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Lawrence City to host graduate fellow for tree ordinance work and inventory
Summary
City staff said Lawrence was selected for a statewide urban-forestry initiative; a graduate fellow will work roughly 400 hours this summer to strengthen tree ordinances and complete a tree inventory to support a Tree City USA application. The city estimated roughly $8,000 in costs.
Lawrence City will participate in a statewide urban-forestry and sustainability initiative that will place a graduate fellow with the city this summer to assist with tree ordinance updates and a comprehensive tree inventory.
Eric told the board the program will supply a graduate student who will perform about 400 hours of work to help develop stronger tree ordinances and lead a tree inventory effort intended to support the city's re-application to the Tree City USA program. "We're going to get a lot of good information for her," Eric said, and noted the city was selected along with Evansville, Richmond and Dearborn County for the initiative.
The board discussed the program logistics: the fellow lives in Bloomington but is willing to commute; the student may use some remote work and the city will provide office space as needed. Eric said the participation is funded through a fellowship program (transcript reference: "McKini fellowship program") and reported the city’s estimated contribution at about $8,000, with a referenced school payment of $3,700.
Members asked whether the student would perform teaching or outreach as part of the 400 hours; Eric said the work is project-focused on ordinance development and inventory tasks, and that the city expects the fellow to complete the required hours during the summer. The board did not take formal action on funding at the meeting but discussed logistics and next steps for the work plan and application to Tree City USA.
