The Prospect Forestation Board on an online meeting discussed plans to recruit a new arborist, secure spring canopy-tree offerings, and coordinate a late-October Arbor Fest while compiling volunteer hours for the city’s Tree City application.

Board members said they will base recruitment on qualifications listed by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). An unidentified participant reported, "And so I looked at the list, and there are 58 registered arborists within 50 miles of Louisville," and the board discussed prioritizing candidates with ISA certification and tree‑risk assessment credentials. The participant and others recommended contacting Ryan Lewis, described in the discussion as an independent consultant with ISA municipal and tree‑risk qualifications.

Members agreed they need a clear job description before formally recruiting. "We could start by writing something up among ourselves that reflect[s] the responsibilities from the ordinance," one member said, and the board tasked itself with drafting a responsibilities list to use in candidate conversations and onboarding.

While the board may not have an arborist in place in time to order for the next planting season, members planned a workaround: contact nurseries directly to secure a list of available trees in January so the city can still offer a spring 2026 canopy program. Kenton Abrams of Abrams Nursery was identified as a vendor contact; members offered to meet with him or arrange a phone call to discuss orders and distribution from the Crestwood yard.

The board also discussed programming and calendar items: tentative plans for an Arbor Fest on Oct. 25 and outreach to nearby "tree cities" to exchange resources and presenters. Volunteers and staff are compiling hours and activity data for the Tree City application; accounting staff provided numbers and the group hopes to finalize the submission before Christmas.

The session opened with praise for the minutes prepared by Mandy. After brief procedural discussion, an unidentified member moved to approve the November minutes; another seconded, and the chair called for a voice vote. The chair said "Aye" and the minutes were approved.

The board set its next meeting for Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. and will continue to use Webex for remote participation.