Parks panel backs ordinance enabling forestry fee to fund staffing and maintenance

The Parks Commission voted to approve ordinance 20 26 0 30, an enabling ordinance that permits the common council to establish a forestry fee proposed for the 2027 budget. Chair Christopher Sina called for a roll‑call vote; the record shows Sina, Erin Farrell Ademani, Christopher Guerrero and Susan Easterday voting aye and Heidi Reynolds voting no, and the motion carried.

Mayor Aradovrada opened the item, saying the fee is based on operational demands: “Our forestry department now is we have only 1 full time employee…We have 15,000 public trees to take care,” and the fee is intended to support adding a full‑time arborist and other positions, improve pruning cycles and manage woodlots, storm damage and invasive species. Staff said the fee model was developed with financial consultant Ehlers and is intended to shift some forestry costs off the levy.

City staff and consulting materials estimate the fee would generate approximately $435,000 in revenue; the mayor said the forestry budget rises from about $217,000 (’26) to $525,000 (’27) in the proposal, with roughly $435,000 of that covered by the fee and about $90,000 remaining on the levy. Staff described the modeling as based on linear street frontage and existing utility billing classifications, not property value, to preserve the legal distinction between a fee and a tax.

Public commenters opposed the fee on legal and equity grounds. David Halford said the proposal “is an illegal property tax” and urged the commission to table the item and seek a binding legal opinion; Patrick Cheney said the formula disproportionately burdens single‑family homeowners and urged commissioners to demand a roll‑call vote so voting records would be clear. Commissioners acknowledged both support for dedicated forestry funding and frustration among residents about fee design and distribution.

The commission’s approval advances the ordinance; the common council will determine fee amounts and final adoption as part of the 2027 budget process.