TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution to apply for grant funds through the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection urban forestry grant program entitled "Urban and Community Forestry Inventory," and if awarded, to accept the grant funds and execute all documents necessary to implement the Project. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The CAL FIRE Urban Forestry & Urban Greening: Urban and Community Forestry Inventory Grant Program is funded by Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006. The Urban and Community Forestry Inventory Grant program is intended for conducting inventory for trees from parks in the City of Long Beach.
The Long Beach Parks, Recreation, and Marine Tree Inventory (Project) aims to leverage existing City programs and community partnerships to begin to tackle this challenging goal to establish a new tree inventory for the City's parks, with an objective of using the inventory to develop a citywide Urban Forest Management Plan, and to create community awareness of the need for trees for air quality improvements.
In 2008, the City of Long Beach completed an Urban Forest Master Plan (Goals and Policies) document, with the next phase of effort involving a detailed assessment of the City's current tree inventory to develop a multi-year management plan to both enhance and manage these assets. The estimated amount of trees located in the City's parks is approximately 250,000 to 300,000 trees. The City of Long Beach has a street tree inventory recently conducted in 2011, however, no parks tree inventory has ever been done. This Project will give the City a more comprehensive view on quantitative information about the trees in our parks, such as the overall tree count, location, species, diameter, condition, and the maintenance need of trees in our parks.
The attached Resolution authorizes the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for and accept up to $150,000 in Urban and Community Forest Inventory Grant funds in Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015. A local match of $49,000 is required to qualify for this grant.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang on January 10, 2013 and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on January 11, 2013.
SUSTAINABILITY
Long Beach's Sustainable City Action Plan, which was approved by the City Council on February 2, 2010, includes a goal to improve existing urban nature, expand park and wildlife areas, and encourage sustainable uses of open space.
This Project will bring the City's Urban Forest Management Plan closer to its goal of having an all-inclusive inventory system of street trees, park trees, private trees, and heritage trees in order to capture the city-wide canopy cover. A large majority of trees in the city are tall canopy trees, which will conserve energy, improve air, water, and soil quality, enhance public health, and provide wildlife habitat.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on January 22, 2013 in order to provide the Resolution necessary to be considered for the grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total Project costs are estimated at $199,000 for the grant period. If the grant is awarded, the City will receive up to $150,000 in grant funding from the CAL FIRE Urban and Community Forestry: Tree Inventory Grant Program. The required match will be provided through a combination of funding and in-kind staff time, totaling up to $49,000, and will be requested through the Fiscal Year 2014 budget process. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE URBAN FORESTRY GRANT PROGRAM ENTITLED, "URBAN AND COMMUNITY FOREST TREE INVENTORY GRANT PROGRAM", AS PROVIDED THROUGH PROPOSITION 84
Respectfully Submitted,
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER