WARREN — City officials held preliminary discussions during a Tuesday caucus meeting on revitalizing the city’s arbor commission.

Led by Councilman Andrew Herman, D-2nd Ward, and Lydia Lynch, health and wellness coordinator for Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership (TNP) and the Mahoning Valley Tree Corps, talks revolved around updates to policies, enhancing public spaces and setting the city on a path to Tree City USA designation.

“This is more so groundwork,” said Herman, who discussed the commission’s efforts to qualify for Tree City USA status by the Arbor Day Foundation. Such a designation, he noted, could boost Warren’s access to grants that support urban forestry and maintenance of local parks. “That’s one of the things we can do to possibly get more grant money to help take care of our city and the trees,” Herman said.

The city meets three out of four Tree City USA requirements, lacking only the minimum budget of $75,000, which Herman indicated could be covered by existing grants through TNP and the Mahoning Valley Tree Corps.

Herman, who recently contributed $10,000 of his American Rescue Plan funds to the project, explained that reestablishing the arbor commission will allow for well-informed tree planting decisions, ensuring that species chosen are suited to the landscape and won’t damage infrastructure.

“We’re going to look at planting trees that do not lift sidewalks,” he said, acknowledging concerns raised during the meeting about sidewalk damage that could arise from larger tree roots.

Lynch’s ongoing work with TNP and the Mahoning Valley Tree Corps already has begun revitalizing the city’s canopy. Her efforts include a large-scale planting project backed by a $5 million USDA grant, aimed at adding 5,500 noninvasive, native trees across Warren and Youngstown over the next five years. Warren alone will receive 1,215 of these trees, strategically planted to maximize environmental and aesthetic impact in underserved neighborhoods. In the first planting phase this fall, 96 trees were planted in Warren, with additional plantings scheduled each spring and fall.

Resident approval is key to the project’s success, with each tree planted only after receiving community support. Residents would first need to give approval.

Herman also highlighted the environmental benefits of the project, noting that trees provide superior stormwater management compared to grass. Points were raised by those in favor of the commission that the trees could help absorb ground water, which alleviates local water management challenges.

In Tuesday’s meeting, discussions also addressed species selection and the removal of outdated ordinance requirements listing invasive trees like the Bradford pear, which has become problematic in Ohio.

Rather than strict species lists, the commission will rely on certified arborists to determine suitable trees based on current environmental guidelines, allowing the city to adapt to changing needs and avoid ecological issues.

The city also has a need to remove dead and hazardous trees, which are not covered by the current grant.

“This grant doesn’t cover much of the removal work, but we’re working to secure additional funding to handle that,” Lynch previously said.

This initiative aligns with the goals of the commission to enhance the urban forest, with a five-year maintenance period for each tree to ensure health and growth.