M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Town Council
From: Rafael G. Casals, Town Manager
Date: March 19, 2014
Re: 2014 State of Florida Department of Agriculture - Grant Application
REQUESTTitle
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO SUBMIT A GRANT APPLICATION WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Town of Cutler Bay was awarded $10,000 during the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year from the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program. The Town subcontracted with Top-Notch, Inc. to conduct corrective pruning of Town Trees. Additionally, the Public Works Department canvassed the affected neighborhood and placed educational material on resident's doors. The educational packaged included a notice regarding the project as well as information on how to properly maintain trees on their private property. This grant is renewable up to three (3) years; however, the Town must submit a new application each year. This will be the Town's second request submitted to the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program.
Due to the success of this project, the Town will submit a similar grant proposal requesting $10,000 under the Site Specific Projects category to be used for maintenance of Town owned trees, located along the swales and right-of-ways. The Town's Grant Coordinator in collaboration with the Public Works Department, is preparing a grant application package, in response the State of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service's RFP/FFS-13/14-23.
The purpose of the Grant Program is to cooperate with local governments to promote the planting and protection of trees to improve the livability of urban environments within the State of Florida. There are three categories of funding for local governments; Tree Program Development/Improvement, Site Specific Projects, and Information/Education.
Town staff has worked diligently to follow the goals and objectives of the adopted Street Tree Master Plan and has succeeded in being designated a "Tree City" each year since 2009 and received the Arbor Day Foundation's "Growth Award" in 2013. The Town's Public Works Department has successfully completed the planting of over 2,000 Live Oak trees, throughout our residential neighborhoods.
The Town will benefit from the proposed Project (Selective Tree Pruning), as stated in the Town's Street Tree Master Plan, adopted by the Town Council via Resolution Number 09-02. Below is an excerpt from the adopted Street Tree Master Plan (p. 11):
"Selective pruning of shade trees and frond removal of palms will be the major effort required. Pruning is necessary both to correct structural deficiencies in existing trees, and maintain the proper growth habit on newly planted trees. Most shade trees require pruning about once every three (3) years to remove dead and crossing branches, maintain dominant leaders, and selectively thin the branches to allow winds to blow through. This helps make the trees more wind/hurricane-resistant."
The Town's grant application package will consist of a fifty percent (50%) match of the total Project (Selective Tree Pruning) costs. The required match can be in the form of in-kind costs (Town staff salaries).
The Town's grant application will focus on the following goals and objectives, identified by the State of Florida's Department of Agriculture:
Ø Goal 1: Maintain current trees
Objective 1: Prune shade trees and remove palm fronds from older and newly planted trees to correct structural deficiencies and promote proper growth habits.
Objective 2: Fertilize trees on public owned streets as necessary.
Objective 3: Inspect current trees for presence of pests or disease.
Ø Goal 2: Educate residents about Tree Ordinance and maintenance.
Objective 1: Send press release to local news outlets about proper maintenance.
Objective 2: Distribute educational brochures to Town residents educating them about proper tree maintenance and the Town's tree ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Town Council approve the attached Resolution.