Brooksville council backs using tree fund for hazard trimming, removals

Brooksville’s tree mitigation fund could soon pay for a very different kind of work than many residents expected, as the City Council gave initial approval to use the account for trimming hazardous limbs and removing dead trees on public property and rights of way. The first reading of Ordinance No. 1012 came before the council on April 6 at Joseph E. Johnston III Council Chambers, 201 Howell Avenue, and the change still needs a final vote before it becomes law.

The proposal would amend Section 4-5.8, titled “Tree Replacement Requirements,” and authorize the Tree Mitigation Fund to cover dead-tree removal and tree trimming in public spaces. That is why the item drew confusion: the fund was originally understood as a last resort for replacing vegetation removed from public property or rights of way, not as a routine maintenance account. City staff said the shift would give Brooksville a faster way to deal with dead trees and low-hanging limbs that can interfere with public safety equipment and create risks for drivers, pedestrians and city crews.

The financial picture also became part of the debate. During the April 6 meeting, Community Services Director David Hainley disclosed that a $200,000 developer check had been deposited into the tree fund by mistake. That meant the account balance was actually $324,798, not the $524,798 shown in agenda documents. The discrepancy added another layer to the public-money question, because it changed how much money the city really had available for tree-related work and how far the fund could stretch if council members broaden its use.

The ordinance had already been recommended by the Brooksville Planning and Zoning Commission at its March 11 meeting, when members held a public hearing and took up the same change to Section 4-5.8. A Hernando Sun legal notice said the ordinance would authorize use of the Tree Mitigation Fund for removal of dead trees and tree trimming on public property and rights of way, with a public hearing scheduled before adoption.

Brooksville’s broader land-use goals help explain why the issue landed with such weight. The City of Brooksville Community Development Department says its Comprehensive Plan was shaped by stakeholder meetings from 2011 through 2015 and is meant to preserve safe, walkable neighborhoods, parks and historic charm while balancing development. City Code Enforcement also maintains a separate Tree Removal Permit Application, showing that tree work is already regulated through other city processes. The council’s first reading signals that Brooksville is prepared to reinterpret the fund for immediate safety and maintenance needs, with taxpayers and neighborhoods now watching to see how much of the account will remain for future tree replacement work.