steps: Staff will refine the program concepts, supply estimated budgets and implementation timelines, and return with discrete proposals for council consideration.
