Substitute
Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Planning and Sustainability
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Districts
Application of the Director of Planning and Sustainability to approve a two-year agreement between DeKalb County and Trees Atlanta. ReLeaf DeKalb II - Second Front Yard and County Property Tree Program.
Body
Information Contact: Andrew A. Baker, AICP, Director
Phone Number: 404-687-7154
PURPOSE:
Application of the Director of Planning and Sustainability to approve a two-year service agreement between DeKalb County and Trees Atlanta whereby Trees Atlanta will (1) plant overstory trees in residential front yards at no cost to homeowners in unincorporated DeKalb County and (2) plant overstory trees on County-owned property and other nonprofits’ property to increase DeKalb’s overall tree canopy, reduce stormwater, and mitigate effects of climate change.
NEED/IMPACT:
Overall tree canopy in unincorporated DeKalb County is decreasing due to continued growth/development and is likely to decrease for the foreseeable future. While climate change and the urban heat island are causing warmer air temperatures and more intense rainfall, an increased, healthy tree canopy would help mitigate these impacts through carbon sequestration, ambient air temperature reduction, and stormwater retention on foliage and branches. An increased, healthy tree canopy would also reduce energy consumption and utility costs to homeowners. ReLeaf DeKalb II would provide for up to 600 trees to be planted between October 2022 and April 2024. The cities of Brookhaven, Decatur, Doraville, and Dunwoody all maintain similar programs in partnership with Trees Atlanta.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Planning & Sustainability Department will administer the program and use existing funds in the Tree Bank, which collects tree recompense funds from developers and code violators. There are sufficient funds in this account to pay for the $150,000 cost of the two-year service agreement.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
To approve the two-year service agreement and authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute all necessary documents.