DATE:
March 5, 2024
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Mohamed Alaoui, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Authorizing The City Manager To Execute A First Amendment To The Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks, Retroactive to January 1, 2024, In An Amount Not To Exceed $179,225 For A Total Contract Amount Not To Exceed $259,349 For Preparing Plans Specifications and Estimates For Planting Trees In The Public Right of Way. CEQA Determination: Exempt Under Sections 15308 and 15061(b)(3) Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council of the City of Emeryville authorize the City Manager to enter into a First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with PlaceWorks dated March 6, 2023. This Amendment will build on the comprehensive street tree audit and report of opportunity locations, preparing plans specifications and estimates to bid out planting of trees in priority locations.
Background
At the January 18, 2022 meeting of the Emeryville City Council, staff were directed to bring a plan to Council for an audit of the City’s street trees and a report on opportunity sites for additional or improved tree canopy. Staff solicited proposals for this work, and on March 6, 2023 the City entered into a contract with PlaceWorks in an amount not to exceed $80,124.00.
PlaceWorks’ completed Street Tree Opportunity Study Report and Planting Guide was presented to Council in a Study Session on November 21, 2023. Given that the original contract with PlaceWorks expired on December 31, 2023, staff requests that the City Council approve the First Amendment retroactive to January 1, 2024.
Discussion
One of the Guiding Principles in the City’s General Plan is “Enhanced and connected open space network and green streets,” which includes a value of “many more trees along streets.” This value is repeated throughout the General Plan. The benefits of urban greening through tree canopy expansion are many, and include improved air and water quality, stormwater management, carbon sequestration, and aesthetic/quality of life improvements. An increase in street trees is also associated with economic benefits such as lower crime rates and lower energy use and costs.
The Street Tree Opportunity Study Report and Planting Guide provides a basis for prioritizing street tree planting locations that considers a variety of factors including socio-economic equity, environmental equity, and infrastructure barriers to tree planting and/or growth. The proposed amended scope will begin with the priority areas identified in that report.
The scope of the initial study was focused on street trees, and as such, did not include park areas. However, in winter 2023, severe windstorms felled a large number of the trees in Marina Park. The proposed scope will add Marina Park to the project of identifying the best locations for replacing trees, choosing appropriate species, and describing planting procedures and maintenance needs.
The proposed amended scope will add the following outcomes and deliverables:
Preparation of plans, specifications and estimates to bid out tree planting at priority sites identified in the initial report. This further work includes but is not limited to soil sampling, underground utility investigation, and drainage analysis.
Determining a recommended reforestation plan for Marina Park.
Bid assistance to the City for a tree planting project.
Construction administration support and technical guidance during the construction phase.
The project is aimed at enabling the City to undertake a large-scale planting project in the wet season of 2024-2025. The First Amendment is dated January 1, 2024, since the initial contract expired on December 31, 2023, while negotiations were underway for the terms of the amendment.
Fiscal Impact
There is funding available for this project in CIP #URG-04, Project #24251004.
Staff Communication with the Public
The proposed amendment scope has been discussed at a Sustainability Committee meeting on November 20, 2023 and in a Study Session of the City Council on November 21, 2023.
CEQA DETERMINATION
This project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 because it involves actions to protect the environment, and pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposal may have a significant [negative] effect on the environment. The addition of tree canopy is intended to, and will, mitigate air quality issues, reduce the impacts of extreme heat, and help manage stormwater, reducing flooding risks in rainstorms.
Conclusion
This contract amendment will enable the City to bid and conduct a tree-planting construction project using existing funds.
PREPARED BY: Nancy Humphrey, Environmental Programs Supervisor Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution
First Professional Services Contract Amendment including Exhibit A Proposal/Scope of Work Emeryville General Plan, Section 1.1, item 3.
Emeryville General Plan, Section 4-1, “Green streets,” Section 5-2, “Better connections;” Policies PP-P-5, UD-P-43, and UD-P-46; and Implementation Action CSN-A-1 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0169204612000977 https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/53420
Tree Planting Planning Professional Services Agreement
City Council Meeting | March 5, 2024
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM