Municipal Trees and Urban Forest Programs

At a glance

• What: the Municipal Trees ordinance (Chapter 22) and the City's tree planting, vacant land management and urban forest restoration programs.
• Where it stands: The ordinance amendment passed 9-0 on 2026-09-28, and the programs and bonds passed 9-0 on 2026-10-26.
• Next: Program implementation.

Sources

• Posted agendas for the meetings in the log below (see each meeting page).

Log

2026-11-04 - Common Council Study Session

• Agreement to plant 3,200 trees in income-eligible areas through June 5, 2029, reimbursable by USDA Forest Service.

2026-10-14 - Common Council Joint Parks and Recreation and Public Works Committee

• Joint committee: the administration acknowledged sidewalk and curb work had conflicted with tree-canopy goals and committed to an off-season review; members and residents urged a tree-first approach.

2026-09-28 - Common Council Regular Meeting

• Municipal Trees ordinance amendment (Ch. 22) and SEQRA negative declaration passed 9-0.

2026-10-26 - Common Council Regular Meeting

• Vacant land management and tree planting programs, bonds and authorizations, and urban forest restoration passed 9-0.

2026-10-21 - Common Council Study Session

• $500,000 tree planting bond and urban forest restoration account reviewed; staff covered notice and opt-out, species choice, larger nursery stock and hazardous private trees. See Vacant Land Management Program.