SR-509-000 (11)
Council Meeting: February 14, 2006 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Adopt a Resolution Entering into an Agreement with
the California Department of Forestry to Accept Funding Through the
?Green Trees for the Golden State? Grant Program and Appropriate Grant
Funds
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that Council adopt a Resolution to enter into an agreement
with the California Department of Forestry to accept funding through the ?Green Trees
for the Golden State? Grant Program as provided by the Safe Neighborhood Parks,
Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 (the Villaraigosa-
Keeley Act) and appropriate grant funds in the amount of $126,866.52. The grant
funding is to support a tree planting project goal of 365 trees. The grant also requires a
City match as outlined in the Budget/Financial Impact section of this report as an in-kind
services match.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the 2005/2006 Green Trees for The Golden State grant program is to
provide funding for urban and community forestry tree planting projects and up to three
years of initial maintenance. Preference is being given to the planting of trees that
provide greater air quality benefits and to urban forestry projects that provide greater
energy conservation and community education benefits.
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DISCUSSION
The goal of this project is to replace and provide maintenance for 365 trees that have
been removed from streets and parks over a period of several years due to death, over-
maturity, disease, or hazardous conditions. The species selected for replacement
follow the criteria set forth in the Community Forest Management Plan adopted by City
Council in November 1999. Wherever canopy increase is an option, it will be reflected
in species selection. This grant funding will provide initial funding for what is hoped to
be a multi year City effort to remove and replace street trees that have reached the end
of their useful life expectancy.
Since this project involves planting street trees, residents and/or business owners will
be notified of the replacement tree that is to be planted in the streetscape adjacent to
their property. In conformance with the grant requirements, residents will receive a door
hanger with information about their new tree and how to properly care for it.
Community Forest Operations staff will oversee the planting and maintenance to assure
adherence to industry and City of Santa Monica standards and well as compliance with
the Grant. Trees will vary in size and species and will be planted by the City?s tree care
contractor. Maintenance to insure tree establishment will be provided by both the
contractor and in-house staff for three years. Once the trees become established they
will be incorporated into the city?s regular tree maintenance program.
The expected results are a complete streetscape where removals have already taken
place. In addition, age diversity and species diversity for Santa Monica?s community
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forest will increase. Tree selection will also result in increased canopy for Santa
Monica?s future. The California Department of Forestry also plans to use this project as
a model project for other California communities to follow for proper urban and
community forestry practices as their municipal forests mature.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
Grant eligibility requires that a minimum cost sharing match rate of between 10% and
75% must be shownin the form of hard and/or soft match dollars. Part of the matching
funds will be in-kind services provided by Open Space Management in the form of
project supervision, administration and supplemental maintenance. A portion of the in-
house match funds are being provided in the form of tree planting. No additional funds
are necessary to meet the matching fund requirements as they will come directly out of
the Open Space Management budget.
Grant In-house
Funding Match Funds
Total for Tree Planting $52,158.60 $22,241.04
Replacement trees (est. mortality rate of 5%) 2,607.93
3 year maintenance $69,999.99 $15,243.75
Education & Signage $2,100
Administration & Overhead $31,500.00
Total Grant Funding $126,866.52
Total in Match Funds + in-kind services $68,984.79
These are all replacement trees. There will be no ongoing funding impact to the current
operating budget and there will not be a net increase in the current tree inventory.
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The following budget changes are needed to record receipt of the Grant awards and
make them available for program use.
1. Establish a revenue budget in the amount of $126,866.52 at account number
20511.403740.
2. Appropriate $126,866.52 into CIP account M200478.589000 for the
expenditures.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the Resolution entering into an agreement with the California
Department of Forestry to accept funding through the ?Green Trees for the
Golden State? Grant Program as provided by the Safe Neighborhood Parks,
Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 (the
Villaraigosa-Keeley Act)
2. Appropriate grant funds as identified in the Budget/Financial Impact section.
Prepared by: Barbara Stinchfield, Director
Elaine Polachek, Open Space Manager
Walt Warriner, Community Forest & Public Landscape Superintendent
Community & Cultural Services Department
See Adopted Resolution No. 10109 (CCS)
Reference Contract No. 8557 (CCS)
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