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Budget Request <br />Item Quantity Cost/ Tree Total <br />Tree Trust Tree Cost <br />(est.) <br /> 75 ~$150 $11,250 <br />Resident Contribution 75 $45 ($4,500) <br />City Budget Needed $6,750 <br /> <br />City Support Requested <br />1. Approve & Support continued participation in the Tree Trust Tree Sale for 2026. <br /> <br />2. Allocate up to $6,750 in the 2026 city budget to subsidize 75 trees. Importantly, 80% of <br />survey respondents indicated they supported the city allocating $7000 of it’s budget <br />towards this effort. Twelve percent of respondents said “maybe”. <br /> <br />3. Authorize city staff to coordinate with Tree Trust on logistics and promotion. <br /> <br />4. Support pickup event at City Hall on a selected date in spring/summer 2026. <br />The proposal for 2026 includes 75 trees, as we had strong positive feedback and participation in <br />2025, and we believe the program can expand. <br />Conclusion <br />Arden Hills is defined by its rich urban forests and mature tree canopy—so much so that a tree <br />features prominently in our city logo. However, the loss of countless ash trees has left significant <br />gaps in our landscape, underscoring the important need for ongoing residential tree planting. <br />The proposed 2026 Tree Sale, in partnership with Tree Trust, offers a cost-effective, low-effort <br />solution to support reforestation across our community. This program promotes environmental <br />sustainability, boosts property values, and empowers residents to take part in restoring our tree <br />canopy—all without requiring extensive city resources or maintenance. <br />Following strong community interest in the 2025 pilot and the success of similar programs in <br />neighboring cities, we strongly recommend expanding this initiative in 2026 to ensure long-term <br />impact and community benefit. <br />