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Title:
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Consideration of Issuing a Statement of Support for the Park-Related Elements of an Upcoming Application for Grant Funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District 2012 Competitive Tree Planting Grant Program which will include Project Areas within Syd Kronenthal and Culver West Alexander Parks.
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City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: _12/04/12__ Item Number: _A-3__
PRCS COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of Issuing a Statement of
Support for the Park-Related Elements of an Upcoming Application for Grant Funds
from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District 2012
Competitive Tree Planting Grant Program which will Include Project Areas within
Syd Kronenthal and Culver West Alexander Parks.
Contact Person/Dept.: Dan Hernandez,
PRCS Director
Phone Number: (310) 253-6655
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas – Parks, Recreation and Community
Services Commission (11/29/12); (Email) Department Updates – Parks, Recreation and
Community Services Department (11/29/12); (Email) News and Events – City of Culver
City (11/29/12).
Department Approval:Dan Hernandez
(11/27/12)
City Attorney Approval: N/A
Chief Financial Officer Approval: N/A City Manager Approval: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS)
Commissionconsider issuing a statement of support for the park-related elements of
an upcoming application for grant funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park
and Open Space District 2012 Competitive Tree Planting Grant Program which will
include project areas within Syd Kronenthal and Culver West Alexander Parks.
BACKGROUND:
In September 2012, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas announced the availability of
competitive Proposition A grant funding through the Los Angeles County Regional
Park and Open Space District for tree planting. Grants are limited to $150,000 and
the application deadline is December 20, 2012. The Public Works Department has
taken the lead in requesting approval from the City Council to submit a grant
application requesting $150,000 to pay for the planting and establishment of
between 300 and 400 trees (depending on planting costs). Approximately 20 of
these trees are anticipated to be planted in Culver West Alexander and Syd
Kronenthal Parks and the rest of these trees are anticipated to be planted in City
parkways. Public Works staff are still in the process of identifying specific locations
for all the proposed trees in the parkways, but anticipate prioritizing vacant locations
that are near parks and on key commercial corridors as well as vacant locations that
have appropriate trees identified in the Street Tree Master Plan.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
DISCUSSION:
The City has a modest budget for trees. This budget covers the cost of regular tree
trimming for the City’s urban forest and the removal of City trees that are dead or
otherwise pose a hazard. However, there is only a small amount available for tree
planting. As a result, in recent years, more trees have been removed than have
been planted, leaving a number of vacant tree sites throughout the City. According
to the most recent tree inventory, there are over 1,300 vacant tree locations in the
City’s parkways.Additionally, the Parks Department conducted a review of the City’s
parks and identified locations within Syd Kronenthal and Culver West Alexander
Parks that are appropriate for tree plantings at this time (Attachments A and B,
respectively). Planting the proposed trees will serve aesthetic, environmental and
practical purposes. Within the City’s parks, trees can help provide environmental
benefits as well as help contribute to the sense of place.
The Resolution approving the submission of theapplication for grant funds from the
Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District 2012 Competitive Tree
Planting Grant Program is scheduled to go before the City Council on December 10,
2012. Although only a small percentage of the plantings will be located within Culver
City parks, staff recommends that the Parks, Recreation and Community Services
(PRCS) Commission consider issuing a statement of support for the park-related
elements ofthis Project.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Schematic of Proposed Tree Plantings at Syd Kronenthal Park
B. Schematic of Proposed Tree Plantings at Culver West Alexander Park
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the discussion of this Agenda Item. No
matching funds are required for this grant. If the City is awarded the grant, staff
resources will be required to manage the project. Furthermore, while the grant
provides some funding for plant establishment, this funding can only be used for two
years and is limited to 20 percent of the grant total. Thus, additional funding will be
required in future years to trim and otherwise maintain these trees.
MOTION:
That the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission:
Issue a statement of support for the park-related elements of an upcoming
application for grant funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open
Space District 2012 Competitive Tree Planting Grant Program which will include
project areas within Syd Kronenthal and Culver West Alexander Parks.
MEETING DATE: December 4, 2012
AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of Issuing a Statement of Support for the
Park-Related Elements of an Upcoming Application for
Grant Funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park
and Open Space District 2012 Competitive Tree Planting
Grant Program which will Include Project Areas within
Syd Kronenthal and Culver West Alexander Parks.
ATTACHMENTS
Page
A. Schematic of Proposed Tree Plantings at Syd Kronenthal Park
1
B. Schematic of Proposed Tree Plantings at Culver West Alexander Park
2
ATTACHMENT A
Page 1
ATTACHMENT B
Page 2