Item Description:
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Neg 12 Healthy Tree Canopy grant agmts, 08/01/25-07/31/26, grant total NTE $332,731
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate the following 12 Healthy Tree Canopy grant agreements, during the period of August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026, with the grand total amount not to exceed (NTE) $332,731:
• Agreement PR00007438 with the City of Brooklyn Center, NTE $25,912
• Agreement PR00007434 with the City of Brooklyn Park, NTE $50,000
• Agreement PR00007439 with the City of Champlin, NTE $22,942
• Agreement PR00007437 with the City of Crystal, NTE $50,000
• Agreement PR00007440 with the City of Eden Prairie, NTE $37,933
• Agreement PR00007435 with the City of Golden Valley, NTE $32,240
• Agreement PR00007432 with the City of Plymouth, NTE $43,704
• Agreement PR00007431 with Aeon, NTE $20,000
• Agreement PR00007430 with Aeon, NTE $20,000
• Agreement PR00007467 with Tree Trust, NTE $10,000
• Agreement PR00007466 with the Young Men’s Christian Association, NTE $10,000
• Agreement PR00007445 with Special School District Number 1, NTE $10,000
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the County Administrator be authorized to sign the agreements on behalf of the County; that costs incurred by the grantees after August 1, 2025 be eligible for reimbursement upon the execution of the agreements; that the County Administrator be authorized to approve one 12-month extension for each agreement; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
In 2019, the board established the Healthy Tree Canopy Grants program to provide funding to cities, affordable housing providers, schools, and non-profits to enhance the county’s tree canopy in a total not to exceed amount of $500,000 per calendar year (Resolution 19-0185). The goals of the grants are to combat threats to trees from invasive insects and diseases; promote the development of a more diverse, resilient, and equitable tree canopy; and support efforts to educate the public on tree care and the importance of trees. To date, the county has awarded 158 grants totaling $2.45 million to improve the tree canopy.
The tree canopy is an integral part of Hennepin County’s green infrastructure and is an important asset in our response to climate change. The tree canopy faces multiple threats, including development, insects and disease, climate extremes, and poor installation and maintenance. The Climate Action Plan includes a goal to plant one million trees by 2030 through partnerships.
To better understand disparities in the tree canopy, staff completed a countywide data analysis that identified a correlation between tree canopy deficient areas and areas of disparities in air quality, health, income, and housing to develop a Tree Planting Prioritization Map (see Attachment 1). Planting trees in high priority areas of the county makes the tree canopy more equitable and help reduce environmental, health, and economic disparities. Without proactive efforts to improve the tree canopy, the loss of trees from Emerald Ash borer will exacerbate these disparities and health risks.
The county solicited proposals in February 2025 and conducted outreach to potential grant applicants during the request for proposal process. Staff led direct outreach efforts to affordable housing providers, schools, non-profits, and cities.
A committee of representatives from Hennepin County and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources evaluated 27 applications and recommended 26 of the projects for funding.
Board approval for the following 12 agreements is required because the county has agreements with these organizations that exceed $100,000. The healthy tree canopy grants are summarized below.
Cities
• Brooklyn Center - $25,912 to remove 12 ash trees and plant 40 trees
• Brooklyn Park - $50,000 to update public tree inventory, remove and replace 35 ash trees, and a reforestation project
• Champlin - $22,942 to remove ash trees and plant 40 trees
• Crystal - $50,000 to conduct disease tree removal and replacements on public property across the five neighborhoods of Becker, Lions Park, Broadway, Skyway, and Twin Oaks
• Eden Prairie - $37,933 to conduct oak wilt management, which includes removing and replacing infected trees, at Staring Lake Park
• Golden Valley - $32,240 to remove up to 30 ash trees and plant 70 trees at Pennsylvania Woods Nature Center
• Plymouth - $43,704 to update the public tree inventory using a smart tree inventory
Affordable Housing
• Aeon - $20,000 to remove and replace 11 ash trees at Bass Lake Crossing in New Hope
• Aeon - $20,000 to remove and replace nine ash trees at Kings Manor in New Hope
Non-profits/Schools
• Tree Trust - $10,000 to plant up to 30 trees at a school and conduct tree-related education
• Young Men’s Christian Association - $10,000 to remove and replace ash trees throughout campgrounds in Loretto
• Special School District No. 1 - $10,000 to plant 49 trees at nine different schools across Minneapolis Schools
In addition to the agreements approved by the county board, the following 14 grants will be approved through the administrative process:
Cities
• Excelsior - $33,150 to update public tree inventory and tree preservation ordinance, and conduct disease treatments
• New Hope- $25,000 to remove ash trees and plant 50 trees
Non-profits/Schools
• Fraser (Richfield) - $14,795 to remove and replace four ash trees and conduct tree-related education at two Fraser locations
• North Loop Neighborhood Association (Downtown Minneapolis) - $7,500 to plant 300 trees restoring an area along the Mississippi Riverbank
• River Walk Estates Homeowners (Brooklyn Park) - $10,000 to remove and replace seven ash trees
• Spark Youth (Northeast Minneapolis) - $7,557 to plant a fruit tree orchard and conduct tree-related education at Edison High School
• The Church of St. Edward (Bloomington) - $10,000 to remove and replace five ash trees
• Trust for Public Land (Brooklyn Center) - $10,000 to plant 94 trees and conduct tree-related education at Brooklyn Center Elementary School
• Vibrant and Safe Downtown (Minneapolis) - $9,600 to water newly planted street and park trees in collaboration with Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
• Zintkala Luta (North Minneapolis) - $10,000 to install a fruit tree orchard and gravel bed nursery in North Minneapolis at the Sacred Tree Garden
• Osseo Area Schools - ISD 279 - $19,667 to remove and replace 12 ash trees at Basswood Elementary Schools and 18 ash trees at Rush Creek Elementary School
• Parnassus Preparatory School (Maple Grove) - $10,000 to remove and replace 16 ash trees and conduct tree-related education
Current Request: This request seeks authorization to negotiate 12 Healthy Tree Canopy Grant agreements in 2025 during the period of August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026, with an option to extend the agreements by 12 months, for a combined total not to exceed amount of $332,731.
This request seeks approval for grantees to incur costs after the board approval date, with reimbursements being paid upon execution of the grant agreements.
These grants are funded by energy sales revenues received in the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund.
Impact/Outcomes: The healthy tree canopy grants will promote a more diverse, resilient, and equitable tree canopy and help mitigate the impacts of climate change. These projects improve livability and reduce disparities by planting trees in neighborhoods throughout the county experiencing disproportionate amounts of economic, environmental, and health inequities. Twenty-three of 26 projects will fund canopy improvements in medium and high priority tree planting areas. The grants also build capacity within cities to advance community forestry and climate action goals.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval