To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to apply for and accept, if awarded, the Urban and Community Forestry Grant, in an amount not to exceed $1.5 million, from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to apply for and accept, if awarded, an Urban and Community Forestry Grant, in an amount not to exceed $1.5 million through April 30, 2028, from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan and
ADOPT a resolution that approves the submittal of the grant application to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no impact on the General Fund. Should the grant be awarded, the County would receive up to $1.5 million to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan, or Tree Plan. There is no matching requirement.
BACKGROUND:
The recommendation to develop an Urban Forest Master Plan builds on many years of work by the County. In 2015, Contra Costa Health published Climate Change Vulnerability in Contra Costa County: A Focus on Heat, The study found that urban heat islands - areas with little tree cover and significant portions of land covered by impervious surfaces or impenetrable materials such as pavement and rooftops - may be significantly hotter than in surrounding areas, especially at night. This creates a host of health and safety impacts. The census tracts identified in the study as being most affected by extreme heat are very similar to those identified as Impacted Communities in the ongoing update to both the County’s draft Climate Action Plan and General Plan. Subsequent research by other entities finds that neighborhoods with greater tree canopy have higher property values, an equity concern.
Developing a Tree Plan is identified in both the County’s draft Climate Action Plan and General Plan as an important action to achieve climate resilience and health goals. The draft General Plan in the Health and Safety Element includes a policy to increase the tree canopy on public property, especially in Impacted Communities and areas with a high heat index. It also includes an action to prepare a tree master plan for the county that emphasizes planting of low-maintenance native tree species and include includes quantified goals and tracking methods, including mapping the tree canopy, and prioritizes planning in Impacted Communities and along safe routes to schools.
The draft Climate Action Plan includes, as part of the strategy to increase resilience to climate hazards and foster community health, increased tree planting by the County and public and private partners. The draft Climate Action Plan calls for the County to consider preparing and implementing a Tree Master Plan.
In October 2023, the Board of Supervisors accepted the Healthy Lands, Healthy People study, funded through a Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation grant from the California Strategic Growth Council and California Department of Conservation. Healthy Lands, Healthy People identified strategies to use the natural and working lands in Contra Costa County to address climate change by storing greenhouse gas emissions. One of the recommendations of the study was to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan, or Tree Plan.
The Urban and Community Forestry Grant includes six grant type options. Of the available options, staff recommend pursuing the Urban Forest Management Activities grant type as it is closely aligned with the County’s goals to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan. Allowable activities in this grant type include community engagement and education, establishing/updating of a jurisdiction-wide tree inventory, mapping and analysis of the urban forest, workforce development around tree planting and ongoing maintenance, and development of a long-term management plan for the entire unincorporated County.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is accepting applications through May 30, 2024, for the Urban and Community Forestry Grant, which is part of California’s Inflation Reduction Act funding allocation. There is no matching requirement for this grant. Applicants are required to certify by resolution the approval of the application before it is submitted.
The County is well-situated to apply for the Urban Forest Management Activities grant type with an award ranging from $150,000 and $1.5 million. The grant awards will be announced June-July 2024. The grant period will begin upon contract execution and the term goes through April 30, 2028.
The recommended grant activities will support development of an Urban Forest Management Plan, or Tree Plan, that will:
• Catalog tree canopy. A key first step will be to assess the tree canopy in communities in unincorporated areas of the County.
• Identify types of trees to plant, with consideration to species that are native, fire-resistant, and able to survive in the anticipated heat that climate change will bring, among other things.
• Develop policies and best practices for ensuring trees on both private and public property are planted, maintained, and thrive.
• Identify potential funding sources.
• Anticipate workforce development opportunities and strategies.
• Conduct demonstration project(s).
The County will work with community-based organizations to conduct needs assessments, focus groups, meetings, and other dialogue opportunities around the benefits of increased tree canopy, understand priorities and concerns of community members, and develop strategies for encouraging residents to plant and maintain trees on privately owned property.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to approve and authorize staff to apply for the grant means the County would forego an opportunity to fund development of an Urban Forest Management Plan.