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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY BUILDING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES GRANT PROGRAM FOR UP TO $1,500,000 TO CONTINUE FORESTRY RESPONSE TO EMERALD ASH BORER DAMAGE AND IMPROVE DULUTH’S URBAN FOREST.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper City officials are hereby authorized to submit an application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program for a grant of up to $1,500,000 to continue forestry response to Emerald Ash Borer damage and improve Duluth’s urban forest.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Duluth has the legal authority to accept these funds and the financial, technical, and managerial capacity to ensure proper planning and maintenance of the project. Matching funds of up to twenty five percent of the total project cost is required. The City will meet the required match with in-kind contributions of personnel, equipment, and materials that are paid for in baseline City budgets, as well as the annual forestry budget of $50,000.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Duluth City Council names the fiscal agent for this project as Jen Carlson, City of Duluth Finance Director, 411 West First Street, Duluth, MN 55802.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program for a grant of up to $1,500,000 to continue forestry response to Emerald Ash Borer damage and improve Duluth’s urban forest.
Planting funded by the grant will focus exclusively upon neighborhoods identified as disadvantaged by federal government agencies. Neighborhoods to be served include the Hillside, Lincoln Park, Fairmount, Morgan Park, Gary/New Duluth, Fond du Lac, and portions of the Observation Hill, Denfeld, Cody, and Irving neighborhoods.
Grant funds would be used to:
1. Accelerate the replacement of ash boulevard trees removed from disadvantaged neighborhoods due to the Emerald Ash Borer;
2. Develop and implement a citywide Urban Forest Enhancement Plan;
3. Plant and care for a total of up to 2,400 native trees in boulevards; and
4. Engage and support citizens to collectively steward our urban forest.
The City intends to provide the required match via in-kind contributions of personnel, equipment, and materials that are paid for in baseline City budgets, as well as the annual forestry tree budget of $50,000.
The proposed work aligns with and supports four guiding documents for the City of Duluth:
1. Imagine Duluth 2035 Comprehensive Plan by forwarding Open Space Policy 4: Improve the delivery of parks and open space services to the community.
2. Duluth Climate Action Work Plan by forwarding
a. Objective 2: Strengthen community resilience.
b. Objective 4: Create financial and workforce plans to accelerate climate action.
3. Essential Spaces: Duluth Parks, Recreation, Open Space & Trails Plan by forwarding
a. Goal P: Protect and enhance our open spaces to restore and maintain ecological health, build resilience to natural disasters, and preserve the area’s natural beauty.
b. Goal Q: Increase climate-resiliency throughout our park and trail system through modern design and best management practices.
4. Duluth’s Natural Resources Management Program Plan by forwarding
a. Goal 1: Provide City Resources for the Natural Resources Management Program.
b. Goal 4: Collect and asses natural resources data to evaluate progress and aid in future decision-making.