BOARD MEETING DATE: January 8, 2010
AGENDA NO. 12

PROPOSAL:

Award Contracts for Local Government Match Program - Tree Partnership

 

SYNOPSIS:

On October 2, 2009, the Board approved the re-issuance of the Tree Partnership Program Announcement. This action is to award multiple contracts to provide funding towards additional tree planting projects in an amount not to exceed $1,150,239. This action is also to authorize additional funds for the Tree Partnership from the interest earned within the Rule 1309.1 Mitigation Fund in an amount not to exceed $336,939.

COMMITTEE:

Climate Change, December 18, 2009, Reviewed

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:

1. Authorize additional funds from interest earned in the Rule 1309.1 Mitigation Fund for an amount not to exceed $336,939 to fund additional projects for Tree Partnership that was approved at the October 2, 2009 Governing Board meeting.
    
2. Authorize the Chairman to execute twenty-seven contracts with nineteen cities and two counties, as detailed below, for a total not to exceed $1,150,239 from interest earned within the Rule 1309.1 Mitigation Fund. Total funding for the project is $1,836,939, which includes funding of $1,500,000 as approved at the June 2009 Governing Board meeting. $686,700 was awarded at the October 2, 2009 Board meeting, and the additional $336,939 is requested in this Board letter.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

At the January 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 city and county governments to co-sponsor additional tree planting in the South Coast Air Basin and provide employment opportunities for students. Planting low biogenic VOC emitting trees provides a net benefit to air quality by reducing criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gases, and helping minimize heat island effects while providing aesthetic and energy reduction benefits to communities.

At the June 2009 Board meeting, the Program Announcement for Local Government Match Program – Tree Partnership #PA2009-11 was issued and proposals were accepted until July 31, 2009. The October 2, 2009 Governing Board meeting awarded twenty contracts to nineteen cities for an amount not to exceed $686,700.

Also at the October 2, 2009 Board meeting, the Program Announcement for Local Government Match Program - Tree Partnership #PA2009-11R was re-issued for a one month period with proposals being accepted until November 6, 2009. During this application period, extensive outreach was conducted through public notices, e-mails using SCAQMD’s electronic listings, direct communication with previous unsuccessful applicants and new potential applicants, and an informational workshop.

Thirty proposals were received before the closing deadline from twenty-one cities, two counties (each county submitted multiple project proposals), and one university. The proposals were reviewed by SCAQMD staff. Each proposal was first reviewed for completeness and meeting the requirements set forth in the program announcement, which included using California native trees. Qualifying proposals were scored relative to each other based on: dollars requested per tree to be planted, incorporating employment opportunities for students, and extra points for using drought-tolerant trees. Due to the quality of the proposals, staff is recommending funding all qualifying projects.

Proposal

Tree Partnership

This action is to execute twenty- seven contracts with the nineteen cities and two counties listed below:

The proposed tree planting projects with these cities and counties will result in the planting of over 6,770 trees and employ over 200 students for a total of 32,900 hours (as detailed in Attachment A). Costs from executing these contracts will not exceed $1,150,239 to be incurred from the interest earned in the Rule 1309.1 Mitigation Fund. The proposals from the other applicants are not recommended to be funded at this time for a variety of reasons, such as not having required components of the application, having non-native California trees, or not being a qualified applicant. Funding of these projects along with those previously funded will result in the planting of over 11,150 urban trees and employing over 300 students for a total of 48,600 hours.

Provide Additional Funds in an amount not to exceed $336,939 from the Rule 1309.1 Mitigation Fund 

In order to fund all qualifying projects, an additional $336,939 will be needed for the Tree Partnership program. At the February 6, 2009 Board meeting $1,500,000 was originally established within the work plan for the Tree Partnership. The additional $336,939 will bring the total cost for the Tree Partnership to an amount not to exceed $1,836,939.  

Resource Impacts

Total funding for the Tree Partnership was established at $1.5 million within the work plan presented at the February 6, 2009 Board meeting. Executing contracts with the nineteen cities and two counties will not exceed $1,150,239 provided an additional $336,939 is provided. All funds will be incurred from interest earned in the Rule 1309.1 Mitigation Fund. Existing staff resources will be adequate to administer the program.

Attachment

1. City and County Projects Recommended for Funding

Attachment A: City and County Projects Recommended for Funding

• Students provided by outside organization