Titusville environmental panel asks staff to forward trust-fund paper to city for urban-forest plan support

Member Browning, a member of the Titusville Environmental Commission, presented a one-page recommendation asking staff to consider dedicating the Native Landscape Public Trust Fund primarily to support the city's Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP).

The paper, Browning said, outlines the fund's history and asks the city to prioritize the UFMP for the trust fund's use. Browning said the fund would initially cover soft costs such as personnel and software to stand up the program and later support planting and maintenance: "including salary for an urban forest manager, planting the right tree in the right place throughout the city, software for administrative purposes, and any other tools necessary to execute the urban forest master plan."

Commissioners discussed whether the trust fund could also pay for the UFMP position; Browning said it could. Commissioner Tucker and others emphasized keeping the recommended addition short and actionable so staff could move the item to council without further delay.

Member Browning moved to submit the paper with the additional verbiage to staff for consideration of forwarding it to the city council; Member Tucker seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

The commission did not set a timeline for city-council consideration. Lily (city staff) accepted the document for transmittal to staff and council consideration.

The commission framed the recommendation as a request for the city manager and council to consider repurposing or prioritizing the trust fund for the UFMP and related startup costs; no ordinance or binding commitment was adopted by the commission.

Votes at the meeting were taken by voice; the motion to forward the paper passed with no recorded roll-call tally in the transcript.