TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Terrence R. Moore, ICMA-CM
DATE: May 19, 2026
Title
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING PROGRAM.
Body
Background:
Given the current limited financial position of the Tree Trust Fund, the City of Delray Beach will need to endeavor reimagined opportunity to continue its community tree planting program.
As referenced in the attached memorandum from Interim Sustainability and Resiliency Officer Chris Chitester, Community Greening, the City’s external partner working with our organization to implement the program for the past five years or so, wish to propose a scope of work for Program Year 2026-2027 that would restore activities its prior scale. This would involve planting approximately 2,000 trees, at a total anticipated cost of $330,000.
While the $330,000 proposed project budget aligns slightly higher than the average expense for this purpose of roughly $300,000 annually for the first three years of the program, the present confirmed balance of the Tree Trust Fund of $60,000 isn’t nearly enough to support this level of service.
I’ve therefore invited leadership from Community Greening to join us for a brief presentation on the subject via the May 5th regular meeting. This engagement will likewise provide an opportunity for City Commission to consent to potential program expectations in advance of offering applicable proposed budget considerations for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.