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, an Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program, Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program Grant, in an amount not to exceed $750,000, from the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research.
?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 Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program, Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program Grant, to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan in an amount not to exceed $750,000, from the California Governor's Office of Planning and Research.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no impact on the General Fund. Should the grant be awarded, the County would receive up to $750,000 to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan, or Tree Plan. There is no matching requirement.
BACKGROUND:
The recommendation to develop an Urban Forest Management Plan (or Tree 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,1 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 hi...
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