Webster Groves to move city arborist into Parks & Recreation; commissioners report 300 plantings at Harvard Park

Commissioners were briefed on organizational changes affecting tree care and on recent volunteer planting work.

City staff told the Green Space Advisory Commission that the city arborist position will move into the Parks & Recreation Department; the position will be advertised as a city arborist and will oversee trees across city responsibilities. Commissioners discussed concerns about whether the single arborist role and existing crew capacity will be sufficient to meet the backlog of tree care after years of limited investment and tree loss from pests, age and development.

Commissioners stressed the need to ensure the new arborist position is competitively compensated and has sufficient authority and resources, and several suggested reviewing the job posting before it goes live. The commission also discussed conducting or overseeing a tree-inventory update and suggested that a forestry master plan or consultant‑led inventory could be appropriate ways to document the city’s tree canopy and needs.

Separately, commissioners reported that a recent honeysuckle-removal event was “very successful” and that volunteers planted about 300 trees and shrubs at Harvard Park as part of the restoration effort. Staff said public-works and parks crews will coordinate interim maintenance and that citizen planting requests will still be received and processed through public-works and parks coordination.

Commissioners discussed drafting a recommendation or letter about the arborist position to ensure the city advertises for the right scope and compensation; they agreed to draft text ahead of the next meeting and to request to review the posting before it goes public.