BOARD MEETING DATE: June 5, 2009
AGENDA NO. 12

PROPOSAL:

Issue Program Announcement for Local Government Match Program – Tree Partnership

SYNOPSIS:

One of the Chairman’s Initiatives for 2009 is to provide local and county governments an incentive for additional tree planting, along with an opportunity for temporary employment for students. Through the Tree Partnership, the AQMD will provide funding to eligible tree planting projects that provide temporary student labor.  This action is to issue a program announcement for the Tree Partnership that local governments within the District are eligible to apply for.

COMMITTEE:

Stationary Source, May 22, 2009, Recommend for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Approve issuance of Program Announcement and Application PA #2009-11 to solicit proposals from local cities and counties proposing tree planting projects.
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

At the January 9, 2009 Board meeting, Chairman Burke introduced the 'Helping Hand Initiative for 2009.' One of the four components of this initiative is to partner with local cities and counties to co-sponsor additional tree planting in the South Coast air basin. As outlined in the work plan presented at the February 6, 2009 meeting, staff has prepared a program announcement to solicit proposals from cities and counties to partner with AQMD for additional tree planting.

This announcement is open to only cities and counties within the South Coast AQMD jurisdiction. The goal of this proposal is for the AQMD to partner with cities and counties to provide funding to supplement local public funds and in-kind support towards proposed tree planting projects.

In developing the Local Government Match Program – Tree Partnership, staff reviewed tree planting projects in which the AQMD has participated in the past. In addition, meetings were held with a large local city and a community organization regarding their experiences with tree planting projects.
 

Proposal

Local Government Match Program – Tree Partnership

$1.5 million will be allocated for this program from interest earned in the 1309.1 Mitigation Fund. Proposals under this announcement will be accepted from June 5, 2009 until 5:00 pm July 31, 2009. Requirements for tree planting projects include:

• The project is additional;
• Trees have low ozone forming potential and are native to California (additional points are available for drought tolerant trees)
• Trees are appropriate for the region;
• Project occurs on public lands;
• Tree maintenance is provided; and
• Outreach and educational component are included.

Proposals will first be reviewed to ensure they meet the requirements set forth in the program announcement. Proposals will then be scored relative to each other based on dollars requested per tree planted and incorporating employment opportunities for students. The highest scoring proposed tree planting projects will be identified geographically to ensure they do not overlap and are also geographically dispersed throughout the South Coast Air Basin. If further geographic diversity is needed, the highest rated proposals within each county will be selected.
 

Outreach

An extensive outreach program will ensure each city and county eligible to participate is aware of this opportunity.

1. City and county governments will be notified utilizing AQMD’s own electronic listing. Notice of the program announcement will also be mailed to eligible city and county governments, the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business association, the State of California Contracts Register website, and placed on the internet at AQMD’s website (http://www.aqmd.gov where it can be viewed by making menu selections “Inside AQMD”/”Employment and Business Opportunities”/”Business Opportunities” or by going directly to http://www.aqmd.gov/rfp/index.html). Information will also be available on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line (909) 396-2724.

2. In accordance with AQMD’s Procurement Policy and Procedure, a public notice advertising the program announcement and inviting proposals will be published in the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, the San Bernardino Sun, and Riverside County Press Enterprise newspapers to leverage the most cost effective method of outreach to the entire South Coast Basin.

3. Two voluntary applicant workshops will be held to assist in the application process. In addition, staff is available to answer questions and assist in the application process.
    

Attachment (DOC, 505k)

Program Announcement and Application PA #2009-11