Title
Grant Award: Improving Wind Resistance of and Reducing Potential Hazards from Gainesville's Right-of-Way Trees (B)
Explanation
On October 3, 2005, the Florida Division of Forestry informed the City of Gainesville that $75,000 had been identified in grant funds to hire a contract tree crew for one year of work with the Recreation and Parks Department. The City Commission supported the application for this grant in a Resolution adopted on July 25, 2005. The additional crew will enable the Parks Division to prune street trees to eliminate co-dominant trunks, an effort that will greatly enhance long-term structural stability of Gainesville's right-of-way trees. In addition, the contract crew will help remove large trees that are no longer structurally sound. In the year since hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, the number of declining trees removed has been four times greater than in previous years. This means the Parks Division tree crew has been able to spend much less time on the kind of pruning that prevents problems from developing. Public safety, both immediate and in the long-term, will be much enhanced as a result of this grant.
Fiscal Note
The Recreation and Parks Department will match the grant with $25,000 in funding that is part of the FY 2006 Parks Division budget.
Recommendation
The City Commission authorize the City Manager to accept and execute the grant award and any other necessary documents, subject to review by the City Attorney as to form and legality.