Title
Agenda Item:
Approval of Interlocal Agreement with Department of Natural Resources for Urban Forestry Work in City Parks and Downtown
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Although not referred to a committee, the General Government Committee received a brief overview of this DNR work crew opportunity during a general Urban Forestry work program report on July 25, 2013.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Interlocal Agreement and authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement with Department of Natural Resources for Urban Forestry Work.
Body
Issue:
Whether to enter an Interlocal Agreement with Department of Natural Resources for Urban Forestry Work.
Staff Contact:
Michelle Bentley, Assistant Planner, Community Planning & Development 360.753.8301
Presenter(s):
None. Consent Calendar
Background and Analysis:
City has been awarded funding from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program (DNR). The attached Interlocal Agreement provides the City with a Puget Sound Corps (PSC) crew for at least eleven weeks, or more, to conduct urban forestry restoration tasks in the City of Olympia from October 1, 2013, to September 30, 2014. Under the Agreement, the PSC crew's work can begin the first week in October, with four 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday, each week. The value of crew work is approximately $5,000/week.
DNR will provide the following items to the City for urban forestry restoration projects:
· News release template to assist in building public awareness and event marketing.
· Baseline invasive plant species mapping.
· Crews will remove and/or control invasive plant material and complete related restoration tasks including installation of plant materials.
· Post-restoration mapping.
· Post-restoration report that includes a description of the project and the work accomplished.
· Template for three-year management plan.
· Template for annual monitoring report.
The City's matching commitment for the DNR-sponsored crew includes:
· Post news releases in advance of the events.
· Acquire any permits necessary for project work.
· Assist with volunteer registration.
· Dispose of removed plant material (English ivy vines, blackberry canes, etc.).
· Provide any and all plant materials required for project completion.
· Implement a three-year maintenance plan, to include annual monitoring.
· Report monitoring results to the DNR annually for three years.
The projects are located on public property (and work performed by the crews may not replace workers already in place or contracted for). Project locations include:
· Downtown core - Street tree replacement planting and maintenance and on transportation arterials throughout the City.
· Grass Lake Nature Park - Remove spurge laurel, Scotch broom, Himalayan blackberry, and other invasive non-native plant species of concern. Re-vegetation with native plant species.
· Evergreen Park - Remove English ivy, Scotch broom, Himalayan blackberry, and other invasive non-native plant species of concern.
· Other sites and/or locations agreed upon that restore the ecological health and functionality of the urban forest.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
It is anticipated that the neighborhoods and downtown will appreciate the professional forestry support to remove invasive species and re-vegetation efforts.
Options:
1. Move to approve the Interlocal Agreement and authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement with Department of Natural Resources for Urban Forestry Work.
2. Remove this item from the Consent Calendar and provide further direction to staff.
Financial Impact:
There is no direct financial impact to the city. The value of the work is approximately $5,000 per week. Work will be performed for eleven weeks between October 1, 2013, to September 30, 2014. The CPD base budget includes staffing for annual monitoring for three years.