TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution approving the application for grant funds through the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection urban forestry grant program entitled "Green Trees for the Golden State," as provided through Propositions 40 and 84. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The CAL FIRE Urban Forestry & Urban Greening: Green Trees for the Golden State Grant Program is funded by Proposition 40, the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood, Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002, and by Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006. The Green Trees for the Golden State Grant program is intended for tree planting projects that provide economic, environmental and social benefits to those who need them in California's urbanized areas.
The Long Beach Tree Planting Project (Project) aims to leverage community partnerships to begin to tackle this challenging goal by planting 1,000 drought-tolerant, low VOC, native trees in local medians and public right-of-ways within 24 months through the creation of green jobs and with assistance of neighborhood volunteers. The purpose is to provide additional trees to improve the urban nature of the Long Beach community, which will help clean the air, reduce pollution and reduce greenhouse gases, all while reducing the amount of water needed to nourish the new trees for years to come.
This Project will be successfully implemented through a combination of scheduled tree plantings and community/neighborhood group plantings. Scheduled planting will be implemented through the hiring of temporary green jobs (students/youth) to conduct regular plantings in medians, right-of-ways and tree wells along major arterials and corridors identified throughout Long Beach. In addition, the City has an existing process
for organizing community tree plantings, which will be used as a part of this project to encourage community/neighborhood groups to get involved with tree plantings in their neighborhood.
The attached resolution authorizes the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for and accept up to $97,250 in Green Trees for the Golden State Projects Grant funds in FY 2012 and FY 2013. If the City is awarded funding, the grant will be used to plant 1,000 native, drought-tolerant, low VOC trees. A 25 percent local match is required to qualify for this grant. This local match will be meet by a $2,000 cash match from the Office of Sustainability and a $30,000 in-kind match for local community volunteers that will participate in some of the plantings.
This item was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang on February 14, 2011 and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on February 16, 2011.
SUSTAINABILITY
Long Beach's Sustainable City Action Plan, which was approved by the City Council on February 2, 2010, includes a goal to plant 10,000 trees in Long Beach by 2020. The Tree Partnership enables the City to begin to meet that goal by planting 1,000 new trees, meeting 10 percent of this overall goal in just the first year.
Urban trees provide air quality benefits by reducing criteria pollutants such as ozone, providing a large surface area to intercept particulate matter, helping remove greenhouse gases, and lowering energy costs for nearby buildings. Using American Forests Air Quality Calculator, which calculates the annual air pollution removal rate of trees using a scientific model developed by the US Forest Service, the City of Long Beach estimates that by planting 1,000 trees, the City will be removing 1,030 pounds of pollutants per year which equates to approximately $2,589 dollars a year.
In February 2010, the City of Long Beach was awarded the Tree Partnership grant by AQMD to plant 1,000 drought-tolerant, low VOC, native trees in local medians and public right-of-ways within one year. The Tree Partnership is managed by the Office of Sustainability in partnership with the Public Works Department and the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network. Through the partnership, close to 500 trees have been planted since 2009.
The City of Long Beach's sustainability goals and urban nature initiatives can be found in the Sustainable City Action Plan and are available at www.sustainablelb.com
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on March 1, 2011, in order to provide the Resolutions necessary to be considered for the grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total project costs are anticipated to be $129,250 over 24 months of contract execution. If the application is approved, the City will receive up to $97,250 in grant funding from the CAL FIRE Urban Forestry & Urban Greening: Green Trees for the Golden State Grant Program with a $32,000 match from the Office of Sustainability and in-kind services through the work of community volunteers. Appropriations will be through a combination of funds requested only after the City is notified of the grant award. There is no impact to the General Fund. An estimated number of 20 temporary green jobs will be created through this project if awarded.
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 PRPOGRAM ENTITLED, "GREEN TREES FOR THE GOLDEN STATE", AS PROVIDED THROUGH PROPOSITIONS 40 AND 84
Respectfully Submitted,
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER