Item Description:
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Neg 25 Healthy Tree Canopy grant agmts, during the period of 10/03/23-12/01/24, total combined NTE $499,723.64
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate the following 25 Healthy Tree Canopy grant agreements, during the period October 3, 2023 through December 1, 2024, with a combined total amount not to exceed $499,723.64:
• Agreement PR00005621 with the City of Brooklyn Center, in an amount not to exceed $29,751.79
• Agreement PR00005580 with the City of Brooklyn Park, in an amount not to exceed $50,000
• Agreement PR00005588 with the City of Champlin, in an amount not to exceed $19,807
• Agreement PR00005585 with the City of Crystal, in an amount not to exceed $50,000
• Agreement PR00005587 with the City of Eden Prairie, in an amount not to exceed $45,269.03
• Agreement PR00005584 with the City of Excelsior, in an amount not to exceed $20,596
• Agreement PR00005586 with the City of Medicine Lake, in an amount not to exceed $5,000
• Agreement PR00005622 with the City of Minnetrista, in an amount not to exceed $7,325
• Agreement PR00005579 with the City of New Hope, in an amount not to exceed $33,000
• Agreement PR00005581 with the City of Orono, in an amount not to exceed $33,150
• Agreement PR00005578 with the City of Plymouth, in an amount not to exceed $20,500
• Agreement PR00005583 with the City of St. Anthony, in an amount not to exceed $21,030
• Agreement PR00005582 with the City of Wayzata, in an amount not to exceed $24,963.82
• Agreement PR00005571 with the Boisclair Corporation, in an amount not to exceed $20,000
• Agreement PR00005572 with the Boisclair Corporation, in an amount not to exceed $20,000
• Agreement PR00005573 with the Independent School District 271, in an amount not to exceed $10,000
• Agreement PR00005574 with the Independent School District 273, in an amount not to exceed $10,000
• Agreement PR00005576 with the Independent School District 273, in an amount not to exceed $10,000
• Agreement PR00005577 with the Independent School District 273, in an amount not to exceed $10,000
• Agreement PR00005575 with the Special School District 1, in an amount not to exceed $10,000
• Agreement PR00005596 with the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, in an amount not to exceed $10,000
• Agreement PR00005597 with Bloomington Neighbors Nurturing Nature, in an amount not to exceed $10,000
• Agreement PR00005600 with Missions, Inc. Programs in an amount not to exceed $9,990
• Agreement PR00005598 with Vibrant and Safe Downtown, in an amount not to exceed $9,341
• Agreement PR00005599 with Tree Trust, in an amount not to exceed $10,000; and
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 the board approval date be eligible for reimbursement upon the execution of the agreements; 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, 116 grants have been awarded to 25 affordable housing projects, 47 city projects, 19 school projects, and 25 non-profit projects to improve the overall tree canopy cover.
Emerald Ash Borer alone is expected to kill one million ash trees (approximately 15 percent of the county’s tree canopy) in Hennepin County. Based on experience from other states, the effects of Emerald Ash Borer are becoming overwhelming to local municipalities’ financial and staffing capabilities. This will result in the removal of trees without replacement and a corresponding decline in the tree canopy and associated benefits.
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 and developed a Tree Planting Prioritization Map. Planting trees in high priority areas of the county will help make 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 (see attachment 1). Twelve of these projects will fund canopy improvements in medium and high priority areas.
The county solicited proposals in April 2023 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 University of Minnesota reviewed applications. Applications were evaluated on project need, positive impacts to tree prioritization areas, the potential for tree canopy enhancements, and eligibility aligned with grant guidelines.
Funding for the grants comes from the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. This request seeks approval for grantees to incur costs after the board approval date, with reimbursements being paid upon execution of the grant agreements.
Current Request: This request is for County Administrator authorization to negotiate 25 Healthy Tree Canopy Grant agreements in 2023, grant terms running for the period of October 3, 2023 through December 1, 2024, with the combined total not to exceed amount of $499,723.64. Board authorization is required because several of the proposed grantees have other contracts with the county that exceed $100,000.
The tree canopy improvement grants are summarized below.
Cities
• Brooklyn Center - $29,751.79 to remove 13 ash trees, and plant 55 replacement trees
• Brooklyn Park - $50,000 to remove 30 ash trees, stock gravel bed with 60 bareroot trees, conduct Emerald Ash Borer education, treat existing ash trees, and hold volunteer tree planting events to replace 30 ash trees
• Champlin - $19,807 to remove 35 ash trees, plant 35 replacement trees, and treat 35 ash trees
• Crystal - $50,000 to remove 10 ash trees and plant 40 replacement trees
• Eden Prairie - $45,269.03 to remove and replace 42 ash trees, and create educational Emerald Ash Borer signage for the public
• Excelsior - $22,596 to plant 27 trees, purchase treatment equipment, and train staff
• Medicine Lake - $5,000 to establish a city-wide tree inventory
• Minnestrista - $7,325 to establish a gravel bed nursery
• New Hope - $33,000 to plant 75 trees to replace ash tree removals
• Orono - $33,150 to develop an urban tree management plan and an Emerald Ash Borer management plan
• Plymouth - $20,500 to create an urban forest management plan
• St. Anthony - $21,030 to remove 20 ash trees and plant 25 replacement trees
• Wayzata - $24,963.82 to remove 35 ash trees and plant 40 replacement trees
Affordable Housing
• Boisclair Corporation - $20,000 to remove 10 ash trees at the Highlands and plant 12 replacement trees in Bloomington
• Boisclair Corporation - $20,000 to remove 10 ash trees at Penn Place and plant 12 replacement trees in Bloomington
Non-profits/Schools
• ISD 271 - $10,000 to plant 43-70 trees on school property in Bloomington
• ISD 273 - $10,000 to remove 10 ash trees and plant 10 replacement trees at Concord Elementary School in Edina
• ISD 273 - $10,000 to remove 14 ash trees and plant 14 replacement trees at Normandale Elementary School in Edina
• ISD 273 - $10,000 to remove 4 ash trees and plant 4 replacement trees at South View Middle School in Edina
• Special School District 1 - $10,000 to plant 49 trees across 9 different school properties in Minneapolis
• Church of St. Thomas the Apostle - $10,000 to remove 5 ash trees and plant 11 replacement trees in Minneapolis
• Bloomington Neighbors Nurturing Nature - $10,000 to conduct a tree inventory and create a tree management plan for Bloomington Public Schools
• Missions, Inc. Programs - $9,990 to remove 4 ash trees and plant 6 replacement trees in Plymouth
• Tree Trust - $10,000 to hold an educational event and plant 30 trees at a school in Bloomington
• Vibrant and Safe Downtown - $9,341 to maintain 250 newly planted trees in Minneapolis
Impact/Outcomes: The tree canopy improvement grants will promote a more diverse, resilient, and equitable tree canopy. Trees provide many benefits, including improving air quality by absorbing fine particulate matter and other pollutants and intercepting stormwater runoff. Trees also provide shade, reduce the urban heat island effect, reduce stress, and increase property values.
Through this award, applicants will plant a total of 640 trees. A typical 20-year-old large shade tree intercepts 1,394 gallons of rainfall per year which could equate to 600,000 gallons of stormwater intercepted annually by trees planted through this grant. A typical mature tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year which could equate to almost 21,000 pounds of carbon dioxide absorbed per year by trees planted through this grant.
The grants will:
• Fund the collection of data through tree inventories, which is critical to start responding to Emerald Ash Borer.
• Mitigate the effects of tree pests and pathogens by improving municipal forestry capacity.
• Educate residents on the benefits of trees and engage them in planting efforts.
• Improve livability and reduce disparities by planting trees in neighborhoods throughout the county experiencing disproportionate amounts of economic, environmental, and health inequities.
• Mitigate the impacts of climate change through trees, which have the ability to reduce air pollution and stormwater run-off and counteract the urban heat island effect.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval