OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

New Albany Tree Board Meeting - May 13, 2026

City Council & Boards — Wednesday, May 13, 2026
BodyNew Albany, Indiana
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateWednesday, May 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 53:40

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Just blame it on my gosh.

0:14

I've advocated for a go button.

0:17

So we are on.

0:19

All right.

0:20

Go ahead and call the tree board meeting for Wednesday, May 13th, 2026 to order, and we'll start with the roll call.

0:29

Adam David.

0:30

Here.

0:31

David Barksdale.

0:32

Here.

0:32

Matt Bazell.

0:34

Claudia Shrek.

0:36

Ann Streckfest.

0:37

Here.

0:38

Brick Sizemore.

0:40

We have four that takes four to pass any motion.

0:44

All right.

0:45

Our first item is public comment.

0:50

Do we receive any public comment?

0:52

Because no one is present right now.

0:54

We've not received anything.

0:55

I was kind of hoping after Arbor Day, somebody would be interested in no interest.

1:03

Well, then we'll move on to our next item on the agenda, which is the Arbor Day recap.

1:08

So I'll turn it back over to who wants to lead that off.

1:16

Mark.

1:17

I thought it went real well.

1:19

I think the farmers market for exposure.

1:24

I mean you can tell by the we had a hundred trees to give away.

1:29

Last year we gave away about twelve.

1:32

This year we gave away, I think I had 15 less.

1:35

Wow.

1:36

85 trees.

1:39

Pretty good, pretty good.

1:40

I I noticed obviously I was there to set up and and kind of get started, and then I had to leave for another event.

1:47

But I I think that worked out really well being with and embedded in the farmers market because so many more people were coming up and taking items or conversating or just asking questions even before I left.

2:03

So you've got a captive audience there.

2:06

Yeah, you you do.

2:08

So yes, I have the audience that we're kind of looking for, those people that visit farmers markets to be more tree-oriented.

2:17

Yeah.

2:18

There he is.

2:20

Yeah.

2:21

We'll get him seated here for the for the record.

2:23

Let's show that Matt has joined us as uh a fifth tree board member.

2:29

No, you're quite right.

2:33

We're just on Arbor Day recap.

2:36

Um other, I guess, takeaways.

2:41

Um I know we weren't able to get the uh the costume quite like we wanted.

2:48

I I agree with your assessment about ordering it from did not want to take a chance for as expensive as it would have been that it didn't show up a the quality we wanted or B show up at all.

3:00

Yeah.

3:01

So but I do think it would be worth it if it's something we want to do for like harvest to go ahead and have one custom made to look the way we want and maybe spend a little extra, but sure.

3:11

It's an educational piece that I think we can cover under a grant too.

3:15

One idea that Claudia and I had was what about not a costume, but what about something that actually is a stable piece that stays in place that you know has a hole cut out for your face can be in it, and it could be not only for people that are at working the event, but attending it if they want to get the picture paper picture to get your picture taken.

3:40

And then we don't have the issue of what if we want to switch out of the costume.

3:44

Where do you go to change out?

3:46

You don't have to have people lined up.

3:48

It could be a lot easier, but it could there could be public participation too.

3:54

You know, we could even have a hole that's lower if somebody has their little kids with them and they want to have them all you know looking out of the trunk of a tree.

4:01

That'd be cute.

4:02

So and that could just be kind of a decoration for our booth.

4:06

And I wouldn't think that would be difficult to make.

4:08

I wonder if Modern High School art students would be willing to do a project like that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Tree Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████73%
Public Engagement██████████16%
Procedural███5%
Budget Equity Analysis██3%
Technology and Innovation██3%
Summary of Proceedings

New Albany Tree Board Meeting - May 13, 2026

The New Albany Tree Board met on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 8:15 PM. The meeting was called to order with roll call: Adam David, David Barksdale, Matt Bazell, Claudia Shrek, Ann Streckfest, and Brick Sizemore. Four members were present, establishing a quorum. No public comments were received.

Arbor Day Recap

Mark reported that the Arbor Day event was held in conjunction with the farmers market on Bank Street. Approximately 85 trees were given away (up from 12 the previous year), and the location was deemed highly successful for reaching the target audience. Discussion covered options for future events: a custom tree costume or a fixed photo prop, and obtaining a canopy tent with the tree board logo. The board directed Chris to research canopy costs and report back. Tree board funds from the IRA grant ($105,000 remaining out of $250,000) are available for community outreach items such as costumes and canopies.

Tree Planting Requests

2011 Culvertson / 2014 Ekin Street – A resident at 2011 requested a tree be planted across the street at 2014, but the occupants at 2014 (renters) stated they do not want a tree. The homeowner at 2011 also declined a tree due to a handicapped parking spot. After discussion, the board agreed to have Mark revisit the block, check if renters have changed, and evaluate planting opportunities elsewhere along that side of the street. Consensus to review and report back.

Tree Maintenance Requests

2503 Roanoke Avenue – A large ash tree (approximately 35 inches diameter) with significant dead limbs overhanging a house. Two arborists recommended removal. The board voted unanimously to first check with Duke Power regarding utility lines, then confirm ownership using right-of-way measurements, and proceed with removal using city funds or potentially an ash grant. Motion by David, seconded by Ann, carried.

1518 Shelby Place – Two large silver maples on the median showing rapid decline. The board decided to have Mark communicate with nearby property owners, inform them of the tree condition, and explore the possibility of removal and replacement with new trees. Consensus to monitor and report back.

City Hall Front Trees – A dead gum tree near the building was already removed and replaced, and a fifth tree was added. The board retroactively approved this action. Motion and second, carried.

Other Business

  • Hats: Mark presented prototype hats with tree board logo. Members discussed whether to include “Tree City USA” or “Tree Board” wording. Hats will be made available for distribution at future events.
  • Drought Monitor: Mark showed a drought indicator map indicating parts of the city are near drought conditions. Watering of new trees was discussed; City Hall staff have been watering daily but a deep watering once or twice a week was recommended.
  • Tree Trail: A software upgrade for the tree trail is planned for next month, funded by grants.
  • Grantline Trees: Mark reported that the last round of planting through Grantline was completed successfully with flagged locations.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved retroactive replacement and addition of trees at City Hall.
  • Approved removal process for the ash tree at 2503 Roanoke (subject to utility coordination and ownership confirmation).
  • Directed Mark to investigate planting opportunities on the 2011 Culvertson block and report back.
  • Directed Mark to monitor silver maples at 1518 Shelby Place and communicate with property owners.
  • Authorized research into canopy tent purchase and possible tree costume/prop for future events.
  • Meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote.

Meeting Transcript

Just blame it on my gosh. I've advocated for a go button. So we are on. All right. Go ahead and call the tree board meeting for Wednesday, May 13th, 2026 to order, and we'll start with the roll call. Adam David. Here. David Barksdale. Here. Matt Bazell. Claudia Shrek. Ann Streckfest. Here. Brick Sizemore. We have four that takes four to pass any motion. All right. Our first item is public comment. Do we receive any public comment? Because no one is present right now. We've not received anything. I was kind of hoping after Arbor Day, somebody would be interested in no interest. Well, then we'll move on to our next item on the agenda, which is the Arbor Day recap. So I'll turn it back over to who wants to lead that off. Mark. I thought it went real well. I think the farmers market for exposure. I mean you can tell by the we had a hundred trees to give away. Last year we gave away about twelve. This year we gave away, I think I had 15 less. Wow. 85 trees. Pretty good, pretty good. I I noticed obviously I was there to set up and and kind of get started, and then I had to leave for another event. But I I think that worked out really well being with and embedded in the farmers market because so many more people were coming up and taking items or conversating or just asking questions even before I left. So you've got a captive audience there. Yeah, you you do. So yes, I have the audience that we're kind of looking for, those people that visit farmers markets to be more tree-oriented. Yeah. There he is. Yeah. We'll get him seated here for the for the record. Let's show that Matt has joined us as uh a fifth tree board member. No, you're quite right. We're just on Arbor Day recap. Um other, I guess, takeaways. Um I know we weren't able to get the uh the costume quite like we wanted. I I agree with your assessment about ordering it from did not want to take a chance for as expensive as it would have been that it didn't show up a the quality we wanted or B show up at all. Yeah. So but I do think it would be worth it if it's something we want to do for like harvest to go ahead and have one custom made to look the way we want and maybe spend a little extra, but sure. It's an educational piece that I think we can cover under a grant too.

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