Trees Forever secures $50,000 grant; staff proposes right-of-way tree requirement for new development

Trees Forever representatives updated the council April 7 on multiyear tree efforts in Marion and announced the nonprofit won a $50,000 Urban Forestry Development Grant to pilot a neighborhood tree-captain program aimed at planting up to 250 trees.

The Trees Forever speaker reminded council of recent work, including a 2024 effort that planted 200 right-of-way trees with only a 3% mortality rate and a prior Alliant Energy grant. She invited residents to an Arbor Day planting event at Butterfield Park on April 24 and said the new $50,000 grant will fund a neighborhood-led captain model where a resident applies to coordinate plantings and receives training and tree delivery support.

City staff then presented a proposal to amend development requirements so builders would fund right-of-way trees at time of permit (a dollars-in-lieu payment) while city staff would select, install and provide first-season maintenance and watering. Staff said a draft amendment would be ready late in the month for internal and tree-board review and that revised language would be returned to council in May.

Council members asked about opt-outs for custom homes, whether dollars-in-lieu would cover the tree cost plus first-year maintenance, and how soil remediation requirements would be handled. Staff said fee details are still to be determined but the intent is to cover tree cost and some labor, and soil requirements remain under internal discussion.

Council voiced broad conceptual support for increasing the city’s tree canopy while noting implementation details — fees, timing relative to other infrastructure, and leaf-disposal logistics — need resolution before final adoption.