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APPROVE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING STAFF TO APPLY FOR A GRANT FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION (CAL FIRE) UNDER THE CAL FIRE URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY GRANT PROGRAM
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution in the format provided by the State of California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) authorizing the application for grant funding from CAL FIRE under the Urban and Community Forestry Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Grant Program. This resolution will also appoint the City Manager or his designee as the agent of the city of Stockton to execute, on behalf of the City, all required contracts or agreements with the granting agency, provide additional information and furnish such documents as may be required, execute all document and amendments or extensions pertaining to the grant project, and for the purposes stated in, the project contract.
It is further recommended that the resolution authorize the City Manager to take appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.
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Summary
In November 2014, the Public Works Department submitted a concept proposal to CAL FIRE for grant funding to develop a City of Stockton 40-year Urban Forest Management Plan. On February 25, 2015, the City was informed that it had been selected to submit a full grant application for the project. The recommended resolution is required prior to final consideration of the full application.
DISCUSSION
Background
On November 13, 2014, the Public Works Department Parks and Trees Section submitted a concept proposal to CAL FIRE under the Urban and Community Forestry Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Grant Program: Urban Forest Management for GHG Reduction. This proposed grant would fund development of a City of Stockton Urban Forest Management Plan. This document would be a 40-year plan that could be used to justify and develop funding, resources, and activities necessary to maintain and grow Stockton’s trees in order to provide greenhouse gas benefits.
The concept proposal for this grant was reviewed by CAL FIRE, and the City was invited to submit a full grant application for the project. The grant requires a resolution, using CAL FIRE’s format, be approved by Council.
Present Situation
The City completed an inventory of street and park trees in 2012, with funding from the 2010-11 CAL FIRE grant program. This grant application requests funding for the next step in managing Stockton’s urban forest. The proposed project will develop a long-term Urban Forestry Management Plan to provide a road map for the future.
Should this grant application be successful, a Request for Proposals would be issued for the development of the management plan. City staff would work with the consultant to gather the needed information to complete the plan. This will include seeking input from residents, local officials, other governmental agencies and non-profits to develop a needs assessment that encompasses the community’s expectations for its trees.
The plan will define tree management strategies to optimize greenhouse gas sequestration and best practices for avoiding emissions of significant amounts of greenhouse gas over the next 40 years. The proposed plan would be widely available to the public and help develop public awareness of the need for expanding and managing Stockton’s urban forest resources.
The noted grant application is consistent with 2035 General Plan Policy HS-4.20 to reduce GHG generated by the community, and the Climate Action Plan (CAP) that was approved by Council on December 2, 2014 (Resolution No. 2014-12-02-1601-01). The CAP contains 26 GHG emission reduction measures that collectively are Stockton's contribution to the State effort in meeting the requirements of AB 32, also known as the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The City of Stockton is considered to be a CalEnviroScreen2.0 Disadvantaged Community, a State tool used to determine if a community is disproportionately burdened with environmental and/or economic challenges. For the City of Stockton Urban Forest Management Plan, the match of 10 percent will come from existing staff hours in the Public Works Parks Division budget totaling $16,000. If the grant is approved, further information will be sent to the Council for consideration and approval.
No appropriations are required at this time, and there is no impact to the City’s General Fund or to any other unrestricted fund as a result of taking the recommended action.