Adopt Resolution #23-208 Authorizing Staff to Apply for ReLeaf Community Forestry Grant Funds to Assist with Managing Emerald Ash Borer Infested Trees and for Planting New Trees on Public Land

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced that there is approximately $6.4 million in grant funding to encourage and promote the inventory, planting, assessment, maintenance, improvement, protection, and restoration of trees and forest resources.  Municipalities are eligible applicants for this funding and there is no required matching component (either cash or in-kind).  Eligible expenses for reimbursement include numerous activities that our staff regularly conduct on city-owned land (e.g. in parks and boulevards), including managing Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infested trees (identifying, removing, stump grinding), general/routine maintenance (pruning), tree planting, chemical treatment of ash trees to protect against EAB (this is something that has been done sparingly and only with high value ash trees in our parks system), and community forestry education and outreach.  Additional eligible expenses that would be beneficial include completing a public tree inventory and development of a community forest management plan.  The purpose of this case is to seek authorization to apply for ReLeaf Community Forestry grant funds.  

 

Notification is not required.

The City's 2023 Strategic Plan includes the following strategies: 

• Identify and implement operational efficiencies, cost savings, and additional funding sources. 
• Promote economic growth and development.
• Create a positive image for residential neighborhoods, business districts and key corridors.

This grant program represents an opportunity for the City to realize cost savings through a new, albeit temporary (approximately 3 years), funding source.  Certain community forestry related activities, if conducted on public land, are eligible for reimbursement, including managing for EAB (identification, removal, stump grinding, and replacement plantings), routine pruning/maintenance of trees, and increasing canopy cover (e.g. planting trees).  All of these activities have the potential of promoting economic growth and development and creating/enhancing a positive image for residential neighborhoods, business districts, and key corridors in accordance with the Strategic Plan.
   
The impacts of EAB on Ramsey's community forest are evident and are worsening.  There continues to be a need to identify infested public trees, remove them, grind out the stump, and, if the site is appropriate, plant a replacement tree.  These are costs that the City will incur regardless of whether this grant application is successful or not.  Furthermore, ongoing maintenance of existing boulevard trees (e.g. pruning) is necessary, not only for the health of the trees, but also to minimize the City's exposure to risk as a result of damage to private property (such as low hanging branches damaging a vehicle, limbs that may fail and damage buildings or property, etc.).  As trees in the boulevard/right-of-way are removed, it is common to hear from the adjacent private property owner that they are interested in having a replacement tree planted.  All of these activities are eligible expenses.

This grant program could also provide funding for the purchase and installation of new trees.  The City could utilize grant funds to complete the boulevard tree installation along Sunwood Drive (from Center Street east towards Ramsey Boulevard), helping to reduce the cost of future development projects on the adjacent vacant parcels.  Furthermore, these funds could also assist in establishing some of the landscape within The Waterfront and possibly the Trott Brook Crossing community park, resulting in some considerable cost savings in the development of these parks.

Applicants can seek up to a maximum of $500,000 through the ReLeaf Community Forestry grant program (through a single application or cumulatively via multiple applications).  The deadline to submit an application(s) and supporting information is September 18, 2023.  Successful applicants will be notified in mid-October and it is anticipated that contracts will be executed by the end of 2023 so that grant projects could begin as soon as January 1, 2024.  This grant runs through June 30, 2027.

Alternatives

Alternative 1: Authorize Staff to apply for ReLeaf Community Forestry grant funds.  The City will continue to identify and remove EAB infested public trees.  Additionally, the City will be installing new trees over the next several years in The Waterfront, the Trott Brook Crossing community park, and/or within boulevards.  Both of these activities are eligible expenses for reimbursement through this program.  Seeking cost savings and additional funding sources is imbedded in one of the strategies within the 2023 Strategic Plan.  Staff supports this alternative.

Alternative 2: Do not authorize Staff to apply for ReLeaf Community Forestry grant funds.  The management of EAB infested public trees is an ongoing responsibility of the City, and is outlined in the City Council approved EAB Management Plan.  Similarly, regardless of whether there are grant funds or not, new and/or replacement trees will continue to be planted.  If there is funding that can offset these costs, it would seem prudent to pursue it.  Staff does not support this alternative.

This case is being handled as part of Staff's regular duties.

The Environmental Policy Board recommended that the City apply for grant funding to offset costs related to managing EAB and increasing canopy cover through the installation of new trees.

Motion to adopt Resolution #23-208 authorizing Staff to apply for ReLeaf Community Forestry grant funding.