Council member urges ‘canopy equity’ after city plants 33 trees; suggests mapping, replacement policy and targeted grants
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Summary
During council comments a council member proposed a canopy equity plan after the city planted 33 trees with NASH Nurseries and Consumers Energy funding. She cited an MSU study on neighborhood temperature differences and recommended targeted plantings, mapping and pursuit of Michigan DNR grants.
A council member used her allotted council comment time to urge the city to adopt a deliberate “canopy equity” approach to tree planting, noting a recent city effort that planted 33 trees with help from NASH Nurseries and funding from Consumers Energy.
The council member, who requested the time to present an idea not on the regular agenda, referenced a 2023 Michigan State University study that found summer temperature differences of 7 to 10 degrees between high‑ and low‑tree‑cover neighborhoods in small Michigan cities. “When researchers mapped out cities like ours, they also found ... the older rental corridors and southern blocks tend to have the least amount of shade,” she said, arguing that tree cover often overlaps with historic disinvestment and income differences.
She described examples from other Michigan cities: Ann Arbor’s use of a portion of a stormwater fee to fund tree planting, Kalamazoo pairing plantings with lead service line replacements, and Muskegon using corporate sponsorships. She suggested Owosso could create a quick canopy map—potentially partnering with local college students—to target plantings where shade is most needed and to support future grant applications. She noted Michigan DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant (up to $30,000 per cycle) and partnership programs through the Arbor Day Foundation that reward equitable planning.
The council member also urged a replacement‑first norm: “If we make it a norm that no tree is removed without a plan for replacement, then we can begin to rebuild our shade equity street by street and year by year,” she said, emphasizing that loss of mature trees can leave a gap in shade for decades. Council members and staff responded positively; the mayor and others said they would follow up with Amy (city staff) to discuss next steps.
Ending: Council members agreed the topic merits further discussion with staff; the council did not take formal action but signaled interest in continuing the conversation and exploring grants and mapping.