The purpose of the City Tree Board is to assist in disseminating news and information regarding the selection; planting, establishment, and maintenance of trees; and advise City Council on desirable legislation concerning the city’s tree program.
DUTIES OF THE CITY TREE BOARD
1. To study the problems and determine the needs of the city in connection with its urban forestry program in order to maintain Tree City USA status through the Arbor Day Foundation and to report from time to time to the governing body of the city as to desirable legislation concerning the urban forestry program and related activities for the city. The city tree board shall recommend for approval by the city council such rules and regulations as the board shall deem advisable and necessary in order to perform its duties as set forth herein.
2. To assist the properly constituted officials, as well as city council and the citizens of the city, in the dissemination of news and information regarding the selection, planting, establishment, protection, and maintenance of trees within the corporate limits of the city and to make recommendations from time to time to the city council relative to desirable legislation concerning the tree program and tree related activities on city property.
3. To provide regular and special meetings at which the subject of trees, insofar as it relates to the city, may be discussed by members of the tree board and, when requested by the tree board, officers and personnel of the city, and all other persons interested in the tree program. The board shall also adopt procedures as it may deem necessary for holding and conducting its regular and special meetings.
IMPORTANT WORK OF THE CITY TREE BOARD
• Conducts education and outreach about the importance of trees
• Hosts an Arbor Day Celebration each year, involving elementary school children
• Worked with the Knoxville/Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission to develop a Street Tree Planting Plan
• Leader in the development of Knoxville's Urban Forest Master Plan
COMMITTEES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Note: The Urban Forester and the Board Chair are standing members of all committees with the exception that the Board Chair cannot be a member of the Nominating Committee.
• Education and Community Action Committee - Responsible for community activities and events, media relations, identifying grant opportunities, and increasing public awareness of the Tree Board. Also responsible for planning all activities related to the annual Arbor Day event. A subcommittee will be annually formed to plan for Arbor Day.
• Policy and Planning Committee - Responsible for recommending changes to the By-Laws, preparing recommendations for City Council and Urban Forester, preparing annual updates with the cooperation of the Urban Forester for City Council, and long-term planning.
• Nominating Committee - Responsible for recommending nominations for Tree Board members and officers.
• Urban Canopy Committee - Ad Hoc committee to be formed as need. Responsible for compiling species planting and spacing requirements, support and maintenance of the urban forestry plan, assisting the City with the management of the urban forest, working with entities that prune on public property, and providing arboriculture expertise.
APPOINTMENT OF BOARD MEMBERS
The eleven members serve four-year terms. Seven of the members must reside in the City of Knoxville; the remaining four members may reside outside the city but must live in Knox County. Members are nominated by the Mayor and approved by City Council. At least five must be professionals, including a landscape architect and a horticulturist, forester, or educator. One member shall be a representative of the Knoxville Utilities Board. The municipal arborist, and a representative from the City of Knoxville Engineering Department, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Forestry Division, and the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission attend meetings but have no vote.
MEETINGS SCHEDULE
The City Tree Board meets on the first Thursday of the month at 8:30 AM, at the Public Works Service Center on 3131 Morris Ave.
If you would like to be on the agenda, please contact Quineka Moten (
[email protected]) or Bob Graves (
[email protected]).
CITY TREE BOARD STAFF & NON-VOTING MEMBERS
Kasey Krouse
Urban Forester
Public Service Urban Forestry Division
3131 Morris Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37909
[email protected]
865-215-6113 865-384-2238
Jessie Hillman
Senior Planner
Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission
400 Main St, Suite 403
Knoxville, TN 37902
[email protected]
865-215-3082
Ben Nanny
Ijams Nature Center
2915 Island Home Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37920
[email protected]
865-577-4717
Quineka Moten
Outreach Coordinator
Public Service Department
3131 Morris Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37909
[email protected]
865-215-6090
Lee Rumble
Extension Agent
400 W. Main Street, Suite 560
Knoxville, TN 37902
[email protected]
865-215-2340
Austin Boswell
Stormwater Engineer
City of Knoxville
400 W. Main Street
Knoxville, TN 37902
[email protected]
865-659-7912
Alison Bullock
Parks and Recreation
City of Knoxville
5930 Lyons View Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
[email protected]
865-215-1712