For City Council Meeting April 23, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, Acting City Manager
FROM: Tim Sullivan, Director of Maintenance and Facilities
Title
Request City Council: 1) Authorize the Submission of an Urban and Community Forestry Grant Application to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) in Partnership with TreePeople; and 2) Adopt Resolution No. 8205 Authorizing the City Manager or their Designee to Execute all Grant-Related Documents.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the submission of an Urban and Community Forestry Grant Application to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection; and
2. Adopt Resolution No. 8205 authorizing the City Manager or their designee to execute all grant-related documents.
BACKGROUND
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program strives to increase the long-term benefits trees provide, improve the public’s understanding and appreciation of urban trees, and advance urban forest management and tree care. The objective for submission of this grant is to develop a comprehensive Urban Forest Management Plan to increase tree benefits, reduce risk, ensure cost-efficient maintenance, and promote community engagement.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
This grant will fund crucial steps to advance the City’s management and improvement of its trees. As a part of this grant, the City would complete a tree canopy assessment, develop an Urban Forest Management Plan (UMFP), tree plantings within the City’s right-of-way and parks system, and public tree giveaways. At the heart of the grant would be the UFMP, a guiding document to ensure that the benefits of a healthy urban forest are available to the community. The UFMP will, at minimum, include a shared vision for the City’s urban forest, an inventory assessment, quantified urban forest benefits, strategic plans, routine maintenance procedures, a street tree planting plan, and an evaluation component. A main goal of the UFMP will be to increase Citywide canopy cover to maximize urban cooling, stormwater mitigation, air pollution mitigation, and improve walkability. Other City policies related to urban forestry will be reviewed and updated to guarantee continuity in urban forest management. After the UFMP is complete, the grant will fund a community tree-planting campaign. The completed UFMP will guide tree planting sites and species. This project will be applied for and completed in partnership with TreePeople. This Southern California non-profit organization has had successful partnerships with the City, recently planting over 300 street and park trees within the City.
Once the resolution is approved by the City Council, City staff and TreePeople will collaborate to develop a competitive application to submit to CalFire by May 30, 2024.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed request is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has the potential to result in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The City of Rialto General Plan establishes various guiding principles, goals, and objectives through which the City looks to improve the community and protect the quality of life for our residents. This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A in the General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
This action is also consistent with the following goal and policy:
Goal 2-11: Design streetscapes in Rialto to support and enhance the City’s image as a desirable place to live, work, shop, and dine.
Policy 2-11.4: Incorporate street trees and other landscape treatments along corridors to provide sufficient shade canopy and promote pedestrian comfort.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the resolution and approved it as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
This action has no impact to the Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
The requested action does not impact the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
The proposed action will not require the payment of a business license tax.