Placement: Resolutions
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Resolution 22-R94, Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Grant Agreement Between the Florida Forest Service, a Division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the City of Port St. Lucie, to Provide Financial Assistance for the Citywide Landscape Inventory.
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Submitted By: John Dunton, Deputy Director- Public Works
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of safe, clean, and beautiful.
Summary Brief (Agreements/Contracts only)
1. Prepared by: Robin Dorfmeister
2. Parties: City of Port St. Lucie and the Florida Forest Service (FFS), a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)
3. Purpose: The City desires to hire a vendor to review the existing tree inventory and provide a detailed assessment of current conditions of the City’s tree inventory. The selected vendor will update the current Landscape GPS Database that was previously collected under Contract 20180219. The acceptance of grant financial assistance will reduce the cost to be incurred by the City to perform a GPS inventory of existing landscaping owned and maintained by the City of Port St. Lucie.
4. New/Renewal/Modified: New
5. Duration: The term of the agreement will commence upon the execution of this agreement and continue through April 30, 2023. The Florida Forest Service (FFS), a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has indicated that the contract will be extended an additional six months upon receipt of the executed agreement to facilitate the selection of a consultant to perform the services.
6. Benefits to Port St. Lucie: An up-to-date inventory will provide more efficient and effective urban forest management to sustain and maintain its population of trees as it directly affects the environment, health to the community and natural habitat. Having an updated inventory could potentially reduce contract overruns associated with the removal and replacement of trees within the City limits.
7. Cost to Port St. Lucie (Annual and Potential): Although the grant requires a 1:1 matching, the match can be generated through personnel time, volunteer time, in-kind donation, etc. It does not have to come from direct funds from the City.
Presentation Information: Staff will be available to answer questions.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the Grant Agreement.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve the Grant Agreement.
2. Move that the Council not approve the Grant Agreement and provide staff direction.
Background: With the City’s substantial growth, preserving the environment is a concern when competing against rapid development. The City is taking measures to implement more conservation efforts, including the adoption of tree protection, preservation ordinances, and commitment to plant one tree for every resident. An up-to date inventory will help achieve the City’s community forestry goals.
Issues/Analysis: The Resolution authorizes the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a Grant agreement with the Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and authorizes City Staff to take actions necessary to implement the terms and conditions of the agreement.
Financial Information: The anticipated probable cost for the project is $140,000.00. The total amount of the grant award from the 2021 Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program is $25,500. The remaining sum of $114,500 needed for the project will be funded by the General Fund 001-3900-548000-00000
Special Consideration: The time frame of the Grant is time sensitive and can only be extended a duration of six months.
Location of Project: Various locations throughout the City
Attachments:
1. Resolution
2. 2021 Urban and Community Forestry Grant
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: 8753
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Camille Wallace, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by James D. Stokes, City Attorney.