TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo City Council on Wednesday approved $65,000 from the Urban Forestry Commission Trust Fund to hire a consultant who would help the endeavor to plant more than 10,000 trees in the city over the next five years.
Council member George Sarantou said that while he and other council members, including Adam Martinez and Vanice Williams, had initial reservations about the need for a consultant, their questions were answered enough for them to support the hiring.
The project, through a $6.1 million federal grant, seeks to raise the city's tree canopy from 17% to 35-40%. This would reduce the impact of summer heat, create cleaner air and help control stormwater runoff, according to the city.
Council approved $109,380 to implement traffic calming measures on four roadways in District 5, which covers a portion of west Toledo and is represented by council member Sam Melden.
It also approved $282,000 to extend its agreement by one year with Flock Group Inc. for its automatic license plate readers it provides to the Toledo Police Department.
The city also received a $1,150,039 grant from the National Park Service to revitalize public access amenities at the Rev. H.V. Savage Park, which is set for a major overhaul including a new splash pad with another $1.1 million grant.
Two evaluatory measures will be undertaken. $62,000 will be used for a consolidation and feasibility study of TPD and $90,000 will be used for cybersecurity testing and evaluation of the traffic management system.
Two parks in Toledo will be the site of upcoming construction. $150,000 was approved for an athletic field at Robinson Park near North Detroit Avenue and Monroe Street and $100,000 was approved for a playground at Elmhurst Park by Elmhurst Elementary School in west Toledo.