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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO THE US FOREST SERVICE URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM FOR A GRANT OF UP TO $3,500,000 TO ENHANCE DULUTH’S URBAN FOREST AND PROVIDE PATHWAYS TO ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS
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CITY PROPOSAL:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper City officials are hereby authorized to submit an application to the US Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program grant of up to $3,500,000 to enhance Duluth’s urban forest, provide pathways to environmental careers, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
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. The City does not anticipate that the grantor will require a local matching contribution. In the event that the grantor does require a local match, the City will meet the requirement with in-kind contributions of personnel, equipment, and materials that are paid for in baseline City budgets.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the Duluth City Council names the fiscal agent for this project as Jen Carlson, City of Duluth Finance Director, 411 West 1st Street, Duluth, Minnesota, 55802
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: : This resolution authorizes application to the US Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program for a five-year grant of up to $3,500,000 to enhance Duluth’s urban forest, provide pathways to environmental careers for unemployed and under-employed residents, and mitigate the effects of climate change. This resolution effectively replaces Resolution 23-0404R which authorized application to the same grant program for the same purpose but at a lower amount of $2,500,000.
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 10,000 native trees in boulevards, developed parks, and natural areas within or immediately adjoining disadvantaged neighborhoods;
4. Engage and support citizens to collectively steward our urban forest; and
5. Provide workforce development pathways to environmental careers for under-employed residents through professional training and experience in urban forestry.
The City intends to undertake the workforce development component of the project in close collaboration with nonprofit partner, Community Action Duluth, through their Duluth Stream Corps program. Duluth Stream Corps will hire under-employed residents and, in collaboration with the City, provide participants with broad-based urban forestry skills training and work experience. The City of Duluth has partnered productively with Community Action Duluth - Duluth Stream Corps on numerous grant-funded projects over the last 15 years that have simultaneously enhanced Duluth’s natural environment and provided valuable work experience and skills.
The City does not anticipate that the grantor will require a local matching contribution as work performed in designated disadvantaged areas is exempt from matching requirements. In the event that the grantor does require a local match, 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.
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.