CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
                 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA




  Agenda Date:          September 21, 2020

  Action Required:      Appropriation

  Presenter:            Mike Ronayne, Urban Forester, Parks and Recreation

  Staff Contacts:       Mike Ronayne, Urban Forester, Parks and Recreation

  Title:                Urban and Community Forestry Grant Appropriation - $20,000.00

Background:

The City of Charlottesville, through the Parks and Recreation Department, has been awarded a
$10,000 grant from Urban and Community Forestry Fund. This grant is administrated through
the Virginia Department of Forestry. There is a required local match in the amount of $10,000,
for a total grant award of $20,000.


Discussion:

The grant will assist with undertaking an update to the City Urban Tree Canopy assessment and
will assist with the cost of hiring a firm to analyze aerial imagery to determine the extent of forest
canopy and to analyze the data in subsets such as entry corridors, watersheds, neighborhoods, etc.
This is an update to the same type of study undertaken in 2009 and 2015. The findings from this
assessment will help to reevaluate goals, policy and tree planting/maintenance strategies.


Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan:

The project supports City Council’s “Green City” vision by providing data to help guide planning
and implementation of efforts to preserve and enhance the forested area of the City. It contributes
to Goal 2 of the Strategic Plan, to be a safe, equitable, thriving and beautiful community, and
objective 2.5, to provide natural and historic resources stewardship. This project also aligns with
the Urban Forest Management Plan and supports the mission of the Tree Commission.


Community Engagement:

Charlottesville Parks and Recreation provided opportunities for the public to provide input into
Urban forest Management Plan developed in 2010, and the Tree Commission supported this
grant application.
Budgetary Impact:

There is no impact to the General Fund. The total grant appropriation is $20,000 which will be
recorded and expensed from a grant fund. The grant requires a 50% City match of $10,000 that
will come from funds previously appropriated as part of the FY 2021 Parks and Recreation
Operating Budget.


Recommendation:

Staff recommends approval of the appropriation of the grant funds.


Alternatives:

If grants funds are not appropriated, the updated urban tree canopy study will have to be funded
entirely with local funds.


Attachments:

Appropriation
                                     APPROPRIATION

                           Urban and Community Forestry Grant

                                            $20,000



       WHEREAS, the City of Charlottesville has received $10,000 from the Virginia

Department of Forestry through the Urban Community Forestry Grant in order to perform an

urban tree canopy assessment; and



       WHEREAS, the City will contribute $10,000 in funds from the previously appropriated

Tree Maintenance funds to serve as the required grant match;


       NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of
Charlottesville, Virginia that the sum of $20,000 is hereby appropriated in the following manner:


Revenue - $20,000

$10,000               Fund: 209              IO: 1900375                   G/L Code: 430120
$10,000               Fund: 209              IO: 1900375                   G/L Code: 498010


Expenditures - $20,000

$20,000               Fund: 209              IO: 1900375                   G/L Code: 599999



Transfer From:

$10,000               Fund: 105              Cost Center: 3671001000       G/L Code: 530600




       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this appropriation is conditioned upon the receipt
of $10,000 from the Virginia Department of Forestry.