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&% Docusign Envelope ID: 1009E573-IACF-4913-8247-79OD90006OD6 "%a" rnoI rn"L-L- N FORESTRY INITIATIVE SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT ii)the community framework and iii)resource management(includes city resources,plans,ordinances). Two proposed project outcomes are the development of a public tree ordinance and designation as a Tree City,an honor bestowed to municipalities indicating their commitment to growth and SLIStainability of their urban forests. More specific information on the City's proposed Development of a Forest Strategic Plan is outlined in the attached Excel spreadsheet labeled 5-year project plan and timeline. It is anticipated that the development of the plan and related work will span the entire 5-year grant period. This will allow for appropriate time for a bidding process compliant with both federal and local guidance(3-4 months),setting up a managing community participation(1-2 months at beginning of project and throughout),and the actual plan development(12-18 months)and public dissemination(2-3 months). The Project Staff from selected firin will work closely with the Arborist firm establishing a regular communication schedule to periodically assess project completion and evaluate efficiency/efficacy of methods/strategies in progress. This may look like weekly meetings at the beginning of the grant period and taper down to monthly meetings by end of Year 1. 3. Capability and Capacity: Describe how each contributing organization is suited for(mission)and qualified to deliver the project. Provide the names,titles,and organization affiliation and specific roles of key personnel for the project. Include qualifications and experience of key personnel to implement,monitor,and assess/report project outcome. The City's Urban Forester(UF),Kelly Eby,will serve as the primary contact for this grant,working in tandem with the selected Urban Forestry consultant or firm to oversee and manage this grant project. Ms.Eby is a certified arborist,having received her Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Forestry from the Stephen F.Austin State University,Arthur Temple College of Forestry&Agriculture. She is very qualified to oversee a federal grant of this nature and scope,having received a Forest Service grant in the past to help secure and preserve greenspace. She has worked in the municipal urban forestry profession for more than 16 years at the City of New Braunfels and presently at the City of San Marcos. She served those roles in the rapid developing 1-35 corridor working to improve the health and management of the public trees. She is passionate about planning and planting for the future. She strives to develop a community forest with greater species diversi1y that supports food availabilfty,urban wildlife,aesthetics,and a multi-age forest to strengthen the resilience of our community forest against pests,disease,climatic changes, and tree mortality. In 2022,her greatest achievement was giving away over 80 species of trees to residents: 1,200 trees total, 50 percent native and 50 percent fruit trees.Kelly has been a member of the ISA(International Society of Arboriculture)for 18 years and is a foriner board member of the ISA Texas Chapter. As a long-time ISAT volunteer at the annual Tree conference,she was awarded the ISAT volunteer of the year in 2019 for her many years of service to the organization. She is also a member of the Society of Municipal Arborists. A program she has developed to help community trees is called Friends of Trees. She invites the public,volunteers, civic,and university organizations to learn and help do hands on tree preservation and planting in public parks. She works with the schools utilizing and training educators with the Project Learning Tree curriculum. Kelly also maintains the Discovery Center Arboretum in San Marcos with over 70 woody shrubs and tree species,accredited by the Arbnet Morton Arboretum Accreditation Program. She has a strong community partner network comprised of many internal City departments(Parks and Recreation, Planning,transportation,engineering,Facilities,the Habitat Conservation Program)as well as other groups from both Texas State University,civic groups,environmental nonprofits, as well as individual volunteers. See attached 38