Save Lincoln's trees.

That's the message city council heard for about five hours Monday night.

After weeks of listening to budget cuts city leaders have proposed for the next fiscal year, the citizens had an opportunity to respond.

They showed up in strong numbers, with their message on stickers stuck to their shirts: "Lincoln needs a city forester".

Pleas to save the city forester position dominated the better part of the five hours of testimony.

"I'm very concerned and I appreciate a budget more than anyone, because I run a company, but this is just a case where the tree situation needs to be carefully analyzed to maintain Lincoln's healthy trees," Chip Doolittle told the council. He lives in Omaha now but is originally from Lincoln.

The mayor is proposing to eliminate the position to save money in next year's budget.

Council members considered fighting the cut, but Parks and Recreation Director Lynn Johnson said the Community Forestry department is moving in a different direction no matter what.

If the council would reallocate money for the position, Johnson said it wouldn't be used to keep the city forester.

He told the council and public that the reorganization of the department is essential to its future. The plan is to replace the forester with a community forestry planner who would have most of the same responsibilities as the forester did.

Council Chair John Spatz said the council is in a tough position. Councilman Jon Camp questioned why the administration wouldn't follow the wishes of the council.

"I'm concerned at where the executive and legislative branches lie with each other," said Camp.

Rick Hoppe, the mayor's chief of staff, said it's not a legislative issue but a management issue.

"This isn't some effort to disrespect the authority of the council. It is an effort to preserve the management prerogatives of the administration in moving the city forward," said Hoppe.

"So you just want us to approve the money and you'll spend it the way you want?," questioned Camp.

Hoppe said that isn't the case and the councilman was "putting words into his (Mr. Hoppe) mouth".

Residents argued the council should allocate money for the forester position anyway.

"I know there are hard decisions. I know we've been told you know, if we do this, we can't do that, but that's what we have city leaders for - is to find solutions," Cathy Beecham told the council.

Councilman Doug Emery was quick to respond.

"This is what happens when you say there's a fine item amount of money. This is exactly the dilemma we're in. This isn't a leadership issue. This is an issue of none of us can figure out how to put nine into five."

So will people's hours of testimony to the council pay off if the council says its hands are tied?

Time will tell. The council will vote on the budget Wednesday. Spatz said he appreciated the public testimony on the issue.

"I think it's very relevant for the people to come down to have their say, even if at the end of the day the council can't make this decision. I think it's very relevant to have this public debate and have the public hear about this."