To: HONORABLE MAYOR AND From: James R. Helmer

CITY COUNCIL

Subject: SEE BELOW Date: 11-24-03

COUNCIL DISTRICT: Citywide

SNI AREA: Citywide

SUBJECT: OUR CITY FOREST OPERATING AND TREE PLANTING GRANT AGREEMENT, FISCAL YEAR 2003-2004

RECOMMENDATION

Approve the Operating and Tree Planting Grant Agreement with Our City Forest for fiscal year 2003-2004 in the amount of $227,000.

BACKGROUND

Our City Forest was initiated in late 1991 to establish a community based non-profit organization to help the City meet its urban forestry goals through involvement of community volunteers in tree planting projects, and in the ongoing care of trees.

Our City Forest became a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation in May 1994 and has operated independently from the City since that date. The City has provided financial support in the form of an operating grant each year since 1994. To date, Our City Forest community volunteers have planted over 20,000 trees in San Jose and provide ongoing stewardship for these trees.

ANALYSIS

The grant amount totals $227,000, of which $127,000 is for Our City Forest to fund staff salaries and other operating expenses. This reflects a percentage reduction in operating support from the previous year based on the same percentage reduction in General Fund budgets.

With operating grant funds, Our City Forest provides the following services and activities:

1.

2. Community tree planting projects

3. Community tree stewardship

4. Volunteer recruitment and training

5. Secures tree planting grants and private donations

6. Tree education programs and outreach events

7. Tree newsletter (2,000 copies a month) to elected officials, service clubs, schools, volunteers, and citizens

8. Community building by mobilizing whole neighborhoods or blocks for tree planting events

The remaining $100,000 of the grant is for tree planting projects to replace trees that are removed by permit throughout the City. Our City Forest will organize these planting projects and provide supplies needed to install 667 15-gallon trees in accordance with City standards. This agreement also includes the replacement of diseased Tulip trees removed with our current Tulip Tree Replacement Program.

Our City Forest is also instrumental in providing street tree planting for neighborhood improvements in Strong Neighborhood Initiative areas and other economic development projects. The Department of Transportation receives funding from the San José Redevelopment Agency, which then is awarded to Our City Forest through a separate grant agreement.

PUBLIC OUTREACH

Our City Forest recruits and trains public volunteers for their tree planting projects.

COORDINATION

This memo has been coordinated with the City Manager’s Budget Office, the City Attorney’s Office, and the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement.

COST IMPLICATIONS

The cost for the Our City Forest grant including $100,000 for tree planting projects has been budgeted in the 2003-2004 Adopted Operating Budget for the Department of Transportation. This project is consistent with the Council-approved Budget Strategy General Principles section in that it leverages volunteer efforts and delivers services through appropriate community partnerships.

BUDGET REFERENCE

Fund #	Appn #	Appn. Name	RC #	Total Appn	Amt. for Contract	Appropriation Ordinance Section and Page	Last Budget Action (Date, Ord. No.)
001	0512	Department of Transportation, Non-Personal		$12,066,909	N/A	Sec. 2.21, Page 1	9/09/2003, Ord. No. 26978

CEQA

Exempt, File No. PPO 3-11-365

James R. Helmer

Director of Transportation