Boards & Commissions
SHADE TREE COMMISSION
The Shade Tree Commission typically meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 5:00 PM in the Deck Building at Melvin Miller Park.
Tree City USA: The City of Urbana has been a Tree City USA for 22 consecutive years. Urbana was first named a Tree City USA in 2003 for its tree efforts in 2002.
Memorial Tree Program: The City of Urbana is pleased to offer a memorial tree program for individuals or organizations desiring to create a lasting remembrance of a loved one, commemorate a special achievement, or honor a deserving person or organization through the planting of memorial trees at Oak Dale Cemetery, Melvin Miller Park, or other city parkland. All memorial trees will be planted in the fall, and select tree species are available. An application form about the program is available here: Memorial Tree Program Application Form.
For additional information, please contact Doug Crabill by calling 652-4305 or by email at the following address: [email protected]. A listing of the memorial trees previously planted is available here: Memorial Tree Listing. As additional trees are planted, this listing will be updated.
Members
Lynn Mintchell, Ward 1
Doug George, Ward 2
Jim Lemon, Ward 3
Stephanie Truelove, Ward 4
Donna Finkbine, At Large
Doug Crabill, At Large
Mark Muirhead, Street Supervisor
Ryan Lantz, Grounds Supervisor
OPEN, Alternate
OPEN, Alternate
Mission
The mission of the City of Urbana Shade Tree Commission is to maintain and improve the urban forest of the city through recommendations to the city administration for planned tree pruning, removal, and planting in public right-of-ways and spaces. In addition, the commission works to educate the public about the beauty and value of trees.
History
The roots of the Urbana Shade Tree Commission date back to the early 1980’s when key individuals, including, the late Mr. Elmo Layman, the late Mr. Rocky Teets (Parks Superintendent), and the late Mr. Lewis B. Moore (Mayor) tried to form a tree commission in the city. The city council at the time did not support this initiative, but the vision did not cease.
Nearly twenty years later in the fall of 2001, The Urbana Shade Tree Commission was established by a city ordinance following many months of volunteer efforts to write an ordinance.
Once again, key individuals like Elmo Layman and Rocky Teets tried to press for organized tree efforts in the city, and they were successful in their second attempt. The commission’s first meeting was held on March 18, 2002, and meetings have been held on a regular basis since that time. The commission earned its Tree City USA status on Arbor Day 2003, and the commission continues to work toward a healthy urban forest.
The commission has completed a tree inventory to prioritize tree removal needs, and the commission has started a yearly tree planting program. As time passes, the commission continues to plan for a more comprehensive tree planting program.
NATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION TREE CITY USA REQUIREMENTS
Shade Tree Ordinance
The city ordinance governing shade trees is Chapter 905 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Urbana. Go to city government and then ordinances to view the ordinance.
CURRENT TREE INVENTORIES
The tree inventories for the street trees and cemetery trees are available here. The street tree inventory is sorted by street. The cemetery trees are identified by numerical tags.
Street Tree Inventory-October 2023
Oak Dale Cemetery Inventory-June 2015
Oak Dale Cemetery Section Map (a helpful map when using the Oak Dale Cemetery tree inventory)
TREE WORK PERMIT
As of 2020, the City of Urbana now requires a Tree Work Permit for any planting or removal of trees within the right-of-way, including trees within the treelawn between the curb and sidewalk. Furthermore, as a result of this change in the city’s Tree Ordinance (Chapter 905), trees within the right-of-way are the responsibility of the property owner.
There is no fee for a Tree Work Permit, but this permit is required to be reviewed and approved by the City Engineer prior to any tree work being undertaken.
Also, please note that if a tree is removed upon issuance of a Tree Work Permit by the city, stump removal is strongly encouraged as part of the complete removal of the tree.
By Ohio law, prior to any stump grinding within the right-of-way, the contractor hired by the property owner is required to call Ohio811 by calling (800) 362-2764 or 8-1-1 at least 48 hours prior to digging in order to properly locate underground utilities. If the property owner is the party completing the excavation (stump grinding) and a third party is not being hired, then the property owner is responsible for calling 8-1-1 in advance of the digging (grinding). For more information, please visit: https://oups.org/ or search Ohio811.
If you have specific questions about the condition of the tree in front of your home, you can consult with an arborist to determine the tree’s overall condition. The following website is a helpful resource for finding ISA Certified Arborists in the area: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist. In addition, this website includes general resources regarding the care of trees: https://www.treesaregood.org/treeowner.
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2012 MINUTES
April 2012 Minutes
June 2012 Minutes
July 2012 Minutes
August 2012 Minutes
September 2012 Minutes
October 2012 Minutes
November 2012 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2013 MINUTES
March 2013 Minutes
April 2013 Minutes
May 2013 Minutes
July 2013 Minutes
August 2013 Minutes
September 2013 Minutes
October 2013 Minutes
November 2013 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2014 MINUTES
March 2014 Minutes
April 2014 Minutes
June 2014 Minutes
July 2014 Minutes
August 2014 Minutes
September 2014 Minutes
October 2014 Minutes
November 2014 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2015 MINUTES
March 2015 Minutes
April 2015 Minutes
May 2015 Minutes
July 2015 Minutes
August 2015 Minutes
September 2015 Minutes
October 2015 Minutes
November 2015 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2016 MINUTES
March 2016 Minutes
April 2016 Minutes
May 2016 Minutes
July 2016 Minutes
October 2016 Minutes
November 2016 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2017 MINUTES
March 2017 Minutes
April 2017 Minutes
June 2017 Minutes
July 2017 Minutes
September 2017 Minutes
October 2017 Minutes
November 2017 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2018 MINUTES
April 2018 Minutes
May 2018 Minutes
June 2018 Minutes
July 2018 Minutes
September 2018 Minutes
October 2018 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2019 MINUTES
April 2019 Minutes
June 2019 Minutes
July 2019 Minutes
September 2019 Minutes
October 2019 Minutes
November 2019 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2020 MINUTES
June 2020 Minutes
July 2020 Minutes
August 2020 Minutes
September 2020 Minutes
October 2020 Minutes
November 2020 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2021 MINUTES
April 2021 Minutes
May 2021 Minutes
June 2021 Minutes
July 2021 Minutes
September 2021 Minutes
October 2021 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2022 MINUTES
April 2022 Minutes
May 2022 Minutes
June 2022 Minutes
July 2022 Minutes
September 2022 Minutes
October 2022 Minutes
November 2022 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2023 MINUTES
April 2023 Minutes
May 2023 Minutes
June 2023 Minutes
August 2023 Minutes
September 2023 Minutes
October 2023 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2024 MINUTES
March 2024 Minutes
April 2024 Minutes
May 2024 Minutes
June 2024 Minutes
The Shade Tree Commission typically meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 5:00 PM in the Deck Building at Melvin Miller Park.
Tree City USA: The City of Urbana has been a Tree City USA for 22 consecutive years. Urbana was first named a Tree City USA in 2003 for its tree efforts in 2002.
Memorial Tree Program: The City of Urbana is pleased to offer a memorial tree program for individuals or organizations desiring to create a lasting remembrance of a loved one, commemorate a special achievement, or honor a deserving person or organization through the planting of memorial trees at Oak Dale Cemetery, Melvin Miller Park, or other city parkland. All memorial trees will be planted in the fall, and select tree species are available. An application form about the program is available here: Memorial Tree Program Application Form.
For additional information, please contact Doug Crabill by calling 652-4305 or by email at the following address: [email protected]. A listing of the memorial trees previously planted is available here: Memorial Tree Listing. As additional trees are planted, this listing will be updated.
Members
Lynn Mintchell, Ward 1
Doug George, Ward 2
Jim Lemon, Ward 3
Stephanie Truelove, Ward 4
Donna Finkbine, At Large
Doug Crabill, At Large
Mark Muirhead, Street Supervisor
Ryan Lantz, Grounds Supervisor
OPEN, Alternate
OPEN, Alternate
Mission
The mission of the City of Urbana Shade Tree Commission is to maintain and improve the urban forest of the city through recommendations to the city administration for planned tree pruning, removal, and planting in public right-of-ways and spaces. In addition, the commission works to educate the public about the beauty and value of trees.
History
The roots of the Urbana Shade Tree Commission date back to the early 1980’s when key individuals, including, the late Mr. Elmo Layman, the late Mr. Rocky Teets (Parks Superintendent), and the late Mr. Lewis B. Moore (Mayor) tried to form a tree commission in the city. The city council at the time did not support this initiative, but the vision did not cease.
Nearly twenty years later in the fall of 2001, The Urbana Shade Tree Commission was established by a city ordinance following many months of volunteer efforts to write an ordinance.
Once again, key individuals like Elmo Layman and Rocky Teets tried to press for organized tree efforts in the city, and they were successful in their second attempt. The commission’s first meeting was held on March 18, 2002, and meetings have been held on a regular basis since that time. The commission earned its Tree City USA status on Arbor Day 2003, and the commission continues to work toward a healthy urban forest.
The commission has completed a tree inventory to prioritize tree removal needs, and the commission has started a yearly tree planting program. As time passes, the commission continues to plan for a more comprehensive tree planting program.
NATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION TREE CITY USA REQUIREMENTS
- A Community Tree Commission
- A Community Tree Ordinance
- A Community Forestry Program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita
- An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation.
Shade Tree Ordinance
The city ordinance governing shade trees is Chapter 905 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Urbana. Go to city government and then ordinances to view the ordinance.
CURRENT TREE INVENTORIES
The tree inventories for the street trees and cemetery trees are available here. The street tree inventory is sorted by street. The cemetery trees are identified by numerical tags.
Street Tree Inventory-October 2023
Oak Dale Cemetery Inventory-June 2015
Oak Dale Cemetery Section Map (a helpful map when using the Oak Dale Cemetery tree inventory)
TREE WORK PERMIT
As of 2020, the City of Urbana now requires a Tree Work Permit for any planting or removal of trees within the right-of-way, including trees within the treelawn between the curb and sidewalk. Furthermore, as a result of this change in the city’s Tree Ordinance (Chapter 905), trees within the right-of-way are the responsibility of the property owner.
There is no fee for a Tree Work Permit, but this permit is required to be reviewed and approved by the City Engineer prior to any tree work being undertaken.
Also, please note that if a tree is removed upon issuance of a Tree Work Permit by the city, stump removal is strongly encouraged as part of the complete removal of the tree.
By Ohio law, prior to any stump grinding within the right-of-way, the contractor hired by the property owner is required to call Ohio811 by calling (800) 362-2764 or 8-1-1 at least 48 hours prior to digging in order to properly locate underground utilities. If the property owner is the party completing the excavation (stump grinding) and a third party is not being hired, then the property owner is responsible for calling 8-1-1 in advance of the digging (grinding). For more information, please visit: https://oups.org/ or search Ohio811.
If you have specific questions about the condition of the tree in front of your home, you can consult with an arborist to determine the tree’s overall condition. The following website is a helpful resource for finding ISA Certified Arborists in the area: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist. In addition, this website includes general resources regarding the care of trees: https://www.treesaregood.org/treeowner.
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2012 MINUTES
April 2012 Minutes
June 2012 Minutes
July 2012 Minutes
August 2012 Minutes
September 2012 Minutes
October 2012 Minutes
November 2012 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2013 MINUTES
March 2013 Minutes
April 2013 Minutes
May 2013 Minutes
July 2013 Minutes
August 2013 Minutes
September 2013 Minutes
October 2013 Minutes
November 2013 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2014 MINUTES
March 2014 Minutes
April 2014 Minutes
June 2014 Minutes
July 2014 Minutes
August 2014 Minutes
September 2014 Minutes
October 2014 Minutes
November 2014 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2015 MINUTES
March 2015 Minutes
April 2015 Minutes
May 2015 Minutes
July 2015 Minutes
August 2015 Minutes
September 2015 Minutes
October 2015 Minutes
November 2015 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2016 MINUTES
March 2016 Minutes
April 2016 Minutes
May 2016 Minutes
July 2016 Minutes
October 2016 Minutes
November 2016 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2017 MINUTES
March 2017 Minutes
April 2017 Minutes
June 2017 Minutes
July 2017 Minutes
September 2017 Minutes
October 2017 Minutes
November 2017 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2018 MINUTES
April 2018 Minutes
May 2018 Minutes
June 2018 Minutes
July 2018 Minutes
September 2018 Minutes
October 2018 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2019 MINUTES
April 2019 Minutes
June 2019 Minutes
July 2019 Minutes
September 2019 Minutes
October 2019 Minutes
November 2019 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2020 MINUTES
June 2020 Minutes
July 2020 Minutes
August 2020 Minutes
September 2020 Minutes
October 2020 Minutes
November 2020 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2021 MINUTES
April 2021 Minutes
May 2021 Minutes
June 2021 Minutes
July 2021 Minutes
September 2021 Minutes
October 2021 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2022 MINUTES
April 2022 Minutes
May 2022 Minutes
June 2022 Minutes
July 2022 Minutes
September 2022 Minutes
October 2022 Minutes
November 2022 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2023 MINUTES
April 2023 Minutes
May 2023 Minutes
June 2023 Minutes
August 2023 Minutes
September 2023 Minutes
October 2023 Minutes
SHADE TREE COMMISSION 2024 MINUTES
March 2024 Minutes
April 2024 Minutes
May 2024 Minutes
June 2024 Minutes
