Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Tree City USA- Arbor Day, April 25, 2008

South Ogden City has been designated as a 2007 Tree City USA. This is the seventh time that we have qualified for this distinction. In order to qualify as an official Tree City USA you have to meet certain criteria.

1) Designate a Urban Forestry Commission directed by a professional arborist.

We have created an Urban Forestry Commission made up of volunteers that serve four-year term in relation to trees in our city. Our Parks and Recreation Director Jon Andersen is the administrator for the Commission and he is a certified arborist.

2) The city must pass an ordinance that establishes the Urban Forestry Commission and allow them to create and Urban Forest Management Plan.

Our city just updated and approved our Urban Forest Management Plan at our last City Council meeting on April 15, 2008.

3) Establish an annual budget of $2 per capita dedicated to urban forestry.

Every year we designate money to be spent at our parks or otherwise that falls under this criteria. For example Phase 2 of the Nature Park will have about $50,000 worth of trees when it is completed.

4) It must organize an Arbor Day event complete with an official proclamation.

At our last City Council meeting on April 15, 2008 the City Council officially proclaimed Friday, April 25, 2008 as Arbor Day in our city. We will be holding a tree planting ceremony at Club Heights Elementary at 10:00 a.m. on April 25th.