The Urbana Shade Tree Commission meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in the Urbana Municipal Building.  The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on May 10, 2012.  All meetings are open to the public.

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

2011 Tree Planting Program Update: Orders are no longer being taken for the 2011 Fall Tree Planting Program.  For more information, please call Doug Crabill at 652-4305 or email doug.crabill@ci.urbana.oh.us.  Click here for the program information.  Click here for the program application.

Members
Mike Sell serving for Ward 1, lives in Ward 3; Al Evans, Ward 2; Elmo Layman, Ward 3; Earl Cottrill, Jr., Ward 4; Ron McFarland, 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 like Parks Superintendent Rocky Teets, Elmo Layman, and the late Mayor Mr. Lewis B. Moore 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 every month since. 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. In addition, Administrative Regulation A-53 governs tree removal policies. 

 Regulations and Preferred Shade Tree List

The Urbana Shade Tree Commission has regulations for what trees may be planted in public areas and general tree recommendations for private lawns.

 Regulations and Preferred Shade Tree List *

Tree Care Instructions for Newly Planted Trees

This sheet covers the maintenance and care of newly planted trees.

Tree Care Instructions.pdf 

Current Tree Inventories

The tree inventories for the street trees and cemetery trees are available here. The street tree inventory is sorted by street.

2011 Street Tree Inventory-7-15-2011

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan
Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week Proclamation
Emerald Ash Borer Resident Cover Letter
Emerald Ash Borer Replacement Tree Application
Preferred Tree List
Ash Tree Inventory-7-15-2011
EAB Resident Letter-10-13-2011

The University of Illinois Extension has developed a nice tree selection website.  More information is available here.

Tree Evaluation Form

Tree Evaluation Form.pdf