Council approves $10,000 private-property tree planting incentive and refers code amendment on tree protections

Public comments from Elmhurst Cool Cities Coalition members and residents emphasized tree canopy loss, the stormwater benefits of mature trees and the need for private-property protections. Amy Wheeler and Barbara Lteran cited regional analyses and local estimates of canopy value, urging the council to take steps beyond education to preserve and replace mature trees.

"Our existing trees work hard for us with a relatively small investment," Amy Wheeler said, noting studies cited to the council about economic and environmental returns on urban trees. Barbara Lteran described a decline in private canopy and urged a private-property tree ordinance, tree-removal permitting, and a long-term urban-forest plan.

On the agenda (item 6.10), the public works committee recommended: sharing educational materials; adding private-property tree planting to the city's stormwater-management incentive program; and authorizing the city attorney to amend Elmhurst Municipal Code §14.09. The committee proposed allocating $10,000 from the stormwater program for the initiative; staff told the committee that amount is typically unspent and would be a subsection of the larger $150,000 stormwater fund.

Council debate focused on program mechanics and trade-offs. Questions included whether setting aside $10,000 would reduce funds available for high-priority stormwater repairs (for example, check-valve installations), how eligibility would be determined, whether the program requires homeowner cost-share, and whether the city should create a separate account or require permits and fee-in-lieu options.

Alderman Bram, who helped present the committee recommendation, said the incentive is designed as a 50/50 reimbursement up to $500 per address, one-time per address, and is intended to be an incremental first step. "It's not just giving 100% reimbursement for trees; it's a 50-50 reimbursement option, not to exceed $500," Bram said. Committee members described the measure as a limited pilot-like step — an initial $10,000 to plant roughly 20–40 trees annually at the proposed reimbursement levels — with a plan to revisit protections and funding in a year.

The council approved item 6.10 by roll call, 13-0 (one absent). The council also earlier removed item 6.10 from the omnibus consent agenda for separate consideration. The approval authorizes staff and legal review to codify the changes to §14.09 and adds the private-property tree planting incentive to the stormwater program.

Next steps: staff will work with the public works committee and the city attorney to draft the precise ordinance language amending §14.09 and to finalize application criteria, reimbursement procedures, and reporting; the committee indicated it will revisit the program within a year to refine scope and funding.