Title
Resolution to Approve a General Services Agreement with Margolis Nursery, Inc. in the Amount of $227,000.00 to Support the City’s Private Property Tree Planting Program ($227,000.00)
Memorandum
In early 2024, the City of Ann Arbor’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations and Public Works Department applied for and won a U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service award to advance work on the City’s urban forest. In particular, the City applied to advance three initiatives: (1) update City-wide urban tree canopy data to help drive need-focused tree planting, and explore future tree sources and agricultural education, (2) expand private tree planting programs and provide tools for homeowners to deeply engage with tree planting and care, and (3) provide targeted ecological stewardship in park natural areas within disadvantaged communities.
To advance the second task (private tree planting and care), in November 2025, the City released a Request for Proposals (RFP # 25-59) titled Private Property Tree Planting. The purpose of this RFP was to identify and select a vendor to provide technical expertise, conduct site visits, prioritize planting needs, and perform tree plantings on private property in the city.
By the deadline for proposals for RFP # 25-59 (January 2026), a total of two firms submitted proposals for consideration. Upon review by an internal steering committee, both firms had their fee proposals opened. Upon consideration of the qualifications, skills, previous experience, and fee proposals, the steering committee recommended moving forward with Margolis Nursery, Inc.
In their proposal, Margolis Nursery, Inc. provided details on how they plan to help advance tree equity in Ann Arbor by assisting with outreach and engagement of private property owners, attending site visits with property owners to identify planting needs and opportunities, recommending a prioritization of plantings to the City based on anticipated tree benefits, conducting agreed-upon tree plantings, collecting and reporting all metrics associated with work, and providing program evaluation to the City.
Margolis Nursery, Inc. is compliant with the City’s living wage and non-discrimination ordinances and is prepared to immediately begin work on the City’s Private Property Tree Planting Program. As such, staff in the Office of Sustainability and Innovations recommend approval of a General Services Agreement with Margolis Nursery, Inc. to help grow tree equity in Ann Arbor.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: All funding for this award will come from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service (“USFS”) Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Grant awarded to the City.
Staff
Prepared by: Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Director
Reviewed by: Valerie Jackson, Assistant City Attorney - Sustainability
Reviewed by: Kim Hoenerhoff, Financial Analyst
Reviewed by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Through the A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality Plan, the City has set an aggressive goal of achieving community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030;
Whereas, One of the key strategies of the A2ZERO Plan is to enhance the resilience of our people and our place;
Whereas, In November 2025, the Office of Sustainability and Innovations released a Request for Proposals (RFP # 25-59) titled Private Property Tree Planting seeking a vendor to provide technical expertise, conduct site visits, prioritize planting needs, and perform tree planting work on private property in the city;
Whereas, Upon review by a committee of City staff, Margolis Nursery, Inc. was identified as the most qualified, experienced, and vision-aligned vendor to lead the City’s Private Property Tree Planting Program; and
Whereas, Margolis Nursery, Inc. is compliant with the City’s living wage and non-discrimination ordinances;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a General Services Agreement with Margolis Nursery, Inc. in the amount of $227,000.00 to support the City’s Private Property Tree Planting Program;
RESOLVED, That City Council authorize a 10% contingency in the amount of $22,700.00 to be used at the discretion of the City Administrator;
RESOLVED, That funding for this General Services Agreement come from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service (“USFS”) Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Grant;
RESOLVED, That this award be without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to sign the General Services Agreement after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator is authorized to take all appropriate actions to implement this resolution.