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Title:
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FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT – (1) Authorization to Release a Request for Proposals for the Preparation of the City of Culver City Urban Forest Management and Tree Succession Plan and (2) Appropriation of Grant Funds.
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City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 01/13/2014 Item Number: A-2
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT – (1)
Authorization to Release a Request for Proposals for the Preparation of the City of
Culver City Urban Forest Management and Tree Succession Plan and (2)
Appropriation of Grant Funds.
Contact Person/Dept.:
Eric Mirzaian / PW
Phone Number:
(310) 253-6410
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Agenda and Meetings – City Council (01/07/2014)
Department Approval:
Charles D. Herbertson (12/30/13)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (01/06/14)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (01/07/14)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (01/07/14)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council (1) authorize the release of a Request for
Proposals (RFP) for the preparation of the City of Culver City Urban Forest
Management and Tree Succession Plan (Plan) and (2) approve a budget
amendment appropriating $75,000 in grant funds.
A budget amendment requires a four-fifths vote.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
In 2002, the City Council adopted the Culver City Street Tree Master Plan
(STMP). The Public Works Department (Department) identified the need to
review and update the decade-old STMP in its Work Program for Fiscal Year
2012/2013. Upon reviewing the STMP, the Department determined that the City
could benefit from a major update of the STMP that would transform it from a
document focused narrowly on specifying a tree species for each street into a
comprehensive planning document for managing the City’s urban forest
developed with significant community input.
The proposed Plan would include tree-related policies and procedures, a long-
term plan for the future of the City’s aging urban forest, as well as modifications
to the species identified in the existing STMP in order to increase species
diversity and disease resistance, facilitate environmental benefits, and ensure
site-specific appropriateness.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Recognizing the Department’s limited staff availability, the Department
determined that it would be necessary to seek external assistance in order to
undertake this effort and identified Cal Fire’s Urban Forest Management Plan
Grant Program as a potential funding source. The Department submitted a
concept proposal to Cal Fire in September 2012 for the creation of the Plan. In
December 2012, the City was notified that it was selected to submit a final
proposal. On January 14, 2013, the City Council adopted a Resolution
authorizing the City Manager to submit a Cal Fire Urban and Community Forestry
Management Plan Grant Application for preparation of the Plan. In February
2013, the City was notified that its application was approved. Two months later,
the grant agreement was executed. Staff is now prepared to move forward with
implementing the grant. Accordingly, staff is returning to the City Council to seek
authorization to release the RFP for preparation of the Plan and to appropriate
the grant funds (the matching funds were appropriated as part of the City Council
Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2013/2014).
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The total grant amount is $75,000. The 25% required grant match will come from
$10,000 in staff time associated with management and oversight of the project as
well as a $15,000 monetary match. The $15,000 monetary match was included
in the FY 2013/14 Capital Improvement Program Budget. Staff is now requesting
the appropriation of the $75,000 in grant funds.
ATTACHMENT:
Draft Request for Proposals
MOTIONS:
That the City Council
1. Authorize the release of a Request for Proposals for the preparation of the
City of Culver City Urban Forest Management and Tree Succession Plan;
and,
2. Approve a budget amendment to appropriate $75,000 in grant funding.
A 4/5
th
vote is required to approve the budget amendment.
.