REFERRAL TO THE SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER CITY-FUNDED SWALE TREE MAINTENANCE.

Please place on the March 7, 2018 City Commission Agenda, a referral to the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee to consider city-funded swale tree maintenance.

In recent years, previous commissions explored the possibility of city-funded maintenance of trees in the swale as a sustainable mechanism to provide for the long-term health of our trees and canopy. Following Hurricane Irma, the need for consistent and quality tree maintenance became more apparent and compelling. As experienced in Coral Gables and in the Florida Keys among other municipalities, inappropriately planted and/or maintained trees exacerbated damage to power lines and private property.

For this reason, I would like City staff to evaluate the necessity of having the city perform tree maintenance and provide financial estimates to consider for the upcoming budget cycle.

For additional information, please contact my office at extension 6437.