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Brookhaven council approves $172,000 from tree fund for canopy and restoration projects
Summary
The Brookhaven City Council voted to appropriate $172,000 from the city’s tree fund to expand the Front Yard Tree program and finance park restorations, native landscaping at the Pep Building and habitat work at multiple parks. The measure passed by voice vote with no opposition.
The Brookhaven City Council voted to appropriate $172,000 from the general tree fund balance to finance a suite of canopy and ecological projects.
Councilmember (mover) proposed the appropriation and it was seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote with council members responding "aye." Assistant City Manager Patrice Ruffin and Community Development Director Linda (last name not specified in the transcript) outlined planned uses, including expanding the Front Yard Tree program after strong public signups, installing native landscaping at the Pep Building, creating an arborarium on the Petrie Creek Greenway near the Public Safety Building, Piedmont Prairie restoration work at Blackburn Park and Blackburn Park 2, invasive-species removal at Ashford Park Preserve, and continued ecological restoration at Murphy Candler Park.
"One of them I know is a program that we've been doing for years now — it's the Front Yard Tree program, and we've continued that," the Community Development speaker said when reviewing the list of projects. Staff said demand required adding extra money because the first group of trees had already sold out.
Finance Director Hans had earlier flagged the item on the evening’s agenda as an appropriation from the tree fund and staff confirmed Linda Abarey would be available to answer technical questions about the canopy program at future meetings. Council members asked that staff share the project list with volunteer groups and neighborhood associations so community volunteers could be integrated into planting and maintenance efforts.
The appropriation was presented as an ordinance item and received no public speakers during the hearing. Following the vote, council moved on to additional agenda items and later approved related temporary easement resolutions for a Caldwell Road multiuse path.
Next steps: staff will finalize contracts and volunteer coordination and provide details about project timing and any signage or web resources for the Piedmont Prairie restoration.
