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 a grant in an amount not to exceed $106,000 from the Contra Costa County Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund to implement Trees for Bay Point, for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
☒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 a grant in an amount not to exceed $106,000 from the Contra Costa County Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund to implement a community-based tree-planting program for Bay Point, for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund. The grant is expected to cover all costs related to planting 45 trees in Bay Point and educating tree sponsors on how to plant and maintain trees.
BACKGROUND:
The Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund (KCMF) process was established in August 1992. Funds are used to mitigate effects of the landfill site by funding community-based organizations and County Departments for programs in the following areas: youth services, code enforcement, community beautification, public health and safety, and community services.
The frequency and severity of extreme heat events in Contra Costa County is expected to increase in coming years, particularly in impacted communities and in the eastern part of the county. One of the strategies to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat is to increase the number of trees. Tree canopy provides shade, which helps cool the community. Tree-lined streets can promote greater physical activity. Studies show that urban vegetation can help slow heartbeats, lower blood pressure, and relax brain wave patterns. Trees clean the air by absorbing pollution. There is evidence that neighborhoods with more tree canopy have higher property values.
The Sustainability Team in the Department of Conservation and Development is developing a Tree Plan, a roadmap for addressing the impacts of extreme heat by increasing tree canopy cover in the unincorporated areas of the County. The Tree Plan is funded through a grant from the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. The State has requested that the County plant 50 trees as a demonstration. The grant funded the planting of 5 trees in Lynbrook Park in December 2025. The grant does not provide funding for the remaining trees.
This KCMF project will fund the planting of 45 trees in the primary target area. The County will partner with The Watershed Project, a community-based organization, that is a partner in the Tree Plan project. As part of the Tree Plan grant, over 30 County residents are participating in a Tree Learning Academy, a five-month program running February - June 2026, that is providing participants with information about how trees relate to heat, health, and neighborhood design. Graduates of the Tree Learning Academy will be recruited to be Tree Ambassadors. These Ambassadors will help identify community members who will sponsor trees funded by this grant. The sites for tree planting will be identified during implementation of the grant and will require land owner permission and include a plan for maintenance.
KCMF grant funds will cover the costs of staff time for this project.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this proposal is not approved, the Department of Conservation and Development will not be able to implement the proposed Trees for Bay Point program.