Use of $2.2 million tree planting fund raises eyebrows

Conservationists are increasingly concerned over the City’s use of a $2.2 million dedicated tree planting fund. Known as the Tree Mitigation Fund, its primary purpose is to replace trees lost to development and to mitigate environmental damage. However, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent for underutilized capital equipment, downtown tree pruning, and high dollar studies.

Cibrian announces her plans

Recently, Councilwoman Diane Cibrian announced plans for a city-wide tree planting program to be paid for by the fund. Council will vote on appropriating $600,000 for the program at its January 31st meeting.

The appropriation includes $450,000 for planting 400 street trees along Potranco Road, Lone Star Boulevard and Vance Jackson Road. The remaining $150,000 will go for planting 800 trees in City parks. The new budget reduces planting costs to $1,125 per tree, down substantially from the stratospheric $2,620 that was originally proposed. Because all the funds will go toward planting and maintenance of new trees, we recommend approval of the projects at Thursday's Council meeting.

Going fast, but income slowing

An ordinance establishing the Tree Mitigation Fund sets out tree planting, and maintenance of the planted trees, as its primary purpose. Most of the money in the fund has come from builders and developers who filed under the 2003 tree ordinance and opted to pay a fee in lieu of preserving trees on a site.

However, in 2006, City Council slashed tree preservation rules and consequently future fund revenues will be dramatically less. Therefore, the large amount of money in the fund today is an anomaly that will, most likely, never be repeated.

Recommendations

Since the fund is finite and non-renewable, we are asking Council to carefully steward the money. We strongly recommend that:

1. All spending proposals be first developed by the Open Space committee of the Parks & Recreation citizens board and then forwarded to staff for refinement. The committee should approve all spending from the fund.
2. Funds should be spent primarily on planting trees and maintaining those trees in the most economical manner possible in order to provide maximum environmental benefits.
3. Whether trees are planted by contractors or City staff, a rigorous process of financial analysis and competitive bidding should precede any spending proposal.
4. No money from the fund be spent on
   • pruning existing trees in parks and public spaces
   • underutilized capital equipment
   • staff and contractor training programs
   • tree giveaways
   • transfer of funds to other agencies or organizations.