Title
Resolution to Accept and Appropriate Inflation Reduction Act Grant Funds from the USDA Forest Service as a Subaward through American Forests for City Tree Canopy Projects ($1,000,000.00) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and consideration is a resolution to authorize acceptance of grant funding from the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service for implementation of several projects aimed at understanding, enhancing, and expanding Ann Arbor’s tree canopy.
The City of Ann Arbor is looking to take a holistic view on management of its urban tree canopy. This project expands and diversifies critical elements of the City’s strategic conservation and sustainability work across its community and urban forests. Three initiatives are staged to: (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.
There are five components to the project:
1. An urban tree canopy (UTC) analysis update.
2. Purchasing the Arbor Day Foundation’s Community Canopy tree planting tool.
3. Targeted and equity-focused private property tree planting.
4. Targeted ecological stewardship in parks within disadvantaged communities.
5. Feasibility study for a City/County-owned and operated tree nursery and agricultural demonstration site.
All five components play a critical role in the development, care, and management of the City’s urban forest.
There is no match requirement for this grant.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: Grant funds will be used toward implementation of the five project components: (1) urban tree canopy analysis, (2) purchasing the Arbor Day Foundation’s Community Canopy tree planting tool, (3) equity-focused private property tree planting, (4) targeted ecological stewardship in parks, and (5) feasibility study for a City/County-owned and operated tree nursery and agricultural demonstration site.
Prepared by: Remy Long, Deputy Manager, Parks & Recreations Services
Tiffany Giacobazzi, Urban Forestry & Natural Resources Planning Coordinator, Public Works
Sean Reynolds, Senior Analyst, Office of Sustainability and Innovation
Reviewed by: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Whereas, The current urban tree canopy analysis is over ten years old; and
Whereas, City staff from Public Works, Office of Sustainability and Innovation, and Natural Area Preservation worked to secure an Inflation Reduction Act Urban Forestry grant to analyze, maintain, and expand Ann Arbor’s tree canopy;
RESOLVED, That City Council accepts $1,000,000.00 in Inflation Reduction Act grant funds from the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service as a subaward through American Forests for a comprehensive project for understanding Ann Arbor’s tree canopy;
RESOLVED, That City Council appropriates $1,000,000.00 to the FY25 Major Grants Programs Fund Parks and Recreation budget with the source of revenue being Inflation Reduction Act funds from the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service;
RESOLVED, That all amounts are appropriated without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That City Council approves a subaward grant agreement with American Forest;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to execute the subaward grant agreement after 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.