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Akron committee advances package to plant 1,800 trees and expand proactive maintenance
Summary
The Public Service Committee put on consent a package of ordinances to plant roughly 1,800 trees (900 spring, 900 fall), remove dead/diseased trees, and fund trimming to improve lighting and safety; funding sources cited include the Sewer Capital Fund (for CSO-related replanting) and the Street Lighting Assessment for trimming.
The Public Service, Public Utilities & Green Committee advanced a set of ordinances on consent that together expand the city's tree program: authorizing planting of about 1,800 trees this year (900 in spring and 900 in fall), authorizing removal of dead or diseased trees on city land and right-of-way, and approving a trimming program intended to improve structure, visibility and street-light function.
Service Director Chris Lotto told the committee the tree-planting ordinance funds approximately 1,800 trees and that the city has a long-standing commitment to replace two trees for every tree removed during capital projects. Lotto described a mix of species selected for the program (including dogwood, redbud, crab apple, hawthorn, yellowwood, serviceberry and ornamental cherry) and said the plantings will contribute roughly 12 canopy acres; he added the city’s canopy is about 37% and the goal is to exceed 40%.
On funding, Councilperson Fran Wilson noted the capital budget line items and asked whether the Sewer Capital Fund contributes because of the combined-sewer-overflow (CSO) program; Lotto confirmed CSO-related tree removals are funded through the sewer fund and those funds are used to replant in other locations. Wilson also noted $600,000 in the capital budget for trimming funded via the Street Lighting Assessment (SLA), which Lotto said is used when trimming improves street-light function.
Lotto described the removal ordinance as a proactive hazard-reduction effort for dead or diseased trees, and said trimming targets code obstructions, low hanging branches and sight-line issues. Committee members moved each item to the consent calendar; all were advanced with 'Aye' votes and will go to full council on the consent calendar.
