EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: June 21, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
BY: Michelle Marie Daher, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: Canopy Amendment #1
Recommendation
Adopt Amendment No. 1 of the Canopy Agreement as follows:
1. Increase budget to $60,000 per year, for a maximum of $120,000 total over the twoyear extension options for FY 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.
2. Amend the Scope of Services as further detailed in Attachment 2.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 4: Improve Public Facilities and Infrastructure Priority No. 5: Improve Communication and Enhance Community Engagement Priority No. 6: Create a Healthy and Safe Community
Background
Since 1996, Canopy has provided professional arboriculture services as an environmental nonprofit dedicated to planting and maintaining trees in the mid-Peninsula. The organization’s mission is to “to grow urban tree canopy in Midpeninsula communities for the benefit of all.” Canopy’s work is largely funded by grants and private donations. Canopy’s vision is a day when every resident of the Midpeninsula can step outside to walk, play, and thrive under the shade of healthy trees.
In 2006, former Mayor Pat Foster invited Canopy to plant trees in the City of East Palo Alto.
Between 2006 and 2014, Canopy planted over 2,125 trees in East Palo Alto, with the collaboration of City staff, and solely dependent on outside funding sources.
On November 5, 2014, City Council directed the City Manager to enter into a first-ever Agreement with Canopy for tree related services during FY 14/15 after 8 years working in the community in funds provided by grants and private donations.
In March 2016, the City Council authorized a 3-year contract with Canopy, with two optional one-year extensions, expired June 1, 2020.
On October 6, 2020, through resolution 134-2020 the City Council authorized a one-year agreement from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021 and authorized implementation of the CalFire Grant for planting 100 trees over the next three years. This action was later rescinded and replaced due to surpassing the five-year limited term authorized by the City Council for the original contract.
On May 18, 2021, the City Council authorized a new contract with the terms referenced in Resolution 134-2020, changing the terms to a two-year contract, through June 30, 2022, with up to two one-year extensions at $25,000 per year.
On April 19, 2022, the City Council adopted the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) and Amendments to Related Tree Ordinances
<http://eastpaloalto.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1759&Inline=True>, wherein, the City intends to annually plant 200 to 250 trees in the public right of way, and 150- 200 trees on private property to attain a 30% tree coverage within 100 years, among other goals.
Analysis
The City reviewed the contract with Canopy and found services have met and exceeded the terms of the prior scope of work for all prior years. Canopy’s work in the community has expanded the community’s awareness of various benefits provided by trees, and Canopy’s commitment to supporting the City’s applications for grants enabled the community to further detail current and future canopy coverage of the community and plan for expanded pubic benefits.
In alignment with the implementation of UFMP Goal 1: Grow a healthy, extensive, vibrant, and diverse urban forest to provide 20% canopy cover by 2062 and 30% by 2122, Canopy has offered the following scope of work expansion for a recommended contract amendment with details provided in Attachment 2:
1. Expand the capacity of tree planting annually. During Fiscal Year 2022/2023, Canopy will Help EPA plant 25 trees in FY23 (increasing to up to 150 trees in FY24 and beyond).
2. Develop a city-wide tree planting and monitoring strategy to increase equity with neighboring cities.
3. Seek opportunities for additional funding for urban greening projects.
In alignment with the implementation of UFMP Goal 2: “Connect with an engaged and informed community to provide stewardship of the urban forest”, Canopy recommends revising the Contract Scope of Work to include:
4. Connect with the community around tree stewardship through development of a multi-year public outreach program.
5. Assist in obtaining Tree City USA status.
Fiscal Impact
The proposed changes to the Canopy contract will increase General Fund expenditures from $25,000 annually to $60,000 annually, a net increase of $35,000 annually for the duration of the contract, or an increase of $70,000 over the course of the remaining 2-year extension options. The additional $35,000 per year will require additional General fund appropriation.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice by making the agenda and report available on the City’s website and on a bulletin board located at City Hall: 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Attachments
1. Resolution
2. Exhibit A - Scope of Services