Tree Advisory Board approves multiple tree removals across city parks and streets

The Evansville City Tree Advisory Board approved a series of motions May 1 to remove trees at parks and along city streets and required replacement plantings for several projects.

Board members voted, by voice, to approve: acceptance of minutes for March 6 and April 3; removal of two dead trees reported by the Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Authority (one on the Civic Center campus and one in Freedom Park); the removal of two small dead trees identified during an upcoming INDOT/volunteer cleanup; the removal of 32 trees as part of the Next Level Trail/Walnut Street project with a 2-for-1 replanting requirement; approval of a batch of street-tree removals submitted as part of routine monthly removals; removal of 13 trees to make room for the Garvin Park Activity Zone (playground and two basketball courts) with 2-for-1 replacement; removal of two additional hazardous/damaged trees documented at Garvin Park; removal of a badly damaged ash at Fulton Park (subject to verification in the field); and removal of a decayed tree at the Woodmere / State Hospital park site. In each case the board recorded a voice vote and the chair announced the motion carried where no opposition was raised.

Several of the motions required coordination with city arborists and park staff on replacement species and planting locations. For park projects the board specified at least a 2-for-1 replacement ratio. For routine street and hazard removals the board approved removal with standard replacement protocols to be set by staff.

Actions recorded in the meeting minutes include motions and seconds on the record; individual roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript — approvals were taken by voice and the chair declared motions carried when no opposition was voiced.

Votes at a glance (motions from the May 1 meeting): - Approve minutes for March 6 and April 3: motion carried (voice vote). - Approve removal of 2 trees requested by Evansville Vanderburgh County Building Authority (Civic Center campus; Freedom Park): motion carried (moved by Mike Schottmeyer; second Paul Bausman; voice vote). - Approve removal of 2 small dead trees to be removed during INDOT volunteer cleanup this weekend: motion carried (moved by Larry; second Paul Johnson; voice vote). - Approve removal of 32 damaged trees for the Next Level Trail/Walnut Street project, replant 2-for-1 within the park/trail area: motion carried (moved by Paul Bausman; second Paul Johnson; voice vote). - Approve bulk street-tree removals presented to the board (about three months of removals consolidated): motion carried (moved by Mike Schottmeyer; second Paul Johnson; voice vote). - Approve removal of 13 trees for the Garvin Park Activity Zone (playground and two basketball courts), replace 2-for-1: motion carried (moved by Paul Bausman; second Jean; voice vote). - Approve removal of two additional hazardous trees at Garvin Park shown in staff photos and replace 2-for-1: motion carried (moved by Mark; second Sean; voice vote). - Approve removal of a heavily damaged ash tree at Fulton Park subject to field verification: motion carried (moved by Mike Schottmeyer; second Paul Johnson; voice vote). - Approve removal of a decayed tree at Woodmere / State Hospital park grounds: motion carried (moved by Sean; second Jean; voice vote).

Notes: the board repeatedly instructed staff to coordinate replacement tree species and planting locations with the building authority, parks staff and city arborists. Several projects are out to bid or awaiting INDOT/NDOT coordination, so actual removal and planting dates vary by project and contractor availability.

Ending: The board closed the item by reaffirming the 2-for-1 replacement standard for major park projects and directed staff to confirm site plans and planting schedules as projects move to contract.