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2. Resolution 5404 - Accepting Grant and Appropriating Funds - Urban Forestry AwardCity of Kalispell Post Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903 Telephone: (406) 758-7701 Fax: (406) 758-7758 REPORT TO: Mayor Pam Kennedy and Kalispell City Council FROM: Michael Baker, Director of Parks & Recreation SUBJECT: Resolution 5404 - 2010 ARRA Urban Forestry Grant Award MEETING DATE: November 2, 2009 BACK GROUND: This year the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation made available a total of $325,000 to Montana cities and towns interested in conducting innovative urban community forestry projects. The Kalispell Parks and Recreation department submitted a successful grant application for $93,500, proposing a project to address Dutch Elm Disease in the City. This grant is through DNRC and the US Forest Service, with funding made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Key project components that were required from successful applications were: • Promote employment and economic assistance to local nursery/landscape businesses and arborists • Urban renewal through hazard tree removal, site preparation, tree pruning, and tree planting in communities • Energy conservation; planting trees to provide shade and cut cooling costs As you are aware, the Parks Department and the City of Kalispell's Urban Forestry program are currently faced with a major challenge to address Dutch elm disease. The city street tree inventory identified 369 American Elms on public right-of-way, which are susceptible to Dutch Elm disease, and ultimately will have to be removed. These trees have been ranked and categorized in order to prioritize removal. In the past two pruning seasons our crews have removed and disposed of 38 infected elm trees. The City of Kalispell is limited in their ability to remove trees due to budget and staffing constraints. Although the city has been actively addressing the problem, it is unable to keep pace due to the rapid spread of the disease. Currently, an additional 40 trees have been identified as dead and hazardous and should be removed immediately. Many of these trees are considered hazardous due to their ranking. The need to remove the diseased trees as soon as possible to slow, the spread of the disease and prevent a standing deadwood in our urban forest is critical. Dutch Elm Disease is not reversible and there will be substantial loss of beautiful tree lined streets due to Dutch Elm disease. The necessary removal of these American Elm trees will greatly affect the citizens of Kalispell, causing less shade and energy conservation to residences and surrounding neighborhoods. It is estimated that 65 - 70% of these removed tree sites would be suitable planting replacement locations. Replanting in these locations is vital in maintaining the urban forest, providing aesthetically pleasing boulevards and important cooling and shade for residences adjoining boulevards and the community as a whole. The purpose and goal of this project is to establish a proactive structured management program, utilizing grant funds to hire a contractor(s) to remove approximately 90 American Elms and replace 66 trees. Trees would be removed and planted throughout the months of December 2009 through December 2010. Removals and plantings would occur in city right-of-ways. Within the current staffing and budget allotments, it would take city crews approximately five years to complete this proposed project. The disease would spread faster; there would be more standing hazardous deadwood and more urban heat islands within the community. The Dutch Elm disease removal project would require the contracting of a professional company that specialize in hazardous tree removal with an emphasis on urban forestry. After the removal and stumping process the trees would be replaced in the same manner, with the hiring of a contractor or company. It is expected this company would plant approximately 66 trees within the designated replacement sites. The grant monies will be distributed directly into the local economy through this project. The city recognizes that homeowners are shocked and devastated by the loss of their boulevard trees. Even though the trees are located in city boulevards and the property of the city, homeowners have a sense of ownership. Homeowners have stated their unhappiness with loss of shade and cooling effects to their homes. If homeowners could be guaranteed that this substantial loss would be mitigated within a shorter time period by replacement trees, the loss would not seem as harsh. A short turn around time on replanting would provide a positive impact by greatly improving a homeowner's understanding of this unfortunate situation. Additionally, a timely planting of replacement trees would result in a shorter downtime of being without trees that provide shade, bird nesting habitats, and offset the greenhouse effect. Without grant funding the city will continue to remove and replace trees on a reactive basis. It is anticipated, assuming current budget levels, that it would take approximately 16 years to complete removal and replacement of all diseased trees. This proposed proactive project made possible by grant funding would greatly reduce this timeframe, substantially benefitting the citizens and the community. The City of Kalispell's in -kind match, up to $30,330, will include monitoring the progress of the contractor, supplying staking materials, soil/compost and train pruning for all newly planted trees. Additionally, city employees will be responsible for hauling the wood debris removed by contractors to disposal sites. When the project is complete city staff will enter all data regarding removals and planting into our current inventory program. These monies are budgeted in the urban forestry district fund. This project would allow for the City of Kalispell to become proactive towards addressing Dutch Elm disease and complete a majority of the necessary removal of diseased trees, while at the same time replanting these locations. FISCAL EFFECTS: If accepted, the finance director will set up a separate account in the amount of $93,500 to facilitate the management of this project. Amy Robertson, Finance Director Accept the grant award and appropriate the funding. ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Council Respectfully submitted, ane Howington, City Manager Report Compiled October 23, 2009 Attachments: DNRC Grant Notification RESOLUTION NO.5404 A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL, MONTANA, AS SET FORTH IN THE 2009-2010 BUDGET ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACCEPTANCE OF AN URBAN FORESTRY GRANT AWARD. WHEREAS, on September 8, 2009, the City Council adopted Resolution 5389 adopting the annual appropriations of the City of Kalispell for fiscal year 2009-2010; and WHEREAS, on October 9, 2009, the City of Kalispell received an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Urban Forestry Grant through the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the US Forest Service in the amount of $93,500 to address Dutch Elm Disease in the City of Kalispell, and WHEREAS, said funds available to the City were not appropriated pursuant to Section 7-6- 4271, and an increase of appropriation authority is needed. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I. That the City Council hereby accepts the ARRA Urban Forestry Grant in the amount of $93,500. SECTION II. That the City Council hereby appropriates the sum of $93,500 and directs the Finance Director to allocate said amount to expenditure code: 2602-436-460433-354. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND SIGNED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF KALISPELL, THIS 2ND DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2009. Pamela B. Kennedy Mayor ATTEST: Theresa White City Clerk DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION Forestry Division • 2705 Spurgin Road, Missoula, MT 59804-3199 (406) 542-4300 Telefas (406) 542-4217 BRIAN SCHWEITZER, GOVERNOR 1625 ELEVENTH STATE Of MONTANA DIRECTOR'S OFFICE: (406) FAX: (406) 444-2684 PO BOX 201601 HELENA, MONTANA 59620-1601 2010 ARRA URBAN FORESTRY GRANT NOTIFICATION TO: CITY OF KALISPELL FROM: fAMIE KIRBY, MONTANA URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM SUBJECT: 2010 ARRA URBAN FORESTRY GRANT AWARD DATE: OCTOBER 9, 2009 Thank you for your interest in the 2010 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Urban Forestry Grant Program offered through the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), and the US Forest Service. I am pleased to inform you that $93,500 of your request for your proposed project has been approved. Soon following this notification letter you will receive your Grant Agreement Form. Please read this document carefully and thoroughly, as you are expected to carry out all the requirements written in this agreement. The Grant Agreement will serve as our contract and agreement to partner together on this project. Please keep one copy of the Grant Agreement for your records. Once the Grant Agreement is signed, you may begin the project at any time, and must complete all activities for which you have requested funding by December 10, 2010. Quarterly reports will also be required throughout the life of this grant. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 542-4284. Congratulations and thanks again for your interest and participation in the 2010 ARRA Urban Forestry Grant Program.