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Tree commissioners, sustainability director urge council to adopt two amendments recognizing urban forest as infrastructure
Summary
Speakers including the city tree-advisory chair and the sustainability director urged approval of two small changes to Hartford's tree ordinance to secure funding flows and formally recognize the urban forest as essential green infrastructure.
Jack Hale, chair of Hartford's Tree Advisory Commission, testified in favor of two amendments to the city's tree ordinance (items 2.9 and 2.10), explaining they address technical funding language and elevate the urban forest as essential municipal green infrastructure. Hale said the amendments would improve how money is conveyed into the tree account and commit the city to pursue grant opportunities to support urban forestry work.
Hale told the council the city assessment done in 2007 found roughly 25% canopy cover and that legacy, large trees are vital but finite; the amendments would give the forestry program clearer access to funding and recognition in planning. "The amendment specifies that the trees of the city ... amount to essential municipal green infrastructure," Hale said.
George de Leon, a new tree commissioner, and Cecilia Drayton, the city's director of sustainability, also supported the changes. Drayton noted recent wildfire impacts and described trees as "the lungs for the air we breathe" and a critical element of public health and resilience. Several tree-commission speakers urged the council to adopt the simple wording changes to secure grant eligibility and better connect tree care to city infrastructure planning.
Council members thanked the speakers; the hearing did not include an immediate vote on the amendments.
