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Sustainability Commission highlights climate plan, tree plantings and public events
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Summary
The Sustainability Commission reported progress on the climate action plan, street-tree planting mapped in TreeKeeper, committee work on electrification and stormwater, and two public events: a March 26 visioning meeting and an April 18 Clinton River cleanup.
The Sterling Heights Sustainability Commission told council Tuesday that it made steady progress across multiple committees in 2025 and early 2026, and flagged community events and work that will appear in the city's budget discussions.
Commission outreach coordinator Alexis Weinberg outlined committee activity in reduce/reuse/recycle, electrification/efficiency, stormwater and wetlands, biodiversity and outreach. The commission helped craft a solar-panel zoning amendment that the council adopted in September; members also supported a grant-backed community compost project and have assisted with street-tree planning tied to the Pathway preservation millage.
Chair Nathan Inks described committee wins and grant-supported plantings: the city received $8,000 from DTE with a $4,000 local match to plant trees at Arlington Park and a $7,750 Macomb County grant to plant 31 rights-of-way trees in neighborhoods including Ivy, Dodge Park, Plum Brook and Daventry.
Inks pointed to TreeKeeper, a public tree-management tool that now includes an overlay showing where street trees are planned for 2026 and 2027. Weinberg invited residents to two upcoming events: a March 26 community visioning meeting on climate and health adaptation (6 p.m., Community Center) and an April 18 Clinton River cleanup at Dodge Park (1-3 p.m.). She said MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are project partners and that refreshments and a mailed gift card will be offered to in-person attendees at the visioning session.
Councilmembers asked whether TreeKeeper could be linked from the city website for easier access; staff said they would add a hot link on the main page.
