Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation Comm. Cole Stallard speaks to the City Council budget committee on Friday. [City Council Livestream]

Aldermen pressed Department of Streets and Sanitation Comm. Cole Stallard and staff on continuing to improve tree maintenance efforts during a late Friday hearing before the City Council Committee on Budget and Government Operations.

Under Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s proposed 2023 budget, the Streets and Sanitation budget is set to rise to more than $310.6 million next year from more than $308 million in 2022. The department is responsible for tree maintenance, street cleaning, garbage collection, graffiti removal, towing and rodent control.

In 2023, the department’s number of full-time equivalent positions is proposed to rise to 2,258 from 2,234, according to budget documents.