Council approves tree-replacement reimbursement program, lowers first-year rebate to $50

The council voted to approve a tree-replacement reimbursement policy that will pay residents up to $50 per newly planted street-facing tree in its initial year. The policy is intended to help homeowners replant trees removed because of ash-tree disease while shifting long-term boulevard maintenance responsibility away from Public Works.

Staff framed the proposal as a way to manage future maintenance burdens and ownership confusion when trees planted in the boulevard are treated as city trees. Under the policy residents must plant the tree on private property (not the boulevard), call for utility marking before digging, photograph the planted tree, and submit receipts for reimbursement. Staff said the money would come from the city's capital improvement program; the transcript records $1,000 set aside for next year to fund initial reimbursements.

Council discussed specifics, including excluding evergreens from street-facing plantings because of sight-line and safety concerns. The council ultimately voted on an amended policy: Patternist moved to reduce the reimbursement from $100 to $50 "so we can meet more residents," and the motion to approve the tree-replacement reimbursement policy amended to $50 carried by voice vote.

Policy specifics recorded at the meeting: the city initially proposed a $100 cap (CIP funding would have supported about 10 reimbursements), but the amended $50 cap increases potential first-year reimbursements to approximately 20 with the $1,000 allocation. The policy permits residents latitude in species selection (excluding ash and street-facing evergreens), with staff recommending working with local nurseries and the tree board to choose appropriate species for local soil and hardiness.

Next steps: Staff will implement the reimbursement process, publish guidance on acceptable planting locations and selection advice, and monitor interest to adjust future funding.