The purpose of the City Tree Board is to formulate a master street tree plan for all municipal property. The Board assists in disseminating news and information regarding the selection; planting, establishment, and maintenance of trees; and advising City Council on desirable legislation concerning the city’s tree program.
Duties of the City Tree Board
To develop a master street tree plan for all municipal property
To develop regulations relative to the type of trees to be planted and planting methods on any municipal property and in Special Districts
To make recommendations to City Council about the tree plan for municipal property
To assist the city in public education and outreach about the planting and maintenance of trees within the city limits
To have regular meetings to discuss tree programs
Important Work of the City Tree Board
Conducts education and outreach about the importance of trees
Hosts an Arbor Day Celebration each year, involving elementary school children
Worked with the Knoxville/Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission to develop a Street Tree Planting Plan
Helped to save the giant Sawtooth Oaks in Market Square downtown, and worked with developers during the 2002 redesign of Krutch Park and Market Square to suggest replacement trees and to trim existing trees
Works with city residents to determine where new street trees will be planted (500 1.5-inch diameter trees per year). Since 1992, the city has been planting 500-1000 trees per year!
Appointment of Board Members
The eleven members serve four-year terms. Seven of the members must reside in the City of Knoxville; the remaining four members may reside outside the city but must live in Knox County. Members are nominated by the Mayor and approved by City Council. At least five must be professionals, including a landscape architect and a horticulturist, forester, or educator. One member shall be a representative of the Knoxville Utilities Board. The municipal arborist, a representative from the City of Knoxville Engineering Department and a representative from the Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission attend meetings but have no vote.
Meetings Schedule
The City Tree Board meets on the first Thursday of the month at 8:30 AM, at Ijams Nature Center. Please contact Tom Wolf (Tree Board Chair) at twolf@wolftreeinc.com if you would like to be on the agenda.
Board Membership
Dessa Blair
1933 Saxton Street
Knoxville, TN 37915
865-525-4246
Kimberly Davis
Senior Research Associate
311 Conference Center Building
Knoxville, TN 37996-4134
Work: 865-974-4251
David S. Vandergriff
University of Tennessee
Knox County Agricultural Extension
400 West Main Street
Room 560
Knoxville, TN 37902-3510
Terry Faulkner
4178 Ridgeway Road
Knoxville, TN 37919
Sara J. Hedstrom
130 West Jackson Ave.
Suite 104
Knoxville, TN 37902
Emily Woodle
University of Tennessee
Forestry, Wildlife and Fish
274 Ellington Plant Sciences Bldg
2431 Joe Johnson Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4563
Stephen Noe
Knoxville Utilities Board
P.O. Box 59017
Knoxville, TN 37950-9017
Bob Santore
4600 Bob White Road
Knoxville, TN 37920-4415
Tom Simpson
1640 Chapman Highway
Sevierville, TN 37862
Rufus H. Smith, III
4703 Meredith Rd.
Knoxville, TN 37921