Title
Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with Davey Resource Group, Inc. for the 2021 Urban & Community Forest Management Plan Update ($113,000.00) and to Appropriate the General Fund Project Share ($11,300.00) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Your approval is requested to authorize a Professional Services Agreement with the Davey Resource Group, Inc. in the amount of $113,000.00 for the 2021 Urban & Community Forest Management Plan Update (UCFMP). The goal of this project is to update the 2014 Urban & Community Forest Management Plan.
In 2014, the City Council adopted the City's first comprehensive urban forest management plan. The 5-year management plan is a vital tool for planning and managing the City's street trees. Ann Arbor's urban forest is made up of the trees, shrubs, and woody vegetation growing along city streets, in parks, and on institutional and private property. It is a defining and valued characteristic of the City that residents affectionately call "Tree Town," helping make it a desirable place to live, work, and play. Trees provide many environmental, social and economic benefits to the city including, decreasing the quantity of stormwater runoff and improving the quality of the run-off that reaches local lakes and streams.
The City received one proposal in response to the RFP #21-11. The proposal was evaluated by a committee, which included the Chairs of the Natural Features Committee and the Elizabeth Dean Fund Committee. Davey Resource Group, Inc. (DRG) is recommended because of their extensive experience in authoring urban forest management plans, their staff's professional and technical knowledge and certifications, and knowledge of Ann Arbor's urban forest.
While most of the focus of the urban forest management plan is the City's street trees, park trees and private trees will be looked at when looking at the whole urban forest when updating Urban Tree Canopy Cover goals, tree planting initiative, and forest heal...
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