Brookhaven adds more funds to help Brookhaven’s tree canopy

Brookhaven, GA, Dec. 10, 2020 -- While COVID-19 has presented multiple challenges to the City of Brookhaven this year, it looks like in one instance there was lemonade to be made from those proverbial lemons.

The pandemic prevented use of approximately $25,000 budgeted travel expenses for City officials to attend meetings and conferences throughout this year. This money, not used due to the pandemic, would normally be recycled into next year’s General Fund budget. However, at the Dec. 8 regular Council meeting, District 4 Councilman Joe Gebbia had a unique suggestion that was unanimously approved: Move the budgeted dollars to the City’s tree canopy fund, known formally as the Brookhaven Tree Preservation Fiduciary Account.

The vote to approve the move will help in future efforts for the preservation of the City’s tree canopy. Examples of how this fund is used include projects such as the recent tree planting at Langford Park and movement of trees earlier this year from a Children’s Health Care of Atlanta construction site to designated spots along the Peachtree Creek Greenway. Going forward, monies will be used to help maintain trees in the City’s nursery near Lynwood Park to meet future canopy restoration needs.

In making the proposal, Gebbia noted that refocusing the travel dollars “speaks to our ongoing commitment to our City, our commitment to the ecology, our commitment to our tree canopy and our commitment to being socially responsible.”

Brookhaven Mayor John Ernst agreed, noting “As City leaders we have made a commitment to protect our tree canopy…I think we all would agree that tree preservation is one of the top priorities in every district, from Murphey Candler to the Peachtree Creek Greenway and all points beyond and in between. I can see where the application of extra funding to improve and enhance the tree canopy speaks to all of the values we hold dear.”