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Council narrows tree-trust purchases to prioritize shade trees, bars crepe myrtles for one year
Summary
After lengthy debate about canopy, root damage and neighborhood suitability, council moved to use tree-trust funds to buy trees under a contract that requires Type 1 or Type 2 trees to be planted where they fit and bars crepe myrtles and bottlebrush purchases under that contract for 12 months; staff will return with ordinance changes on 08/27/2026.
Council considered modifications to the city's tree-planting program and how tree-trust funds should be used. A motion proposed using tree-trust funds to purchase trees under a contract with new rules: if a Type 1 or Type 2 tree fits, only those types may be planted; if a resident chooses a Type 3 tree, crepe myrtles and bottlebrush would not be eligible for purchase under the contract for 12 months.
The motion's sponsor emphasized the need to rebuild canopy with shade trees after hurricane losses and to trial the restriction for one year before broader policy changes. Critics warned the restriction could exclude areas where larger shade trees cannot be planted because of space constraints; others argued planting any tree is better than none in some locations. The urban-forestry manager agreed to provide technical analyses and to work with legal staff to update ordinance language last revised in 2009.
Council approved the motion operating under the stated restrictions and directed staff to return on 08/27 with ordinance and resolution language and a report on anticipated planting numbers and locations. Follow-up motions and staff reports were discussed but held for later consideration.
