Elmhurst Tree Program On Chopping Block

Elmhurst IL

19 April, 2021

8:02 AM

Description

ELMHURST, IL — The Elmhurst City Council is looking to suspend its tree planting program this year. One resident has spoken out against the idea. This budget year, the city was expected to spend $244,000 for the planting of 636 trees. But a city committee last week voted to hold off on the spending for 2021 because of the pandemic's effect on the budget. In early March, a city memo indicated City Manager Jim Grabowski ordered staff to place the tree planting program on hold. At Monday's meeting, the proposed suspension of the program is part of a package of items in the "consent agenda," which the council votes up or down. However, any council can move to vote on the issue individually, allowing debate. "Will this agenda item be pulled from the consent agenda?" resident James Colbert asked on Patch. "Who will vote against it? I'll be paying attention. I hope my fellow citizens will as well. Let those on the City Council announce to us all if they are for sustainability or just pay lip service." He noted the city would get millions as part of the recent stimulus legislation passed in Washington. "They certainly want to cry poor mouth as they cancel the 2021 tree planting program, but watch them dole out funds to their favorite businesses and nonprofits," Colbert said. Monday's council agenda includes a memo from the Public Works and Buildings Committee, which voted to suspend the program for the year. It touted the program's advantages. "Parkway trees provide several benefits, such as shade from heat and relief from humidity, making streets more walkable and bikable and lowering the average electricity bills of surrounding households," the memo said. "There is also evidence that they improve the health of nearby residents and increase property values in the area." However, the memo said it would be "fiscally responsible" to place the tree planting program on hold for 2021 because of the pandemic. Elmhurst belongs to the Suburban Tree Consortium, which has 39 municipal members and six nurseries. Together, the towns buy more than 10,000 trees a year.