CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Memo Date: July 2, 2021
Agenda Date: July 27, 2021
Prepared By: Frank Mirabito, Project Manager
Through: Bryant Smith III, P.E., CFM, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Requested Action:
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Council Approval to Authorize the City Manager to Sign the Year 2 grant contract from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services through the Florida Forest Service for the City of Cocoa's urban forest management plan. Approve a Resolution Amending the FY21 Budget BAF#21-097-A.End
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BACKGROUND:
The Managing Community Forests Grant Program is an initiative that began in 2019. The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to local governments or Native American tribal governments to initiate or enhance local urban and community forestry programs over a three-year period within the state of Florida.
The Managing Community Forests Grant is intended to help local governments start or develop urban forestry programs by establishing a clear path to an effective urban forest management strategy. As funding allows, selected communities will receive a total of three contracts over a three-year period to conduct a tree inventory, establish an urban forest master plan, and undertake a planting project to meet goals identified in the master plan.
The contract for the first year developed a local tree inventory including hazardous trees. As part of this effort, 8,340 trees were inventoried at a total cost of $27,772.20. The City’s 50% share of $13,886.10 has been reimbursed.
The second-year contract will fund the development of a plan to guide the management of urban trees on non-federal public properties. Management planning must include a tree care ordinance review or suggested language for a new ordinance.
Plans must also utilize the information from the year 1 tree inventory and include:
1) Priority planting areas
2) Canopy goals
3) Metric on how to measure progress.
4) Illustrate the recommendations’ budgetary impact.
5) Recommend changes to the Tree Care Ordinance that provides for better care and management using best management practices.
6) Provide a summary using the inventory’s statistics for Tree Removals, Tree plantings, and Tree maintenance requirements.
7) Provide recommendations for Public Education.
The second-year urban forest management plan was previously bid at $4,100. The City’s 50% share will be $2,050.
The third year and final contract of this program will be for a planting project related to a goal set forth in the management plan. Local groups such as the tree board, master gardeners, 4-H, or Future Farmers of America classes should be engaged in the project. The third-year is up to $15,000 with $15,000 City matching funds to plant trees as defined in the management plan.
STRATEGIC PLAN CONNECTION:
Assist the City to develop an urban forestry program by establishing an effective urban forest management strategy consistent with the intent of the City Tree Ordinance. This plan also correlates with the City of Cocoa’s Tree City designation.
BUDGETARY IMPACT:
Budgeted Yes
If not budgeted, is amendment/transfer attached? Yes
BAF 21-097-A is to re-budget a portion of the unspent Grant Revenue from FY20.
Amount Requested $4,100
Account Number _001-3520-572.31-11
Account Name _Professional Services - USDA Manage Forest Grant
Source of Funds: ____State Revolving Loan
____ Other Loan Source:_
_X__ Grant Source:_ USDA/Forest SVC 27860
____ Bond:_
____ Reserves Source:_
____ Transfer Acct #:_
PREVIOUS ACTION:
On April 22, 2020, Council Approved the Multi-Year Grant award from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services through the Florida Forest Service.
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Recommendation
Council Approval to Authorize the City Manager to Sign the Year 2 grant contract from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services through the Florida Forest Service for the City of Cocoa's urban forest management plan. Approve a Resolution Amending the FY21 Budget BAF#21-097-A.