Urban Forestry Committee

Department in Charge of This Board

Parks and Recreation

About the Board

We make sure Grand Rapids keeps its trees healthy. Here's a look at what we do to meet that goal:

  • Promote public health, safety, and a healthy urban treescape
  • Authorize the removal and/or replacement of diseased trees, plants, or shrubs

Apply for Boards and Commissions

  • 11 members
  • Mayor appoints 5 members who are citizens demonstrating an interest or expertise in trees
  • 1 member must be a member of the Parks and Recreation advisory board
  • 1 member must be a certified arborist
  • 1 member is recommended by the current major utility (Consumers Energy) and is appointed by the City Commission.
  • City Manager appoints 4 members, 2 of which must be city employees
  • 1 Alternate member is appointed by the City Commission

Residency Requirement

There is no residency requirement to be a member of this team.

Term Limits

Your term on this board is for 3 years.There is no term limit, so you can serve an unlimited number of terms.

Compensation

There is no compensation for being a member on this board.

Tommy Allen Brown

Mayoral Appointment
Ward 2 Resident
Term ends 1/6/2025

Nathan Henschel

Consumers Energy Representative
Ward 3 Resident
Term ends 1/5/2026

Cindy Irving

City Manager Appointment
City Staff
Non-Resident
Term ends 1/5/2026

Carl Johnson

Mayoral Appointment
Representative from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
Ward 3 Resident
Term ends 1/5/2026 

Geoffrey Kempter

Mayoral Appointment
Arborist Member
Ward 2 Resident
Term ends 1/4/2027

Rebecca Pobst

Non-Profit Organization Appointment
Ward 3 Resident
Term ends 1/6/2025

Joe Sulak

City Forestry Supervisor
Permanent Member
Ward 2 Resident

William Vassilakis

Mayoral Appointment
Ward 2 Resident
Term ends 1/5/2026 

Annabelle Wilkinson

City Manager Appointment
City Staff
Ward 2 Resident
Term Ends 1/6/2025

Jonathan Wilson

Mayoral Appointment
Non-Resident
Term ends 1/4/2027

Vacancy

City Manager Appointment
Citizen Member
Term ends 1/4/2027

 

Committee Agendas

December 2024(PDF, 100KB)

November 2024(PDF, 120KB)

October 2024(PDF, 104KB)

June 2024(PDF, 105KB)

May 2024(PDF, 105KB)

April 2024(PDF, 104KB)

March 2024(PDF, 104KB)

February 2024(PDF, 104KB)

January 2024(PDF, 105KB)

  

Approved Committee Minutes

October 2024 Minutes(PDF, 135KB)

June 2024 Minutes(PDF, 131KB)

April 2024 Minutes(PDF, 133KB)

March 2024 Minutes(PDF, 131KB)

February 2024 Minutes(PDF, 135KB)

January 2024 Minutes(PDF, 132KB)

November 2023 Minutes(PDF, 130KB)

October 2023 Minutes(PDF, 132KB)

September 2023 Minutes(PDF, 140KB)

August 2023 Minutes(PDF, 134KB)

June 2023 Minutes(PDF, 133KB)

April 2023 Minutes(PDF, 134KB)

March 2023 Minutes(PDF, 156KB)

January 2023 Minutes(PDF, 135KB)

November 2022 Minutes(PDF, 138KB)

October 2022 Minutes(PDF, 142KB)

September 2022 Minutes(PDF, 136KB)

May 2022 Minutes(PDF, 133KB)

March 2022 Minutes(PDF, 131KB)

February 2022 Minutes(PDF, 129KB)

November 2021 Minutes(PDF, 135KB)

October 2021 Minutes(PDF, 148KB)

September 2021 Minutes(PDF, 149KB)

June 2021 Minutes(PDF, 150KB)

May 2021 Minutes(PDF, 148KB)

April 2021 Minutes(PDF, 156KB)

March 2021 Minutes(PDF, 155KB)

February 2021 Minutes(PDF, 153KB)

January 2021 Minutes(PDF, 148KB)

City Staff Contact

Board Liaison
David Marquardt
Director of Parks and Recreation
616-456-3215
dmarquardt@grcity.us

 

Primary Staff Contact
Michelle Slykhouse
Administrative Analyst
616-456-3121
mbraate@grcity.us

 

Meeting Details

We meet on the second Thursday of each month at 4:00 p.m.

We keep a Annual Meeting Schedule for the current year.

Download Annual Meeting Schedule (2024)

Download Special Meeting Notice (December 12, 2024)

We Keep a schedule of all Cancelled Meetings.

 

Location
City Hall
300 Monroe Ave NW
Room 601
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

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