Carson City starts tree planting program

City officials are hoping to encourage Carson City residents to help plant trees.

Carson City supervisors gave their support Thursday to a program that will allow property owners to plant a tree in the city's right-of-way, which generally extends seven to 10 feet from the edge of local streets.

The program, which is to begin next year, will be funded with about $10,000 of Question 18 money.

Under the program, a property owner will pay for a tree, the type of which has to be approved by the city. The city will pay to have it properly planted.

For up to two years the city will also have its city arborist do periodic checks to make sure the tree is healthy. The property owner will be responsible for maintaining the tree.

City Parks Superintendent Scott Fahrenbruch said the city has removed a lot of hazardous trees lately with no mechanism in place to replace them. This offers one way to replace those trees, but also offers an opportunity to improve the city's urban forest. The city said the program may fund the planting of 40 trees in the first year.

Fahrenbruch said the trees would cost between $100 and $250 each.

The city is asking for residents to pay for the trees because they hope those who have an investment in the tree will take better care of it, Fahrenbruch said.

The 1996 Quality of Life Initiative allowed for a street tree program and other public landscaping enhancements. City staff said this is the first part of developing a street beautification program.

For information on the city's Street Tree Program, call Scott Fahrenbruch at 887-2363, ext. 1003, or John Flansberg at 887-2345.