In a recent city commission meeting, officials discussed the establishment of a new tree canopy replacement grant program aimed at addressing significant declines in the community's tree coverage. The resolution, identified as 20240-35, was presented by the Sustainable Development department and received unanimous support from the commission.

Director Justin Proffitt highlighted that the community's tree canopy coverage has plummeted from 31% in 2018 to just 19% in 2023, prompting urgent action. The grant program is designed to assist residents and condo associations in replacing diseased or removed trees, with funding sourced from the Tree Preservation Trust fund.

The program will allow for applications throughout the year, with specific categories tailored to typical requests for tree removal—most commonly involving one or two trees. For these cases, the grant will cover 100% of the costs associated with canopy replacement, up to $20,000. However, the initial replacement tree must be funded by the applicant.

Commissioners engaged in detailed discussions about the program's structure, including the need for clarity on funding limits and eligibility criteria. The fourth category of the grant will accommodate larger-scale removals, addressing situations where more than two trees are affected.

The meeting underscored the city's commitment to enhancing its green spaces and mitigating the loss of tree coverage, with officials expressing gratitude for community input and emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices moving forward.