Res 2024-145 approving a Subaward Grant Agreement with Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc., providing grant funding to the city in the amount of $299,722.00 for the city to conduct a tree inventory

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A IAL Docusign Envelope ID: 1009E573-IACF-4913-8247-790D900060D6 FORETRY INITIATIVE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT Subaward Services and Schedule Background Information and Purpose: Project Title: City of San Marcos,Texas-Urban and Community Forestry Strategic Management Plan Project Background: The City of San Marcos will conduct a tree inventory and tree canopy study to develop a comprehensive Urban and Community Forestry Strategic Management Plan. The plan will guide City work,creating policy and procedures that promote greater cooperation within the City while improving public tree management and engaging and educating the community. The majority of the City's service area is designated as disadvantaged by various equity focused mapping and screening tools. Having a holistic plan that can identify and prioritize issues that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations within the City is key. Description of Work: The City of San Marcos is a small to mid-size city located in Central Texas approximately mid-way between Austin and San Antonio along interstate highway(IH)35. Home to one of the state's largest public universities,Texas State University,the City has a population of nearly 67,000. Asa college town,the city has a high number of renters and rental units. Only 29%of housing units are owner occupied. According to Census Data,the median household income for the City is$42,030 and the per capita income is$21,920. This is a five-year average represented in 2020 dollars. The median age is 23-25 years old.The race/ethnicity demographics indicate the population identifies as follows:45%white,41%Hispanic,7%black,and 7%other. Need-Population Growth—In-Migration San Marcos is part of the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos Metropolitan Statistical Areas(MSA)—one of the fastest growing regions in the country,especially over the last 3-5 years. With this unprecedented growth comes an increased cost of living. Larger cities such as Austin have become unaffordable resulting in outward migration of individuals and families to surrounding cities,such as San Marcos,which have begun to realize a growth in population in the last 5 years. Much of the growth occurring is on the outlying areas of the City's boundaries,to the far South and North,along IH 35 and the west,abutting natural forested areas. These areas are becoming zoned and developed as new master planned communities to accommodate the region's growth. This affects the amount of tree canopy and the surrounding natural resources connected to those forests which directly impacts the health of our San Marcos Community,particularly in those neighborhoods where most of this growth is occurring. Tree Canopy At-Risk San Marcos community forest Tree Canopy Coverage(TCC),in accordance with the Texas Forest Service Urban Tree Canopy analysis in 2012,was 16%.I-Tree analysis of 2017 satellite imagery puts the TTC at 22%,with a margin of error+/- 1.33%.For this region,the ideal target would be 30%. Most trees grow on the Edwards Plateau,which includes the Edwards Aquifer,not on the Black]and prairie. These trees are being impacted by new development. It is important to protect them as their health impacts the quality of health and life in San Marcos. According to the American Forest's website,https://www.ainei-icanforests.org/tools-research-repoils-and-guides/tree-equity-score/,the San Marcos area scores an 85 on the Tree Equity score,while the block groups that overlap the CEJST scores lower than surrounding areas in the City.It is estimated 26,647 trees will be need to be planted to get 6 of the block groups within San Marcos to a score of 85,by adding 2.7%canopy. Having such low tree canopy coverage in certain areas,makes this area vulnerable to higher than average temperatures,prime for increases in crime,public health issues,such as cardiovascular disease,asthma,anxiety,and stress. It is estimated there are 4,280 acres of tree canopy cover,with$13.2 million dollars of ecosystem services value,and 1,807 acres of canopy at risk.The City needs a plan to manage the growth of this region,as it is trending towards an additional loss of 13% of canopy with the current pace of development. Preservation of existing trees,and planting of non-treed areas can help 14