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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Julie Frankino, Grant Writer
DATE: May 30, 2024
SUBJECT:
A resolution authorizing the city to accept a grant award of $1,000,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Urban and Community Forestry Grant to improve the city's urban forest in USDA-approved disadvantaged areas..
PURPOSE:
To obtain City Council approval of a grant to improve the city's urban forest.
BACKGROUND:
The USDA Forest Service offered a competitive funding opportunity to provide multiyear, programmatic grants for tree planting and related activities, including tree inventories, with a priority for projects working to support disadvantaged communities experiencing low tree canopy and environmental justice concerns to advance the mission of the federal Justice40 initiative.
DISCUSSION:
This grant will provide $1,000,000 in federal funding over five years, provided on a reimbursement basis, to conduct a variety of activities designed to improve the city's urban forest including, but not limited to: conducting a tree inventory, developing an urban forest management plan, planting new trees, educating residents and youth about trees, and garnering input from affected neighborhoods. As a result of this project, the city is expected to benefit from this project by achieving an increased tree canopy, improved tree health, and enhanced tree stewardship practices to safeguard the long-term health of Aurora's urban forest. The city is not required to provide any matching funds for this project.
The revenue accounts for this project will be 101-4060-331-10-89 (Streets), 101-1402-331-10-89 (Community Affairs), and 101-1370-331-10-89 (Youth) and the expense accounts will be 101-4060-431-53-41 (Streets - Grant Forestry), 101-1402-419-53-41 (Community Affairs - Grant Forestry), and 101-1370-440-53-41 (Youth - Grants Forestry).
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This resolution must be approved and signed to begin implementing the project and incurring costs.
This grant project will be implemented collaboratively by the Community Affairs Department, the GIS Division of the IT Department, the Youth Services Division of the Community Services Department, and the Street Maintenance and Downtown Services Divisions of the Public Works Department.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Community Services Department respectfully requests on behalf of all affected departments and divisions approval of the USDA Forest Service IRA Urban and Community Forestry grant agreement #24-DG-11094200-181 to improve Aurora's urban forest"
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the city to accept a grant award of $1,000,000 over five years from the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry grant with no matching funds required to improve Aurora's urban forest in USDA approved areas.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora strives to be a good steward of the city's natural resources by improving the health of the city's urban forest:
WHEREAS, the city was awarded a grant of $1,000,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program with no matching cost requirement.
WHEREAS this project will conduct a tree inventory, develop an urban forest management plan, plant new trees, educate residents and youth about trees, and garner input from affected neighborhoods.
WHEREAS, the revenue accounts for this project will be 101-4060-331-10-89 (Streets), 101-1402-331-10-89 (Community Affairs), and 101-1370-331-10-89 (Youth) and the expense accounts will be 101-4060-431-53-41 (Streets - Grant Forestry), 101-1402-419-53-41 (Community Affairs - Grant Forestry), and 101-1370-440-53-41 (Youth - Grant Forestry).
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: the city is authorized to accept a $1,000,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program with no matching cost requirement according to grant agreement #24-DG-11094200-181.
The City Council authorizes the City Clerk to update the Resolution upon notification from the USDA of the official grant number.
The City Council authorizes the Mayor to execute the grant agreement upon receiving the final agreement.