Trees Forever Power of Trees Grant AgreemenMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Trees Forever Power of Trees Grant Agreement Approval
DATE: February 2, 2012
Dubuque
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All-America City
1
2007
The Power of Trees (TM) Program is a partnership between Black Hills Energy, Trees
Forever, and communities that empower volunteers to complete and maintain locally -led
tree planting projects. The purpose of the program is to provide funding and technical
assistance for projects such as: parks, schools, residential areas, gateways, and trails.
The goals of Power of Trees include: developing educated, empowered community
volunteers; and the completion and maintenance of tree planting projects. The Power
of Trees program provides annual matching grants for the purchase of trees, ranging
from $500 to $7,000. Grants require a 1:1 match.
Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware is recommending City Council approval of the
Power of Trees Grant Agreement.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager
THE CITY OF
Dui
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager
DATE: February 13, 2012
SUBJECT: Trees Forever Power of Trees Grant Agreement Approval
Dubuque
had
All-America City
' 11'
2007
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to provide the Power of Trees Grant Agreement for City Council approval.
BACKGROUND
The Power of Trees gm) Program is a partnership between Black Hills Energy, Trees Forever, and communities that
empowers volunteers to complete and maintain locally -led tree planting projects. The purpose of the program is to provide
funding and technical assistance for projects such as: parks, schools, residential areas, gateways, and trails. The goals of
Power of Trees include: developing educated, empowered community volunteers; and the completion and maintenance of
tree planting projects. The Power of Trees program provides annual matching grants for the purchase of trees, ranging from
$500 to $7,000. Grants require a 1:1 match.
DISCUSSION
The 2011 Urban Forest Evaluation for Dubuque assessed existing conditions of street trees and trees within park areas,
looked at current forestry programming, and provided recommendations. While a majority of trees in the urban forest are in
fair or better condition, there are several issues that will lead to a decline if not addressed.
To address two of these issues, a lack of species diversity and a street tree population decline, the project would implement
a 110% replacement planting program for diverse species of street and park trees to begin improving our urban forest. The
project will focus on replacing street trees that have been removed or are in decline in older neighborhoods as well as
planting street trees in new subdivisions where none exist.
The project steering committee would include: representatives from the Parks and Recreation Commission, Environmental
Stewardship Advisory Commission, and Sierra Club, as well as Leisure Services Department staff.
As part of the project, Trees Forever field coordinators would provide technical and planning assistance on the planting and
care of trees, planting for energy efficiency, volunteer coordination, working with the media, and fundraising. The intent is to
recruit volunteers from the surrounding neighborhoods, local environmental groups and area schools to plant the trees under
the direction of the Trees Forever coordinators and the project steering committee.
The Forestry Division will use the project to educate the general public as well as the volunteers about watering street trees
planted in front of their properties as well as educate them about proper care and planting of private trees on their properties.
RECOMMENDATION
I request your signature and authorization of the Power of Trees Grant Agreement.
Prepared by:
MLW et
cc:
Jenny Larson
Laura Carstens
Steve Pregler
Mike Horsfall
TREES FOREVER
2012 Power of Trees
PROGRAM AGREEMENT
Black Hills Energy
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As a recipient of a Power of Trees matching grant, please read the responsibilities of the three
program partners and share with your committee. After reading the responsibilities, please sign
in the space provided on the last page. Keep this first page (front and back) for your future
reference. Make a copy of the signature page for your records and return the original to the
Trees Forever office by February 16, 2012. We are asking you to send this partnership
agreement to us before your grant check is issued.
A. UTILITY SPONSOR (Black Hills Energy):
• Provides matching funds.
• Funds Trees Forever to coordinate and support community tree- planting program.
• Promotes energy efficiency.
B. TREES FOREVER:
• Provides a Field Coordinator (a Trees Forever staff person assigned to work with
community steering committee by telephone and periodic community visits).
• Assists with steering committee development.
• Provides training and resource materials.
• Coordinates technical assistance.
• Provides annual report form.
• Assists with fund- raising, both short and long -term.
• Assists with volunteer coordination.
• Acts as a liaison with sponsoring utilities.
• Provides the sponsoring utility with reports of community accomplishments and
requirements met.
• Provides review by a Trees Forever Field Coordinator of project site design/plan.
C. COMMUNITY STEERING COMMITTEE
• Committee Development- 1) Establishes a steering committee that represents the
whole community (Trees Forever encourages city government involvement but
suggests that no more than two committee members be from city government). 2)
Names the committee program. 3) Elects a chairperson or co- chair, a secretary, and a
treasurer. 4) Take meeting minutes and send a copy to Trees Forever field
coordinator.
• Media- 1) Uses Black Hills Energy and Trees Forever name and logo in committee
communications and publications. 2) Keeps the media informed of program
developments, committee activities, special events, and other information regarding
trees in the community.
• Volunteer Coordination - Involves volunteers of all ages and recognizes volunteers
for their contributions.
• Site Design /Species Selection- Assures that the right tree is planted in the right
place. This involves selecting the sites for planting a tree, the tree species suitable for
the site, and preparing a plan showing the sites and species.
• Tree Acquisition- Gets bids from local nursery(s), and purchases trees.
• Tree purchases- Spends all grant dollars on trees in this program year; if extenuating
circumstances prevent you from completing your project, communicate and get
approval from your Field Coordinator to carry over funds.
• Tree Care- Develops a plan for long -term care of trees.
• Fund Raising- Matches grant dollars, and keeps records of donors.
• Short and Long -term Goals- Assesses town for species, numbers, and health of
trees. Develops a three- to five -year community urban forestry plan.
• Education/Promotion- Involves local schools in the program and educates the
public about the benefits of trees.
• Record - keeping- Sends the Program Summary reporting form to the Trees Forever
office by November 1, 2012. Your committee will be responsible for the accounting
of funds. A financial portion is also included on the Program Summary form and
proof of matching funds will be required. The form for reporting is provided by
Trees Forever and will be sent with your check; it is also available on the Trees
Forever website to be filled out electronically.
COMPLETE THIS PAGE AND RETURN TO TREES FOREVER OFFICE
We understand the responsibilities of the Power of Trees Program, including those of the
utility sponsor, Trees Forever, and our community steering committee. We understand
that Trees Forever has been contracted by Black Hills Energy to facilitate its tree
program. We agree to work cooperatively with Trees Forever and will fulfill the steering
committee responsibilities.
We agree to send the Program Summary report form to the Trees Forever office by
November 1, 2012. We understand that failure to complete a report will disqualify us for
the next year of funding.
Date: February 20, 2012
City Name: Dubuque
Applying Committee Name: City of Dubuque
Committee Representative: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
(Print Please)
(Signature Please)
Send original signed contract to: Trees Forever, 770 7rh Ave. Marion, Iowa 52302, by
February 16, 2012.
TREES FOREVER