LaSalle Business Association asks city to apply for tree-inventory grant to strengthen downtown

Chris Duncan, speaking for the LaSalle Business Association, urged the LaSalle City Council to allow the city to be the formal applicant for a grant to develop a downtown tree inventory and management plan. "We need your blessing," he told the council, saying the LBA would do most of the legwork while the city must hold the application and funds.

The association argues the downtown streetscape would benefit from a consistent canopy of large shade trees that encourage longer visitor stays and higher sales. Duncan told the council current trees downtown are unevenly spaced, some attract nesting birds and bees that leave a mess, and others have grown to block storefront signage.

Ellie Bgoy, who identified herself as the LBA’s grant manager, said the grant funds a plan that outlines appropriate species and maintenance practices. She told the council that the program awards funds to a unit of government, that plan requests have been as high as $60,000, and that the city would be reimbursed for the plan cost if the grant is awarded. Bgoy noted a resolution would be needed at the council’s April 27 meeting because the grant application deadline is April 30.

Council members asked whether parks such as Rotary Park would be eligible; Bgoy said the inventory could be citywide and the city would choose where to apply plan recommendations, while the LBA’s priority would be the downtown business district. Multiple council members expressed appreciation for the LBA’s work and directed staff to place an item on the April 27 agenda so the council can consider a resolution authorizing application.

If the council approves the resolution and the grant is awarded, the resulting inventory and management plan would be intended to guide future tree-planting grants and streetscape investments in downtown LaSalle.