(A) Appointment and constitution.
(1) There is hereby established a City Forest Board whose members, each of whom must be
a resident or property owner, shall be appointed by the Mayor, and confirmed by the legislative body.
(2) The Forest Board shall have no fewer than six members and no more than 12 members. The Mayor shall be an ex-officio member of the Forest Board, but shall vote only in the event of a tie. A majority of the members of the Forest Board shall constitute a quorum.
(3) A Forest Board Chairperson (“Forest Board Chairperson”) shall be elected by the Forest
Board. The Forest Board Chairperson may delegate any duty of the Forest Board to any member or members of the Forest Board. The Forest Board Chairperson shall be elected biennially.
(4) The Forest Board shall elect such officers as it deems appropriate for its efficient operation,
including, at minimum, the Forest Board Chairperson and a Recording Secretary.
(5) The Forest Board is subject to the Kentucky Open Meetings and Open Records laws.
(6) Members of the Forest Board shall serve without compensation.
(B) Terms. Each member of the Forest Board shall be appointed for a term of four calendar years, or until a successor is appointed and qualified; provided, however, that initial terms shall be staggered so that one-third of the members are appointed for two-year terms, one-third of the members are appointed for three-year terms, and one-third of the members are appointed for four-year terms. In filling vacancies prior to the expiration of the stated term of Forest Board membership, the appointment of a successor shall be for only the unexpired portion of the remaining term.
(C) Forest Board meetings. The Forest Board shall meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, unless changed by the Forest Board with 24 hours public notice, or such other location as shall have been duly designated according to the Kentucky Revised Statutes. Minutes of every meeting of the Forest Board shall be kept and promptly filed with the City Clerk.
(D) Forest Board duties.
(1) The Forest Board shall propose criteria for the approval, or denial of, permits requested
pursuant to § 93.09(A) of this chapter and the Forest Board shall propose procedures for submitting applications for such permits that are consistent with § 93.09(B) of this chapter. Such criteria and procedures shall include provisions to preserve and renew the city’s forest resources, and shall become effective upon approval by the legislative body. Copies of such criteria and procedures shall be made available by the City Clerk without charge.
(2) The Forest Board is established for the following purposes:
(a) Acting on permit applications submitted pursuant to § 93.09 of this chapter and on potential nuisance conditions or actual public tree nuisances, in consultation with the City Forester as needed;
(b) Preparing and maintaining a forest management plan for the city, and submitting to the Mayor annual budget requests to support its implementation;
(c) Maintaining awareness of tree health and population diversity;
(d) Providing for the education of residents on planting, care, and preservation of trees;
(e) Organizing, promoting, and overseeing community volunteer activities to further the health and maintenance of the urban forest;
(f) Preparing applications for grants and honorifics associated with urban forestry;
(g) Advising the Mayor and legislative body on matters pertaining to the urban forest;
(h) Provide assistance and guidance on matters pertaining to purchasing, planting, pruning, and tree maintenance; and
(i) Such other duties as may, from time to time, be assigned to it by the Mayor.
(Ord. 8, Series 2019, passed 9-16-2019)