Fiscal Note
Total expenditures are projected at $44,730. Funds are available from an Urban Forestry Grant ($22,365), from the sidewalk project ($16,325), and City supplied labor funded through the Forestry Operating Budget ($6,040). (The Urban Forestry Grant requires a 50% match, and the City funding will satisfy this requirement.) There is no additional impact on expenditure restraints, the tax levy, or General Obligation debt borrowing. The Parks Forestry 2008 Operating Budget will be amended as follows:
GN01-54950-613100 Consulting Serices: $35,325
GN01-55155-613100 Computer Hardware: $1,000
GN01-55510-613100 General Work Supplies: $1,165
GN01-55620-613100 Trees & Shrubs: $1,200
GN01-73219-613100 State Grants ($22,365)
GN01-59810-613100 ID Payment from Capital Funds ($16,325)
The Transfer from the Sidewalk Program to Parks Operating will be as follows:
CS53-56610-810376 ID Payment to Parks $16,325
GN01-59810-613100 ID Payment from Capital Funds ($16,325)
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Authorizing the Forestry Section of the Parks Division of the City of Madison to accept a grant of $22,365 under the Urban Forestry Grant Program to provide for the continuation of the City's Tree Inventory Project, Arbor Week Education, and i-tree training session. (1st, 7th, & 9th ADs)
Body
PREAMBLE
The majority of this grant will go toward the City's Tree Inventory. The City began a project to inventory trees within public right of ways in 2007. The Forestry Department proposes to continue the work in 2008 using an Urban Forestry Grant and funding from the City Sidewalk program. The areas to be inventoried in 2008 are areas of sidewalk repair in 2009. The tree inventory is beneficial to the sidewalk program because it helps identify and track potential tree conflicts.
In addition, the City's urban forest can be threatened by disease and/or insect and an accurate tree inventory is essential information in that event of a widespread disease or insect infestation effecting the City's urban forest. The Emerald Ash bore is just such a threat and has already appeared in neighboring states.
Arbor Week Education is an important outreach for the Forestry Department that began 2 years ago. This grant will be used to purchase educational materials and tools as well as 8 trees. The trees will be planted during Arbor Week at 8 Madison Schools.
The grant will also be used for i-Tree training. i-Tree is a software package developed by the USDA Forest Service that provides urban and community forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools. The i-Tree training will be made available to City Employees and the surrounding communities,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Forester is authorized to act on behalf of the Forestry Section of the Parks Division of the City of Madison to submit an application to the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, to obtain the sum of $22,365 in financial aid that may be available; sign documents; and take necessary actions to undertake, direct and complete the approved project, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Forestry Section of the Parks Division of the City of Madison will comply with state and federal rules for the program; perform requested account work; provide or be responsible for 100% of updating plans or ongoing operations and will obtain from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approval in writing before any changes are made the proposed project, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Forestry Budget shall be amended to include the addition of funds from the Urban Forestry Grant in the amount of $22,365, and also to include $16,325 from the sidewalk project.