Evansville Urban Forestry Board Meeting - July 2, 2026

The City of Evansville Urban Forestry Board (Tree Board) met on July 2, 2026, at 9:02 AM. Key topics included a presentation from the Alvard Boulevard Association regarding a hazardous tree, the approval of tree removals, election of a vice chair, and an update on the Urban Forest Master Plan being developed by an intern, Bia. The board also discussed private tree maintenance by neighborhood associations and ongoing canopy preservation efforts.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ann Basin (President, Alvard Boulevard Association) and Julie Blevins (Secretary) addressed the board about a large, live limb that fell from an oak tree on Alvard Boulevard. They described a near-miss incident involving a young boy and his father, and noted a prior similar failure 25 years ago. They expressed concern about the tree's safety and asked whether the association could hire a private contractor to prune or remove at-risk trees on the boulevard. They also requested a list of city-licensed tree contractors and asked for a clearer process to flag specific trees for priority.

Discussion Items

• Tree Hazard on Alvard Boulevard: Arborist Sean (last name not given, referred to as "Sean") explained that the fallen limb was live but had a poor attachment. He proposed cutting deadwood and precarious limbs immediately and removing the entire tree in the winter after board approval. Board member Mike (last name not given) noted the tree was a pin oak, which structurally tends to fail. The board encouraged the association to develop a comprehensive maintenance plan for boulevard trees; such a plan would likely be approved if it used city-licensed contractors. The board also recommended hiring a certified arborist for tree health assessments.
• Agenda Items 2 and 3 – Tree Removal Lists: Mike moved to approve all tree removals recommended by Sean, except for five specific addresses (A, C, G, H, and N) which he wanted held for further review due to concerns about sidewalk trees and potential mis-prioritization. He asked that those five be revisited via Aaron when he returns. The motion was seconded by Gene and passed unanimously.
• Election of Vice Chair: Mike was nominated and unanimously elected to replace Paul Bowsman as vice chair.
• Approval of Minutes: No minutes were available for approval.
• Urban Forest Master Plan Update (Bia): Bia reported on progress: she has formed a task force of 16–17 members (second highest among four participating cities: Evansville, Lawrence, Richmond, andDearborn County). She has held two meetings (environmental resources; governance/management) and the third meeting, focused on social and community aspects, is scheduled for next week. She is working with neighborhood associations, religious groups (e.g., Memorial Baptist via Jennifer Roll), and the Evansville Housing Authority. She noted the preservation of existing forest canopy emerged as a key concern from the task force, highlighted by educator Edie Hardcastle. Bia’s work ends July 31, with the writing phase through December.
• Other Business: Brief discussion on canopy goal initiatives and INDOT coordination was mentioned but not detailed.

Key Outcomes

• The board directed Sean to cut deadwood and hazardous limbs from the Alvard Boulevard oak tree immediately, with full removal planned for winter.
• The board indicated it would likely approve a maintenance plan submitted by the Alvard Boulevard Association, provided it uses city-licensed tree contractors.
• Tree removals for all addresses on the list except addresses A, C, G, H, and N were approved by voice vote (all in favor). Those five are held for further review.
• Mike was elected vice chair unanimously.
• The board acknowledged Bia’s update and encouraged continued collaboration with neighborhood associations and other stakeholders on the Urban Forest Master Plan.