City of Urbana Shade Tree Commission

Boards & Commissions

SHADE TREE COMMISSION
The Shade Tree Commission typically meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 5:00 PM in the Municipal Building Police & Fire Training Room.

Tree City USA: The City of Urbana has been a Tree City USA for 18 consecutive years. Urbana was first named a Tree City USA in 2003 for its tree efforts in 2002.

Street Tree Planting Program: Recently, the City of Urbana has switched to a bare root tree planting program for the planting of new street trees. All bare root street tree plantings will take place in the spring. The City of Urbana will no longer plant street trees during the fall unless the plantings are part of a larger city project. Property owners who would like the city to consider the tree lawn in front of their property for tree planting should contact Doug Crabill by calling 652-4305 or by email at the following address: doug.crabill@ci.urbana.oh.us.

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 Oakdale 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: doug.crabill@ci.urbana.oh.us. 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
Charles Moody, Ward 1; Doug George, At Large (Ward 2); Jim Lemon, Ward 3; Michele Milner, Ward 4; Ward Lutz, At Large; Doug Crabill, At Large; Colin Stein, Street Superintendent.

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.

Urbana, Ohio

Boards & Commissions

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