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Geoffrey J.Craig
Assistant City Manager
AGENDA ITEM
MEMORANDUM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR&MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GEOFF CRAIG,ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERI�4
VIA: RICK COLE,CITY MANAGER 4C_
DATE: NOVEMBER 1, 1999
SUBJECT: "TREES FOR THE MILLENNIUM" GRANT
Recommendation:
Staff recommends that Council pass the attached Resolution approving the filing of an application for the
"TREES FOR THE MILLENNIUM"tree planting grant program.
Background:
President Theodore Roosevelt said,"To exist as a nation,to prosper as a state,and to live as a people,we must
have trees". Governor Gray Davis sees this as a bold challenge for cities to reappraise the way that we deal
with our urban forests in terms of maintenance and sustainability. To help in that reassessment,the Governor
has announced an opportunity for cities to participate with the California Department of Forestry and Fire
Protection in improving our urban forest through the "Trees for the Millennium"Initiative. The additional
two million dollars that the Governor is pumping into the state's urban forest in the coming year constitutes
a commitment to support and create highly successful public/private/city partnerships. These partnerships
in urban forestry will serve as role models that are cost-effective and will help increase the broad level of
citizen interest and volunteerism in planting,growing and maintaining the state's urban forest.
This cost-share program is intended to present a bold vision for the future that involves fostering both hard
dollar-and-cents returns as well as "soft"benefits that are invaluable but as yet unquanitifiable. The hard
returns include:
• reducing air pollution and improving carbon sequestration
• battling the heat island effect
• reducing urban storm water runoff
• planting seeds for sustainable forest hardwood resource utilization
• providing cost-share funding for tree establishment and early,critical maintenance
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Honorable Mayor&Members of the City Council
November 1, 1999
Page 2
The "soft"benefits include:
• Providing models to inspire similar projects while stimulating increased spending for local
community programs
• Improving neighborhood pride
• Increasing environmental awareness
• Increasing citizen interest and volunteerism
• Building community relationships
Recently,the City staff and representatives of Azusa Pacific University's Community Learning Department
met with Ms. Eleanor Torres and Mr. Ravi Bhatia of"The Tree People"to talk about ways that the three
organizations could work together to develop,nurture and maintain Azusa's urban forest. The group met
because the City already has an investment in about 15,000 trees and is seeking to establish more trees and
a greater ability to maintain them. The University is vitally interested in tree planting not only on its campus
but,specifically with regard to its development of the"Krems"property,and,via the Community Learning
program,throughout the City as well. And,"The Tree People"—Trans-Agency Resources for Environmental
and Economic Sustainability (`TREES')—is creating connections between those people and institutions
responsible for component parts of the urban ecology,especially in the areas of energy,water,waste removal
and air quality systems, and a unified, cost effective approach to managing our environmental challenges.
Their architectural and landscape designs and retrofits can help solve environmental dilemmas,beautify cities
and fulfill our dream of a sustainable city in the 21st century.
The State grant application can be for up to$50,000 for general tree planting projects. Funds can be used to
purchase trees,tools, eligible planting and irrigation products or materials and/or do an"early critical tree
care"project. Recipients may apply for"early essential tree care"funds of up to$10,000 to conduct pruning,
irrigation, fertilization, stake and tie removal, weed removal,tree grate removal or resizing and mulching
activities;up to$10,000 can also be used for"temporary"irrigation products such as drip supplies,TREE-
gators, buckets, hoses, etc., and for public awareness and education. ("Rainbird"-type sprinklers are not
eligible for reimbursement under this program.)
Requests must be based on the actual number of trees and associated materials be purchased,or on the number
of trees to receive early,essential care treatment. The maximum reimbursement rate per tree shall not exceed
$60.00,based on the range of cost for various trees,taking into account availability,size,growth rate of trees
in 15-gallon size containers. Grantees,may,however,elect to contribute up to$12.00 per tree in the form of
tree stakes,ties and tree protector collars,which the State will take into account in reimbursing up to$72.00
for each tree purchased,in order to allow the City to plant larger trees where justified.
All purchased trees must meet specific standards for acceptance of nursery trees. In addition, the
application/proposal must be reviewed by a Certified Arborist,Registered Professional Forester or Landscape
Architect with experience in tree planting and managing shade trees. The City's Senior Tree Crew Supervisor,
Ross Montes,is a Certified Arborist and will be the one to certify our application.
To receive a grant,successful applicants must enter into an agreement with the Director of Forestry and Fire
Protection. Grant recipients must agree to complete their projects and allow for periodic inspection. In return,
Honorable Mayor&Members of the City Council
November 1, 1999
Page 3
the Director will agree to share the cost of the project. A Resolution from the City Council authorizing the
project and allowing the person responsible for the project to sign legal documents is a required part of the
application. Staff has prepared and attached a draft Resolution for Council perusal and consideration.
Fiscal Impact
The City already budgets for trees,tree supplies,some early care,and some tree maintenance.Depending on
the exact details of the grant that the City works out with the State,it may be necessary to amend the budget
to reallocate existing amounts to better serve as`match"for the up to$50,000 that the State will be providing.
There does not appear to be any minimum"match"requirement but the amendment,if any,would probably
be in the range of$12,000. Overall,however,there should be no negative impact on the General Fund.
attachment
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
AZUSA APPROVING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION
FOR FUNDS UNDER THE "TREES FOR THE
MILLENNIUM"TREE PLANTING GRANT PROGRAM AND
CERTIFYING THAT FUNDS ARE OR WILL BE AVAILABLE
TO BEGIN,OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE PROJECT
WHEREAS,the City Council of the City of Azusa has placed a high priority on improving the
quality of life for the residents of Azusa;and
WHEREAS,trees are part of a natural system whereby rainfall is caught and released slowly
into the ground,initiating a cycle that produces nutrients,fresh water and clean air,thus
balancing the ecosystem and enabling it to provide everything that people,plants and animals
need for a sustainable and prosperous life;and
WHEREAS,the City of Azusa has an investment in over 15,000 trees and is seeking to establish
more trees and a greater ability to nurture and maintain them,and
WHEREAS,the Governor of the State of California,in cooperation with the California State
Legislature,has enacted the California Trees for the Millennium Initiative for 1999,which
provides funds to the State of California and its political subdivisions for urban forestry
programs;and
WHEREAS,the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has been delegated the
responsibility for the administration of the program within the State,setting up necessary
procedures governing application by local agencies and non-profit organizations under the
program,and
WHEREAS,the City of Azusa,in partnership with TreePeople Los Angeles and in cooperation
with Azusa Pacific University,will be submitting an application under the"TREES FOR THE
MILLENNIUM"challenge to fund the following program:
"AZUSA: FROM CITRUS GROVES TO SHADE TREE FOREST'
WHEREAS,said procedures established by the State Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
require the applicant to certify by resolution the approval of its application before submission of
said application to the State;and
WHEREAS,the applicant will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out a
tree planting project;
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Azusa does
hereby
• Approve the filing of an application for the"TREES FOR THE MILLENNIUM"tree
planting grant program,for the above project;and
• Certify that said applicant has or will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the
project;and
• Certify that funds under the jurisdiction of the City Council of the City of Azusa are
available to begin the project;and
• Certify that said applicant will expend grant funds prior to January 31,2002;and
•
• Appoint the City Manager as agent of the City Council of the City of Azusa to conduct
all negotiations,execute and submit all documents,including,but not limited to,
applications,agreements,amendments,payment requests and so on.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS DAY OF , 1999.
MAYOR
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was duly passed by the City Council
of the City of Azusa at a regular meeting thereof on the day of , 1999,by the
following vote of the Council:
AYES COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
CITY CLERK