An ordinance to establish a Tree Board was passed by the Council in 2012. The Tree Board is limited to 7 members. Council member is a nonvoting member. The other nonvoting member is the certified City Arborist. The first certified arborist was Mike Hayman. The current certified arborist is Caroline Westfall. The Board generally meets bimonthly.
We were awarded the designation of Tree City USA again for 2025 and have maintained that status since it was first awarded to us.
Any questions? Please email us at treeboard@cityofwindyhillsky.gov.
The Tree Board’s main objective is to promote the expansion of a healthy tree canopy and to ensure that the existing trees are not a danger to the public. It submits an application to the Arbor Day Foundation annually to maintain its Tree City USA status. A written yearly work plan is submitted to the Council for approval.
The Board hosts an annual Arbor Day, with an educational component, i.e. a pruning demonstration or how to plant a tree correctly, etc. It also offers Windy Hills’ residents a subsidy to plant trees in their yards. The current chairperson is Scott Breland.
The 2026 Arbor Day Celebration will be combined with the 4th of July Celebration on our City Green. Be on the lookout for our Official Proclamation by the Mayor.
Please note, there are no minutes for 2020-2021 due to COVID restrictions. Click here for archived minutes.
The Tree Board has set a schedule of meetings that will be posted on the City web site. The time will be 7:00 pm, unless otherwise noted. Meetings will be held in City Hall, Suite 110, in the Board Room. A City Official will monitor the door to admit attendees as the building is closed after hours.
Tree Board
Windy Hills Tree Board will consist of the following with staggered terms noted:
Scott Breland
Current Chairperson (2025,2026,2027)
Teri Breland
(2025,2026)
Joyce Bridge
(2026,2027,2028)
Laura Trachtenberg
(2025,2026)
Bob Jacobs
(2025,2026)
Josh Ashley
(2025,2026,2027)
Samantha Fluke
(2025,2026,2027)
Councilwoman Kate Greer
Non-voting City Council Member
Caroline Westfall
City Arborist
Celebrate Arbor Day With Us!
As a proud Tree City USA Community, Windy Hills invites you to join us for our annual Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, July 4, 2026. This event will be combined with Independence Day
Our city arborist, Caroline Westfall, will lead an interactive session on the value of our trees and how to care for them. In addition, a Tree Board member will present important information about common tree disease to watch for in our area.
Kids (and kids at heart!) can take part in a tree-themed scavenger hunt, make a leaf and bark rubbings, and enjoy other hands-on activities.
And of course – it wouldn’t be a celebration without treats! Haywood Dairy will be serving free ice cream, and there will be tree-themed giveaways along with a chance to win a tree to plant in your own yard.
This is a family-friendly community event – bring your neighbors, bring your friends, and spend the afternoon celebrating the natural beauty of Windy Hills!
Click here to read the proclomation from 2026.
Tree Ordinance
2026 Tree Board Minutes
2025 Tree Board Minutes
2024 Tree Board Meeting Minutes
2023 Tree Board Meeting Minutes
Tree Planting
The Tree Planting List is currently under review. Please contact City Hall for the current list of recommended trees to plant.
Note: Street trees, typically located between the sidewalk and curb or in the right-of-way, provide several benefits to our community. They help define our city’s character and increase property values.
The Tree Planting List includes trees that are approved and not approved for planting as street trees. No species other than those approved on this list may be planted as street trees without written permission from the Tree Board.
The Tree Board also encourages homeowners to follow this list when planting within their property lines.
City of Windy Hills is a proud member of the Tree City USA Community.
