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Akron committee OKs moving forward on grant to pursue Sustainable Forestry Initiatives certification
Summary
City staff told the public service committee a federal/state grant would fund outreach and consultant-led third-party SFI urban/community forestry certification—no city match required—and the committee placed the ordinance on the consent agenda.
Service Director Chris Bridal and city arborist Matt Nall presented an ordinance authorizing the mayor to accept and expand a Sustainable Forestry Initiatives (SFI) urban/community forestry certification grant and declared an emergency to expedite action. “This certification will add additional credibility to existing programs and work to improve urban forest management, ecological health, equity, community engagement, climate resilience, and long term sustainability across the city of Akron,” Matt Nall said.
Bridal told the committee the grant requires no city financial match, will fund community outreach and offset staff time for baseline data collection, and will pay a required third‑party consultant to complete the certification process. The project aims to leave Akron with a certified, data‑driven framework for managing and expanding the urban canopy.
Committee members thanked staff for outreach and encouraged wider engagement; Councilman McKittrick recommended colleagues invite staff to ward meetings. The committee voted to place the ordinance on the consent agenda for council consideration.
If awarded, staff said the certification process would be completed with the consultant and targeted to achieve third‑party SFI urban/community forestry certification by 2027.
