# Somerville Urban Forestry Committee Meeting 8-20-26

The Somerville Urban Forestry Committee held a remote meeting on August 20, 2026, focusing on urban tree management, environmental concerns related to local development projects, and community engagement in tree preservation. Key procurement-related discussions included maintenance contracts for green stormwater infrastructure and the challenges of maintaining urban tree canopy amid redevelopment, particularly at the 90 Washington project site. The committee discussed the city’s private tree removal permit process, replanting requirements, and the green score system tied to building permits, which incentivizes tree preservation or replacement. They also reviewed the city’s tree inventory system, which uses AI and digital twins for tree monitoring, and noted no current urban forestry job openings or RFPs. The committee approved minutes from a previous meeting and discussed outreach efforts, including upcoming community events and volunteer opportunities for tree planting and maintenance. No new contracts or vendor selections were announced, but ongoing maintenance contracts and potential community cleanup initiatives were highlighted as action items.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Environment, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Contracting Vehicles
**Published:** August 20, 2026

### Sources
- [Somerville Urban Forestry Committee Meeting 8-20-26](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1btImvPM27Y) - Somerville City Commissions, Boards & Meetings