Urban Greening
Grant Program Guidelines
May 2026 Final
URBAN GREENING GRANT PROGRAM AT-A-GLANCE
General Grant
Information
Available Funding:
• $46,125,000
Eligible Applicants:
• Public Agencies
• Local Agencies
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Special Districts
• Joint Powers Authorities
• California Native American Tribes
• Public Utilities
• Local Publicly Owned Utilities
• Mutual Water Companies
Grant Amounts:
• Minimum Award: $200,000
• Maximum Award: $5,000,000
Eligible Project Type:
• Development
2026 Grant Cycle Technical Assistance Workshops (tentative) • May 5, 10:00AM – 11:30 AM
• May 11, 1:00 – 2:30 PM
Concept Proposal Solicitation Period
• May 4 – June 4, 2026 (subject to
change)
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................... 1 Program Authority ................................................................................................................ 1 Funding Purpose................................................................................................................... 1 II. PROGRAM INFORMATION ................................................................................................... 2 Funding Information............................................................................................................. 2 Funding Requirements......................................................................................................... 3 Climate Bond Funding Priorities .......................................................................................... 4 Other Funding Considerations............................................................................................ 5 III. COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS........................................................................................... 7 Applicant Assistance Workshops........................................................................................ 7 Concept Proposals .............................................................................................................. 7 Full Proposals......................................................................................................................... 7 Full Proposal Evaluation ....................................................................................................... 7 Field Visits .............................................................................................................................. 9 IV. GRANT ADMINISTRATION...................................................................................................10 General Grant Information.................................................................................................10 Eligible Project Costs...........................................................................................................13 APPENDIX A. CONCEPT PROPOSAL FORM............................................................................18 APPENDIX B. FULL PROPOSAL FORM AND REQUIRED DOCUMENTS LIST..............................21 APPENDIX C. AVAILABLE RESOURCES....................................................................................28 APPENDIX D. GLOSSARY OF TERMS........................................................................................30 APPENDIX E. CALIFORNIA HEAT ASSESSMENT TOOL INSTRUCTIONS.....................................33 APPENDIX F. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ......................................................................35 APPENDIX G. LIMITED WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY AND HOLD HARMLESS LANGUAGE..............................................................................................................................36 APPENDIX H. VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES PLATFORM INSTRUCTIONS .................................37 1 I. INTRODUCTION
Program Authority
On November 5, 2024, California voters passed the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Proposition 4), otherwise known as the “Climate Bond1.” The Climate Bond authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bond sales to fund projects to address climate change, protect communities and nature from its impacts, and improve the lives of Californians.
Section 92530 of the Climate Bond directs funding to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) for competitive urban greening grants for projects that mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts.
Funding Purpose
The Urban Greening Grant Program will fund projects that use nature-based solutions to mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts in urban areas.
Nature-based solutions include all the ways land can be managed to boost the health and resilience of natural systems, helping them store carbon and protect against climate change impacts, including extreme heat. Nature-based solutions that address extreme heat impacts use natural cooling strategies to limit temperature increase and urban heat islands. Examples include planting trees that provide strategic shade, expanding green spaces that serve as places of refuge during heat waves, and increasing tree canopy cover in cities, communities, and schoolyards.
Successful projects will green and cool communities and offer multiple benefits including sequestering carbon, limiting stormwater runoff, providing habitat and preserving biodiversity, protecting public health during extreme heat, increasing equity, and expanding economic and workforce opportunities. Funded projects are expected to advance the goals of the State’s Extreme Heat Action Plan and Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets.
1 Words in bold font are defined in the Glossary (Appendix D). Clicking on bolded words will open the relevant glossary page.
2 II. PROGRAM INFORMATION
Funding Information
Available Funding
$46,125,000
Grant Amounts
Minimum award: $200,000
Maximum award: $5,000,000
Eligible Applicants
• Public agencies • California Native American tribes
• Local agencies • Public utilities
• Nonprofit organizations • Local publicly owned utilities • Special districts • Mutual water companies
• Joint powers authorities
Eligible Projects
Development projects that propose nature-based solutions to mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts in urban areas are eligible.
Development projects include construction costs (such as labor and materials) and nonconstruction costs (such as planning, design, community engagement, environmental compliance and permitting). Non-construction costs are limited to 25 percent of grant funds.
Planning projects and educational or training programs are ineligible project types.
However, planning, education, and training elements can be included in the nonconstruction portion of a development project. Deferred maintenance, property acquisition, and active recreation (e.g., sports field, skate park) projects are ineligible.
With the exception of street tree planting projects in public rights-of-way, projects may only be implemented on a single site. In other words, projects proposing to green multiple school sites or multiple parks within the same city are ineligible, but projects proposing to green multiple areas on a single campus or within a large regional park would be eligible.
3 The following is a general list of eligible project examples and is not intended to be exhaustive:
• Creation and expansion of green streets and alleyways • Creation of green parks, particularly in park-poor communities • Schoolyard greening, particularly in park-poor communities • Urban tree canopy expansion
• Habitat restoration, where appropriate2
• Community gardens that provide food, water access, and shade • Green stormwater infrastructure (e.g., green roofs, rain gardens, bioswales) Funding Requirements
General Project Eligibility
To be eligible for funding, Urban Greening projects must comply with all the following:
• Be located in an urban area;
• Provide public benefit; and
• Provide public access3
At the time of full project proposal submission, applicants must either own the property or demonstrate landowner willingness to enter into future site control negotiations.
Tribal Outreach and Collaboration
For projects that affect tribal communities, applicants must show meaningful outreach and attempts to collaborate with local California Native American tribes throughout the planning, design, and implementation of their project.
Meaningful outreach includes, but is not limited to, writing letters and emails and following with phone calls updating the tribe throughout the life of the project, inviting tribal leadership to attend planning meetings, and meeting with local tribal governmentled consortiums or other inter-tribal governmental organizations. Partnering with California Native American tribes can include developing the project with tribal leadership, ensuring the project provides benefits to the local tribe and its membership, and providing contracting opportunities to local tribes and their members where appropriate. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with local tribes on ways in which Traditional Ecological Knowledge can inform the nature-based solutions being proposed.
2 Habitat restoration in urban environments is best accomplished with input from local and regional stakeholders, including California Native American tribes, to ensure the use of appropriate local native plants and seed sources.
3 Note that for projects on school campuses students are considered the “public.” After-hours access for the general public is not required.
4 Climate Bond Funding Priorities
Direct and Meaningful Benefits
Proposed projects providing direct and meaningful benefits to vulnerable populations, disadvantaged communities, or severely disadvantaged communities will be prioritized for funding.
The following definitions apply:
Vulnerable Population
A subgroup of population within a region or community that faces a disproportionately heightened risk or increased sensitivity to impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from such impacts. California Native American tribes are considered vulnerable populations.
Disadvantaged Community
A community with a median household income of less than 80 percent of the area average or less than 80 percent of statewide median household income.
Severely Disadvantaged Community
A community with a median household income of less than 60 percent of the area average or less than 60 percent of statewide median household income.
A minimum of 40 percent of this grant program’s funding will be awarded to projects providing direct and meaningful benefits to vulnerable populations, disadvantaged communities and severely disadvantaged communities. Links to the statewide mapping tools applicants must use to identify the communities who will benefit from their projects are provided in the Full Proposal Form (Appendix B) and Available Resources (Appendix C).
Projects providing direct and meaningful benefits to communities will meet the following four criteria:
1. Create direct, tangible, and substantial benefits that would not have happened without the project. Meaningful benefits are not incidental, indirect, or speculative.
2. Protect or enhance a community’s resources and quality of life by building climate resilience. This may include reducing risks to the community from climate hazards or protecting resources threatened by climate change (e.g. drinking water supply/quality, urban tree canopy, critical community infrastructure, etc.).
3. Directly respond to a community’s expressed need or desired benefit, either through direct project input or as part of a larger planning or engagement effort.
4. Avoid long-term degradation or reduction of any population’s resources (i.e., benefits provided to one community cannot burden another). 5 Examples of Direct & Meaningful Benefits Anticipated through Urban Greening Projects • Making neighborhoods cooler • Providing extreme heat protection • Reducing flood risk and stormwater runoff
during heavy rain
• Improving air quality
• Increasing parks/green spaces with shade so
communities have cool places to gather
• Improving green stormwater management
to prevent flooding and pollution
• Creating good local jobs with fair wages,
benefits and job training
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
storing carbon in nature
• Lowering energy use and costs
Corpsmember Services
Projects that propose to use the services of the California Conservation Corps (CCC) or Certified Local Conservation Corps (LCCs) shall receive funding preference, in accordance with section 90150 of the Climate Bond. To determine the feasibility of Corps’ participation, initiate the consultation process using the links provided in Appendix C. Both the CCC and the California Association of Local Conservation Corps (CALCC) must be consulted prior to Full Proposal submission.
Preference will also be given for projects that use the services of tribal corps that have been funded by the CCC. For more information see the CCC Tribal Corps webpage.
Leveraged Funds
Proposed projects that leverage private, federal, and local funding or produce the greatest public benefit will be prioritized for funding.
Other Funding Considerations
In evaluating projects, the State may consider additional factors such as providing multiple benefits and ensuring equitable geographic distribution of funds statewide, notwithstanding higher priority Climate Bond considerations.
Plant Palettes
An important funding consideration is the extent to which proposed plant palettes are designed for long-term climate resilience in accordance with Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets identified for developed lands.
California native species should be prioritized wherever suitable. However, in some cases, native species may not be the best option due to site conditions or restrictions.
Factors that should be considered when selecting species include, but are not limited to, elevation, aspect, soil type and quality, above and below ground available growing space, infrastructure constraints, water access, water use, maintenance needs, salt exposure, and more.
Species selection should also be informed by current and anticipated climatic conditions (e.g., temperature ranges, precipitation patterns, winds, etc.), community 6 preferences, habitat provision, and natural and cultural heritage. Species diversity reduces the risk of insect and disease spread, and therefore, applicants should strive for area/jurisdiction composition that does not exceed 10% of a single species or 20% of a single genus.
In addition, species selections should comply with the following general principles:
• Use of low water, drought-tolerant plantings that comply with the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) or local agency landscape water ordinance (if as strict or stricter than the MWELO)
• Planting trees no larger than 15 gallons in size. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who advance to a Full Proposal and feel their project warrants larger tree sizes may include a justification in the required plant palette.
• Avoid planting any invasive species listed on the Cal-IPC Inventory In sum, all species selected should be well-suited to the proposed project site. Resources and links for plant palettes, species selection and water use are provided in Appendix C.
Emerald Necklace Jackson Watershed Discovery Campus Project, Amigos de los Rios 7 III. COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS
Applicant Assistance Workshops
CNRA Grants Unit staff will conduct several virtual workshops to discuss the Urban Greening grant program and the competitive process and to address applicant questions. The dates and times of the workshops will be announced via the CNRA Grants Listserv and on the Urban Greening Grant Program webpage.
Thereafter, CNRA Grants Unit staff will be available via appointment during specified office hours to provide general assistance to applicants preparing Concept Proposals and Full Proposals. Appointment scheduling is available on the Urban Greening Grant Program webpage.
Concept Proposals
All applicants must submit a Concept Proposal via the California Natural Resource Agency’s Project Tracking and Reporting (RAPTR) system. The Concept Proposal form is available on the Urban Greening Grant Program webpage. See Appendix A for a preview of the Concept Proposal form.
Applicants submitting eligible Concept Proposals that have the potential to successfully mitigate extreme heat will be invited to submit a Full Proposal. Applicants may submit multiple Concept Proposals. However, applicants are unlikely to be awarded more than one grant. All Full Proposal candidates may request a consultation appointment with CNRA Grants Staff for assistance in preparing the necessary documentation.
Full Proposals
Full Proposals must be submitted via the California Natural Resource Agency’s Project Tracking and Reporting (RAPTR) system. The Full Proposal consists of a Proposal form and mandatory supporting documents. The Proposal form and a list of required Proposal documents are available on the Urban Greening Grant Program webpage. See Appendix B for a preview of the Full Proposal form and the list of mandatory documents.
Full Proposal Evaluation
Full proposals will be scored by CNRA Grants Unit staff using the 0- to 70-point scoring rubric described below. Up to 30 additional points can be earned for meeting Climate Bond Funding Priorities (described on pages 4-5) for a total of 100 possible points.
Extreme Heat Threat (0-25 points)
High (18-25 Points): The project area is expected to experience a high number of heat health events and/or has a high heat health action index (refer to Appendix E for quantification details). The project proposes nature-based solutions and their ability to mitigate community impacts related to extreme heat is well substantiated.
Medium (9-17 Points): The project area is expected to experience a moderate number of heat health events and/or has a moderate heat health action index (refer to 8 Appendix E for quantification details). Although nature-based solutions are proposed, their potential to mitigate heat-related impacts is less substantiated.
Low (0-8 Points): The project area is expected to experience a low number of extreme heat events and/or has a low heat health action index (refer to Appendix E for quantification details). The project does not propose or adequately describe naturebased solutions.
Community and Tribal Engagement (0-15 points)
High (11-15 Points): Affected communities, including California Native American tribes, have participated in identifying local needs, priorities, and potential solutions and will be engaged in the planning, design, implementation, and monitoring of the project.
Medium (6-10 Points): Community engagement is planned or in progress for some aspects of the project and initial outreach with California Native American tribes has been conducted. However, there has only been minimal collaboration with affected communities and tribes in identifying local needs, priorities, and potential solutions.
Low (0-5 Points): The community has not been actively engaged and plans to conduct future engagement have not been formalized. Potentially affected California Native American tribes have not yet been consulted.
Alignment with State Plans and Goals (0-15 points)
High (11-15 Points): The project has been designed with long-term climate resilience in mind. The project will help meet two or more of the Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets identified for developed lands and specifically the targets listed under urban and community greening and forestry and afforestation between communities and croplands. These targets include:
• Increase tree canopy cover in cities, communities, and schoolyards • Establish climate-ready vegetation, remove grass
• Increase green space, such as parks, gardens, schoolyards, greenways/greenbelts, street trees, green roofs, rain gardens, etc. • Increase large canopied, climate-ready trees meaningful to the community; prioritize communities with low tree canopy
• Establish tree line buffers between croplands and communities to reduce chemical exposure and enhance access to green space
Medium (6-10 Points): The project will help meet one of the Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets identified for developed lands (see above) and has been designed with long-term climate resilience in mind.
Low (0-5 Points): The project will not help meet any of the Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets identified for developed lands (see above) and has not been designed with long-term climate resilience in mind.
9 Project Readiness (0-15 points)
High (11-15 Points): Project planning and design are complete. Permitting requirements have been determined. Additional funding, if needed, has already been secured. The applicant either owns the property on which the project will be constructed or has already executed an agreement with the landowner to access, construct, and maintain the project for the required number of years.
Medium (6-10 Points): The project planning and design are in progress, but not yet complete. Additional funds have been identified but not yet secured. Applicant is in communication with the property owners or organizations with jurisdiction over the project area regarding site control and long-term operations and maintenance, but formal agreements have not yet been executed.
Low (0-5 Points): Project planning and design have not been initiated. Legal owners and additional entities with jurisdiction over the project site have not been contacted.
Additional funding is needed but no potential sources have been identified.
Climate Bond Funding Priorities
Additional points for each Climate Bond funding priority the project delivers will be added to the final score. A total of 30 additional points is possible.
Direct and Meaningful Benefits: The proposal adequately identifies and describes, as defined in Appendix D, the vulnerable populations, disadvantaged communities, and/or severely disadvantaged communities who will benefit from the project. (+10) The proposal adequately substantiates that the benefits provided to communities will meet all four meaningful and direct criteria described on pages 4-5. (+10) Corpsmember Services: The project will use the services of the California Conservation Corps (CCC), Certified Local Conservation Corps (LCCs), or CCC-funded Tribal Corps, and the applicant has adequately consulted with them on the scope and cost of their services. (+5)
Leveraged Funds: The project will leverage private, federal, and/or local funding. Costs already incurred or that will be incurred prior to award (e.g., planning, design, environmental compliance, etc.) can be counted. (+5)
Field Visits
The most competitive projects will be further evaluated by an on-site field visit.
Applicants should be prepared to respond to project-specific questions during the visit.
A field visit invitation does not guarantee funding.
10 IV. GRANT ADMINISTRATION
This section is a guide for Grant Administration should your project be awarded funding.
Applicants should be familiar with the grant administration requirements before deciding to submit a Full Proposal and/or entering into a grant agreement.
General Grant Information
Funding Availability
Climate Bond funding is available for the limited time described in the state budget and these guidelines. For Urban Greening projects awarded in the 2026 funding round, projects must be completed by no later than March 1, 2030, unless otherwise specified in a subsequent Budget Act.
CNRA Grant Administrator
The CNRA Grant Administrator assigned to your grant project will help you throughout the life of the grant. Your Grant Administrator is your official state contact for all grant information and should be the primary resource for questions and assistance.
Grant Agreement
CNRA cannot release funds until a Grant Agreement is executed. The Grant Agreement defines a project’s scope, budget, and timeframe. You should not start your grantfunded project until you receive an executed Grant Agreement.
Grant agreements with federally recognized Native American tribes will include a limited waiver of sovereign immunity (refer to Appendix G). Agreements with University of California grantees will include University Terms and Conditions UTC-220 and State of California Standard Agreement STD 213.
Grant Performance Period
The Grant Agreement defines the start and end date of the grant-funded project (the “Project Performance Period”). The grant can only pay for project costs incurred within the Project Performance Period.
Required Project Reporting
You are required to report on your project’s progress at least once a quarter and whenever your Grant Administrator requests an update. Reporting is mandatory. Failing to report on time may delay reimbursement of project costs and/or result in project termination. A reporting template will be provided by your Grant Administrator.
Payment Requests
After the grant agreement is executed, you may request grant funds by submitting a payment request. A payment request can be either a request for reimbursement of 11 project costs you have paid (a “Reimbursement Request”) or a request for an advance of grant funds to pay future project costs (an “Advance Request”).
Reimbursement Requests
Whenever possible, you should pay project costs and then seek reimbursement from the grant. It is recommended you request reimbursement at least quarterly but no more than monthly. Submitting one reimbursement request for all project costs at the end of the project is strongly discouraged. Your Grant Administrator will provide forms and a Reimbursement Request Guide which explains how to request reimbursement.
Advance Requests
The Climate Bond allows an advance payment of grant funds in the amount of 25 percent of the grant award to initiate a project in a timely manner. At CNRA’s discretion and if need is demonstrated, additional advances of up to 25 percent may be allowed. There are many restrictions and requirements related to advanced funds.
These are detailed in the Advanced Funds & Reconciliation Guide which your Grant Administrator can provide, along with required forms. We recommend you carefully review this Guide and make sure you understand all the advance policies before submitting a request.
State Audit and Accounting Requirements
Audit Requirements
The State may audit your grant project annually and for three years after the final payment of grant funds. You will be contacted in advance if your project is selected for audit. The audit will look at all books, papers, accounts, documents, or other records related to the project from all funding sources.
You must provide all project records requested by the auditor, including source documents and evidence of payment and make an employee with knowledge of the project available to the auditor.
Accounting Requirements
Your accounting system must:
• Accurately reflect fiscal transactions, with necessary controls and safeguards. • Provide a good audit trail, including original source documents such as purchase orders, receipts, progress payments, invoices, employee paystubs and timecards, evidence of payment, etc.
• Provide accounting data so the total cost of each individual project can be readily determined.
Records Retention
Project records must be retained for three years after final payment of grant funds and for at least one year following an audit.
12 Changes to Approved Project
The executed grant agreement will contain the approved project scope and budget. If you need to make changes to your project after the grant agreement is executed, you must submit a written request. Requested changes may not substantially alter the project described in your Full Proposal.
Time Extensions
The executed grant agreement will define the start and end date of the project (the “Project Performance Period”). If you later need to extend the Project Performance Period, you must submit a written request to your Grant Administrator that explains the need for the extension.
Climate Bond Funding Acknowledgment
Projects funded by the Climate Bond must include signage informing the public that the project received funding from the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024. The sign must be mounted in an area maximizing visibility and durability for a minimum of four years after project completion.
All materials used shall be durable and resistant to the elements and graffiti.
All signs must contain the language shown below and the Climate Bond logo. The name of the director of the local agency or other governing body may be added, as well as the names (and/or logos) of other partners, organizations, individuals and elected representatives.
The Climate Bond logo must measure a minimum of 12 inches tall.
Project Title/Description
Another Urban Greening project funded through the
Natural Resources Agency to safeguard people and
nature from climate change.
Gavin Newsom, Governor
Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources
Before ordering a funding acknowledgment sign, you must submit the design (including size) and proposed posting location to your Grant Administrator for approval. The example above contains the required language and logo, but the layout and style may be determined by the grantee. Construction funds will not be released until at minimum a temporary funding acknowledgment sign is installed at the project site. The last 10 percent of grant funds will not be released until permanent signage has been approved and installed.
13 Site Control
Before any grant funds can be released, you must provide evidence you have legal authority to do the grant project on the project property. If you own the property, you must submit evidence of ownership. If you have a lease or another legal, long-term interest in the land you must submit a copy of the lease or other interest that shows permission to do the project.
Long-Term Operation and Maintenance (Land Tenure Term)
The grant agreement requires you to operate and maintain the grant project for the following number of years after project completion.
At least 20 years for grants up to $1 million
At least 25 years for grants over $1 million
In the grant agreement, this period is called the “Land Tenure Term.” You must operate, maintain, and use the project to fulfill the purpose funded by the grant for the entire Land Tenure Term. If you own the project property, you may not sell or transfer any interest in the property without the State’s permission during the Land Tenure Term. If you do not own the property, your lease or other long-term interest in the property must last long enough to cover the Land Tenure Term.
Eligible Project Costs
General Principles for Determining Cost Eligibility
The following are general principles to consider in determining whether a project cost is eligible for grant funding:
• Costs must be incurred within the project performance period outlined in the Grant Agreement.
• Costs should be planned for and included in the project cost estimate in the Grant Agreement.
• Grantees should use good judgment in purchasing items and services to be paid with grant funds. Project expenses should be cost-effective and economical. • Costs paid with grant funds must serve a public purpose.
Types of Eligible Costs
Direct Costs
Direct costs are costs necessary to carry out the grant project and are eligible for payment. They may include materials, supplies, equipment, technical consultants, subcontractors, grantee’s staff labor, and other eligible costs. Direct costs do not include general administrative costs and overhead (see definition of indirect costs below). They also do not include endowments for ongoing project maintenance. 14 Indirect Costs
Indirect costs are expenses related to the general operation and support of an organization or project. Examples include rent for office space, utilities, insurance, office supplies, administrative salaries, and accounting. Food and beverages, fundraising, lobbying and entertainment may not be included as indirect costs. Indirect costs are also called overhead or administrative costs.
Unlike direct costs, which are easily traced to a specific project, indirect costs are shared across multiple projects or the entire organization. Indirect costs are typically calculated as a percentage of the direct costs of a project. This percentage is called the indirect cost rate.
The Climate Bond allows you to choose one of the following indirect cost rate options:
• The grantee’s negotiated indirect cost rate, pursuant to its negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.
• The de minimis indirect cost rate specified in Part 200 of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
• A rate negotiated by the grantee with another state agency within the last five years.
• A rate proposed by the grantee in the grantee’s program application with the administering state agency if the grantee does not have an existing state rate.
You must use the indirect cost rate option chosen on the Indirect Cost Rate Form submitted with your Full Proposal. Your chosen indirect cost rate must be supported by an accounting methodology following Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). You must maintain records to support your indirect cost rate and provide those records in the event of an audit.
The indirect cost amount budgeted for the grant should be entered as a single line item in the project cost estimate. When submitting payment requests, you may bill an appropriate amount of indirect costs for the period covered by the payment request until the indirect cost budget is exhausted. At audit, you must be able to prove the actual indirect costs for the project are equal to or greater than the total indirect amount charged to the grant.
Eligible Direct Costs
Up to 25 percent of grant funds may be spent on non-construction costs, also referred to as soft costs or pre-implementation costs. Examples of non-construction costs are planning and design, architecture and engineering services, environmental compliance, community outreach, classroom components of workforce development or training, construction plans, permitting, insurance, and project administration and management.
A minimum of 75 percent of grant funds must be spent on construction costs, also referred to as hard costs or implementation costs. Construction costs directly relate to 15 the physical construction of a project. Examples are provided under the Construction subheading, below.
The eligibility of various types of direct costs is discussed below.
Staff Costs
The costs of staff salaries, wages, and employer-paid benefits that are directly related to executing the project are eligible subject to the following:
• Staff costs must be computed on actual time spent on the grant-funded project and supported by timesheets.
• Overtime rates may be charged for hours worked over an employee’s regular hours (according to your established policy) only if all the regular hours were also devoted to the grant-funded project. For example, if your established policy is that overtime is earned for hours worked over eight hours a day, overtime rates can only be billed to the grant if the employee’s regular eight hours on the day overtime was earned were also devoted exclusively to the grant-funded project. • All staff costs billed to the grant must reflect actual rates paid to employees. No indirect or overhead costs may be added to staff rates. Employees’ annual salaries and hourly compensation rates must be supported by pay stubs or a payroll service printout to be produced at the request of a Grant Administrator or auditor.
• Salaries and wages claimed for employees working on State grant-funded projects must not exceed your established rates for similar positions. • You may add the actual costs of employer-paid benefits such as vacation, sick leave, Social Security contributions, etc. to employee rates. You must provide documentation to support the amounts charged at the request of a Grant Administrator or auditor.
You are responsible for determining if your project is subject to the prevailing wage requirements of California Labor Code §1720, et seq. For questions about prevailing wage, contact the Department of Industrial Relations.
Consultants/Contracted Services
The costs of contracted services are eligible if invoices that identify specific project activities performed are presented with payment requests.
Outreach
Costs of engaging community members through community meetings and events directly related to the project are eligible. Refreshments, stipends, and childcare offered to community members may not be paid for with Climate Bond funds but must be paid with other funds.
Construction
All necessary labor, materials, and construction activities to complete the project are eligible, including site preparation (e.g., demolition, clearing and grubbing, grading, etc.), monitoring, onsite/field implementation (including workforce development field 16 work or hand labor), construction supervision, etc. The grant can pay for up to three years of plant establishment, as appropriate.
Supplies and materials may be purchased for a specific project or may be drawn from central stock, providing they are claimed at a cost no higher than what you paid. When supplies and/or materials are purchased with the intention of constructing a piece of equipment, a structure or part of a structure, the costs that are charged as supplies and materials may be capitalized according to your normal practice or policy. If capitalized, only that cost reasonably attributable to the project may be claimed under the project.
Equipment
Equipment needed for your project may be leased, rented, or purchased, whichever is most economical. If you buy equipment, you must credit the residual market value of the equipment at project completion to the grant.
You may charge the grant for use of your organization’s equipment on the project.
Rates charged must be supported by your established written policy and not exceed the rate for similar rental equipment in your local area. The California Department of Transportation equipment rental rates may be used as a guide as long as those rates are similar to the rental rate in your area.
You should maintain an equipment log that identifies the equipment, the operator, hours used, and hourly rate. The log should be signed by the operator and supervisor, when possible. This log and your written equipment rental rate policy should be produced at the request of a Grant Administrator or auditor.
You may not charge use of your vehicles to transport personnel and supplies as an equipment cost. Instead, you may bill the grant for mileage (see below).
Signs and Interpretive Aids
Construction of exhibits, kiosks, display boards, signs, and interpretive aids for the project are eligible. Before construction begins and/or before the end of the project, you are required to post a sign acknowledging Climate Bond funding was used for the project.
Mileage Reimbursement
Mileage incurred in vehicles you own is reimbursable at the current state mileage rate.
You must maintain a mileage log with the date, mileage, destination, and trip purpose (referencing the grant’s project scope) to be produced at the request of a Grant Administrator or auditor.
Mileage reimbursement covers:
• Fuel or electric charging costs
• Maintenance
• Insurance
• Licensing and registration
• Depreciation and all other costs related to vehicle operation 17 Staff Travel Costs
Staff travel costs will be reimbursed in accordance with your written travel policy. Absent a written travel policy, the travel reimbursement rates cannot exceed those applicable to California State employees found here.
Mileage costs incurred by employees using their personal vehicles should be submitted to you as part of an expense/travel claim. After reimbursing the employee, you may submit the mileage costs to the State for reimbursement. Reimbursement for staff personal vehicle mileage is limited to the current state mileage rate.
Other Expenditures
Grant funding may also be used for miscellaneous costs necessary to execute your project, subject to the State’s approval. Some of these costs may include:
• Premiums on hazard and liability insurance to cover personnel and/or property. • Work done by another section or department of your organization that can be charged as direct costs to the project (subject to the same requirements under Staff Costs above).
18 APPENDIX A. CONCEPT PROPOSAL FORM
Contact Information
Applicant Organization: Enter text here
Applicant Address: Enter text here
Primary Contact: Enter text here Secondary Contact: Enter text here Title: Enter text here Title: Enter text here
Email: Enter text here Email: Enter text here
Phone: Enter text here Phone: Enter text here
Proposed Project Information
Project Title: Enter text here
Grant Amount Requested: Enter text here Total Project Cost: Enter text here Other Funds (if applicable): Enter text here Source of Other Funds: Enter text here Project Location: Enter Address
Longitude: Enter Longitude Latitude: Enter Latitude
County: Enter text here Senate District: Enter Assembly District: Enter Project Start Date: Enter text here Project End Date: Enter text here Note: Urban Greening grant funds must be spent by March 1, 2030 Eligibility
1. Applicant Organization Type – Choose one:
☐ Public agency
☐ Local agency
☐ Nonprofit organization (answer questions 2-4)
☐ Special district
☐ Joint powers authority
☐ California Native American tribe
☐ Public utility
☐ Local publicly owned utility
☐ Mutual water company
19 2. If a nonprofit, is the applicant qualified under IRS Code §501(c)(3)? ☐ Yes
☐ No
3. If a nonprofit, is the grantee in good standing with the Secretary of State? ☐ Yes, status is active
☐ No, status other than active
4. If a nonprofit, is the grantee current status with the Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers?
☐ Yes, status is Current
☐ Yes, status is Current-awaiting reporting or in progress ☐ Yes, status is Exempt
☐ No, status is Delinquent
☐ No, status is Other than Current or Delinquent
5. Is the project a development project (see definition in Appendix D of the Grant Guidelines)?
☐ Yes
☐ No
6. Is the project located in an urban area (see definition in Appendix D of the Grant Guidelines and refer to the 2020 California Urban Areas data layer in this geospatial viewer: California Census Maps)
☐ Yes
☐ No
7. Does the applicant own the proposed project property? ☐ Yes
☐ No
8. If the applicant does not own the proposed project property, briefly explain the current status of obtaining permission to develop property owned by another entity.
Enter text here
9. Will the proposed project be developed on a single site (e.g., one park not multiple parks) or public right-of-way?
☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Other - Explain
20 10. Will the completed proposed project be publicly accessible? Note that students qualify as “the public” for a project on a school campus. ☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Other - Explain
Project Description
11. Provide a concise description of the proposed project and scope of work. Include an explanation of how your project will mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts. Describe specific project deliverables and the estimated length of time it will take to complete the project (attach a conceptual site plan, if available).
Enter text here
12. Which of the following climate benefits will your project provide? Mark all that apply. ☐ The project will protect people and/or nature from climate impacts related to extreme heat
☐ The project will reduce and/or remove greenhouse gas emissions ☐ The project is designed to be resilient to climate impacts, including extreme heat and drought (e.g., climate ready tree species are selected for areas anticipating worsening drought)
☐ The project will protect biodiversity from the impacts of climate change ☐ The project will support planning, capacity building, workforce training, or monitoring activities that will protect people and/or nature from climate change impacts or reduce/remove greenhouse gas emissions
13. Describe any other benefits the proposed project is anticipated to provide that are not specifically included in question 12 above (e.g., increased recreational opportunities, improved health and/or safety, etc.)
Enter text here
14. Explain the need for the proposed project. If applicable, explain how your project will provide “meaningful and direct” benefits to a disadvantaged community, a severely disadvantaged community, or a vulnerable population (as defined in Appendix D and described on pages 4-5 of the Grant Guidelines).
Enter text here
Authorized Representative Certification
The Authorized Representative for your organization should electronically sign the Concept Proposal Signature Page in Docusign here.
21 APPENDIX B. FULL PROPOSAL FORM AND REQUIRED
DOCUMENTS LIST
Project Description
1. Describe the proposed project, including expected project deliverables and current site conditions. If it is part of a larger project, define the discrete scope proposed for this grant in relation to the portion funded by other sources.
Enter text here
2. List major project elements/deliverables including the number of each to be funded by the grant. See examples below. You may overwrite the examples with your own project elements and add more lines as needed.
Project Elements Qty/Unit
Park creation (example) 5 ac.
Trees (example) 45
Ground cover, shrubs, plants (example) 1,300
Bioswales (example) 300 sq. ft.
Decomposed granite walking path (example) 1.25 mi.
Wooden benches (example) 10
Shade structure (example) 1
Project Questions
Applicants must answer the following questions, as applicable.
Extreme Heat Threat
3. Using the California Heat Assessment Tool, provide the project location’s census tract number(s); Annual Number of Health Events, located under the Heat Health Events (HHEs) heading; and Heat Health Action Index located under the Vulnerability Indicators heading. See Appendix E of the Grant Guidelines for instructions on how to use this tool.
Census Tract(s): Enter text here
Annual Number of Health Events: Enter text here
Heat Health Action Index: Enter text here
22 4. Describe the extreme heat frequency and severity in the project area. You may reference tools other than the California Heat Assessment Tool. See Resources in Appendix C of the Grant Guidelines.
Enter text here
5. Describe known extreme heat-related issues and impacts on the local community.
What are the community’s needs and priorities in addressing these impacts and how were they identified?
Enter text here
6. How will the project use nature-based solutions to mitigate the urban heat island effect, rising temperatures, and extreme heat impacts in the project area? Enter text here
Community and Tribal Engagement
7. Does the project engage the local community in aspects of project design, implementation and monitoring?
☐ Yes
☐ No
8. How will the local community participate in the design, implementation and monitoring of the project? If the project has not or will not include local community participation, provide an explanation.
Enter text here
9. Identify any meaningful outreach and attempts to collaborate with California Native American tribes that have already occurred or are currently in process. Check all that apply.
☐ Applicant has or is providing opportunities for tribal leadership and staff to express the tribe’s priorities, views, and concerns.
☐ Applicant has or is sharing pertinent project materials with all potentially affected tribes so they may make an informed decision regarding possible impacts.
☐ Applicant has or is providing technical assistance and appropriate tribal consultation timelines.
☐ Applicant has or is prioritizing collaborative problem-solving as well as integration and advancement of tribal priorities and perspectives into decision-making where feasible.
☐ Applicant has or is incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge in designing and implementing the project.
☐ Other - Enter other collaboration method
23 10. Please provide details describing your past, current, and any future planned outreach, consultations and collaborations with California Native American tribes.
Past: Enter text here
Current: Enter text here
Future/Planned: Enter text here
11. Discuss any potential project impacts and/or priorities identified by tribes. Describe how tribal feedback and/or priorities were integrated into the proposed project. If no impacts were identified or are not applicable to the project, briefly explain how this conclusion was reached.
Enter text here
Climate Bond Priorities
The 2024 Climate Bond requires at least 40 percent of the total bond funding “shall be allocated for projects that provide meaningful and direct benefits to vulnerable populations or disadvantaged communities.” The following tools must be used to answer questions 12-15 to identify the vulnerable population(s) or disadvantaged or severely disadvantaged community or communities who will benefit from the project, but you may include clarifying information from other sources in your responses, if necessary:
• Vulnerable Communities Platform (VCP): https://vcp.lci.ca.gov/ o For the Urban Greening Grant Program, only projects serving communities qualifying in one of the VCP’s top three categories for the extreme heat hazard in the current timeframe will count toward the 40% Climate Bond requirement described above. The top three categories are: 1) HIGH climate hazard and HIGH social vulnerability; 2) MEDIUM climate hazard and HIGH social vulnerability; or 3) HIGH climate hazard and MEDIUM social vulnerability (refer to Appendix H for additional instructions on how to use the VCP tool). • Climate Bond Disadvantaged Communities Map:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/aa723fdf521a44c9a428f1a46cd38a09
12. Does the project provide benefits to vulnerable populations, disadvantaged communities, or severely disadvantaged communities? See definitions in Appendix D of the Grant Guidelines. Applicant responses will be verified by grant staff using the tools linked above.
☐ Yes, the project benefits (select all that apply)
☐ Vulnerable populations
☐ Disadvantaged communities
☐ Severely disadvantaged communities
☐ No. Please proceed to Question 17.
24 13. Describe the vulnerable population(s) who benefits from the project. If not applicable enter N/A.
Enter text here
14. Describe the disadvantaged community who benefits from the project. If not applicable enter N/A.
Enter text here
15. Describe the severely disadvantaged community who benefits from the project. If not applicable enter N/A.
Enter text here
16. Which of the following benefits will the project provide? Check all that apply:
☐ Making neighborhoods cooler
☐ Providing protection from extreme heat
☐ Improving air quality
☐ Lowering energy use and costs
☐ Increasing access to parks and urban green spaces so communities have cool places to gather and relax
☐ Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and storing carbon in nature to help slow climate change
☐ Reducing flood risk during heavy rain or storms
☐ Improving stormwater management to prevent flooding and pollution ☐ Protecting and enhancing biodiversity
☐ Creating or expanding green recreational parks and/or schoolyards in a parkpoor community (See definition of park-poor community in Appendix D of the Grant Guidelines).
☐ Protecting urban wildlife and plants
☐ Supporting tribal stewardship
☐ Creating good local jobs with fair wages, benefits, and job training ☐ Helping regions build capacity to design and deliver strong, community-led projects
☐ Other - Enter other benefits
17. Please explain how the project will meet all four meaningful and direct benefits criteria described on pages 4-5 of the Grant Guidelines. All criteria must be met for the projects’ benefits to be considered meaningful and direct. If your proposal scores competitively, you may be asked to provide verifying evidence (e.g., letters of support, formal MOUs or partnership agreements, support demonstrated at a field visit, etc.)
Enter text here
25 18. If your project will not provide meaningful and direct benefits to disadvantaged communities or vulnerable populations, describe the benefits your project will provide and the communities who will benefit.
Enter text here
19. Will the proposed project use the services of the California Conservation Corps (CCC), a certified local community conservation corps (CLCC), or a CCC-funded tribal corps? Refer to Appendix C in the Grant Guidelines for links to CCC consultation instructions.
☐ Yes – Answer question 20.
☐ No
20. Describe the specific work the CCC, CLCC, or tribal corps will perform.
Enter text here
21. Will the proposed project leverage private, federal, or local funding? Costs already incurred or that will be incurred prior to grant awards (e.g., planning, design, environmental compliance, etc.) can be counted.
☐ Yes – Answer question 22.
☐ No
22. How does the project leverage private, federal, or local funding? Enter text here
Alignment with State Plans and Goals
23. Describe how the project will help meet the California's Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets for developed lands, which include but are not limited to:
• Increase tree canopy cover in cities
• Establish climate-ready vegetation, remove grass
• Increase green space, such as parks, gardens, schoolyards, greenways/greenbelts, street trees, green roofs, rain gardens, etc. • Increase large canopied, climate-ready trees meaningful to the community; prioritize communities with low tree canopy
• Establish tree line buffers between croplands and communities to reduce chemical exposure and enhance access to green space
Include specific information in your response, including numbers of trees to be planted, acres of green space to be created, acres of climate-ready vegetation to be planted, number and size of rain gardens, etc.
Enter text here
26 24. How will the proposed project be designed to withstand and adapt to climate impacts, such as future heat waves and precipitation extremes (drought and deluge)? For example, explain which tree species will be used and the rationale for their selection.
Enter text here
Project Readiness
25. Describe the status of project planning, design, and permitting.
Enter text here
26. If environmental compliance (CEQA) for the project has been completed, please enter the following:
a. Type of CEQA document filed:
☐ Notice of Exemption
☐ Negative Declaration/Mitigated Negative Declaration
☐ Environmental Impact Report
☐ Other: Enter text here
b. Enter State Clearinghouse Number: Enter text here
27. If environmental compliance (CEQA) for the project has not been completed, describe the status of CEQA, the anticipated type of CEQA document, and the expected completion date.
Enter text here
28. List all other sources of funding and amounts already secured or committed to the project and the expected timing of these additional funds.
Enter text here
29. List the legal owners for each parcel within the project footprint and the status of any negotiations or agreements required to implement the project.
Enter text here
30. List any additional entities with jurisdiction over the project and the status of required permits, approvals, agreements, notifications, etc.
Enter text here
31. Describe your organization’s prior experience in completing the project type.
Enter text here
27 List of Required Documents
☐ Authorizing Resolution
☐ Cost Estimate
☐ Indirect Cost Rate Form and Supporting Documents (if applicable) ☐ Photographs
☐ Location Map
☐ Property Data Sheet
☐ Assessor’s Parcel Maps
☐ Site Plan
☐ Plant Palette
☐ Environmental Compliance
☐ Project Timeline
☐ Funding Plan
☐ Proof of Ownership
☐ Adequate Site Control/Land Tenure
☐ Operations & Maintenance
☐ Permit/Approval Status
☐ Full Proposal Signature Page signed by the Authorized Representative 28 APPENDIX C. AVAILABLE RESOURCES
General
Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Proposition 4)
CNRA Proposition 4 Climate Bond Webpage
RAPTR User Guide for Grant Applicants
Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets
Extreme Heat Action Plan
California's Water Supply Strategy
Extreme Heat Threat Assessment Tools
California Heat Assessment Tool (CHAT)
Cal-Adapt Extreme Heat Days Tool
Disadvantaged Communities and Vulnerable Populations
Meaningful and Direct Benefits Assessment Guidance
Vulnerable Communities Platform (VCP)
Using the VCP for the 2024 Climate Bond
Climate Bond Disadvantaged Communities Map
Climate Change & Health Vulnerability Indicators for California (CCHVIz) Vulnerability Tools Overlay/Comparison Platform
Tribal Consultation
CNRA Tribal Consultation Best Practices
Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)
NAHC Tribal Consultation List Request
29 California Conservation Corps (CCC) Consultation
CCC Grant Consultation Instructions
CCC Consultation Form
Tribal Corps Collaboration
Plant Palette, Species Selection, and Water Use
Cal Poly Tree Selection Guide
Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute at Cal Poly
Climate Ready Trees
CAL FIRE Regional Urban Foresters Contact List
CAL FIRE’s Tree Planting Standards and Specifications
California Native Plant Society
Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
Water Use Classification by Landscape Species (WUCOLS)
California Invasive Plant Inventory Database
Carbon Sequestration
i-Tree Planting Calculator
Park-Poor Tool
Statewide Parks Program Community FactFinder
30 APPENDIX D. GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Unless otherwise stated, the terms used in these grant guidelines have the following meanings:
Active recreation - outdoor recreational activities, such as organized sports (e.g., soccer, football, baseball, basketball), that require extensive facilities or development or that have a considerable environmental impact on the recreational site. Note that playgrounds, permanently installed fitness equipment, and associated hardscape are exceptions that are eligible for reimbursement by grant funds.
California Native American tribe - a federally recognized Native American tribe or a non-federally recognized Native American tribe listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
Climate Bond - The Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 passed by voters as Proposition 4 on November 5, 2024. The Climate Bond allows the state to sell $10 billion in general obligation bonds for programs for safe drinking water, drought, flood, and water resilience; wildfire and forest resilience; coastal resilience; extreme heat mitigation; biodiversity protection and nature-based climate solutions; climate-smart, sustainable, and resilient farms, ranches, and working lands; park creation and outdoor access; and clean air.
Climate-ready vegetation – vegetation that can be reasonably expected to survive both present and future climate impacts such as heat, drought, extreme weather events, and pests.
Critical community infrastructure - infrastructure that is necessary to providing vital community and individual functions, including, but not limited to, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, emergency shelters, communication and warning systems, evacuation routes, emergency power and public medical facilities, schools, town halls, hospitals, health clinics, community centers, community nonprofit facilities providing essential services, libraries, homeless shelters, senior and youth centers, childcare facilities, food banks, grocery stores, and parks and recreation sites.
Development project - a project that builds new infrastructure or improves or renovates existing infrastructure such as facilities, landscaping, parks, gardens, green roofs, bioswales, trails, etc.
Disadvantaged community - a community with a median household income of less than 80 percent of the area average or less than 80 percent of statewide median household income.
Green parks – for the purposes of this program, a green park refers to passive recreational amenities, such as open space, vegetation, permeable surfaces, nonmotorized trails, etc.
Green stormwater infrastructure - natural and constructed ecological systems, green spaces, and landscape features that filter and absorb stormwater where it falls. 31 Green streets and alleyways - a stormwater management approach designed to capture and manage stormwater where it falls by incorporating engineered systems (e.g., permeable pavements) and vegetation (perennials, shrubs, trees, soil) into streets and alleyways to slow and filter stormwater runoff.
Heat Health Action Index – a statistically weighed result of over a dozen social, health, and environmental indictors that is intended to represent overall heat vulnerability.
Heat Health Event – any heat event that generates negative public health impacts, regardless of the absolute temperature.
Leverage/Leveraged Funds - supplemental resources dedicated to a project to achieve additional beneficial outcomes (e.g., in kind labor, donated materials, other grant funds).
Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) – California regulation established to promote water conservation in landscaping practices. It sets minimum efficiency standards for landscape design, installation, and maintenance.
Nature-Based Solutions - land management activities that increase the health and resilience of natural systems, which support their ability to durably store carbon.
Nonprofit organization - a nonprofit corporation qualified to do business in California and qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Park-poor communities - neighborhoods that have less than 3 acres of usable parkland per 1,000 residents, or median household incomes less than 80% of the Statewide average AND inadequate access to recreation facilities and activities.
Restoration –
(1) includes the improvement of physical structures or facilities and, in the case of natural systems and landscape features, includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(A) The control of erosion.
(B) Stormwater capture, treatment, reuse, and storage, or to otherwise reduce stormwater pollution.
(C)The control and elimination of invasive species and harmful algal blooms. (D) The planting of native species.
(E) The removal of waste and debris.
(F) Prescribed burning and other fuel hazard reduction measures. (G)Fencing out threats to existing or restored natural resources. (H) Improving instream, riparian, floodplain, or wetland habitat conditions. (I) Other plant and wildlife habitat improvement to increase the natural system value of the property or coastal or ocean resources.
32 (J) Activities described in subdivision (b) of Section 79737 of the Water Code. (activities to fund coastal wetland habitat, improve forest health, restore mountain meadows, modernize stream crossings, culverts, and bridges, reconnect historical flood plains, install or improve fish screens, provide fish passages, restore river channels, restore or enhance riparian, aquatic, and terrestrial habitat, improve ecological functions, acquire from willing sellers conservation easements for riparian buffer strips, improve local watershed management, and remove sediment or trash.)
(2) also includes activities, including planning, permitting, monitoring, and reporting that are necessary to ensure successful implementation of the restoration objectives.
Severely disadvantaged community - a community with a median household income of less than 60 percent of the area average or less than 60 percent of statewide median household income.
Site control - the legal authority or permission to occupy, develop, or use a specific parcel of land or property for the intended purposes.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge – the evolving knowledge acquired by indigenous and local peoples over hundreds or thousands of years through direct contact with the environment, is location–specific, and includes relationships between plants, animals, natural phenomena, landscapes and timing of events used for lifeways, including but not limited to hunting, fishing, trapping, agriculture, and forestry or defined by individual Native American tribal governments to fit the need of their community.
Urban area - In accordance with 2020 Census Bureau criteria, the minimum qualifying threshold for inclusion as an urban area is a geographic territory that contains at least 2,000 housing units or has a population of at least 5,000. To determine if your project is located within an urban area, refer to the 2020 California Urban Areas layer in this webbased viewer: California Census Map Urban Heat Island Effect - the accumulated impact of buildings, roads, and other human-built structures that absorb the sun’s heat more than natural surfaces such as grass, soil, and trees and raise the surrounding air temperature.
Vulnerable population - a subgroup of population within a region or community that faces a disproportionately heightened risk or increased sensitivity to impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to cope with, adapt to, or recover from such impacts. (Note: California Native American tribes are considered vulnerable populations)
33 APPENDIX E. CALIFORNIA HEAT ASSESSMENT TOOL
INSTRUCTIONS
The California Heat Assessment Tool (CHAT) was developed to better understand dimensions of heat vulnerability driven by climate change and where action can be taken to mitigate the public health impacts of extreme heat in the future.
Applicants are asked to provide information contained in two data layers in CHAT:
Annual Number of Health Events, located under the Heat Health Events (HHEs) heading; and Heat Health Action Index (HHAI) located under the Vulnerability Indicators heading.
Annual Number of Health Events
CHAT allows users to understand how HHEs may affect their area of interest. HHEs are events that result in negative public health impacts, regardless of the absolute temperature. Each local area has a unique HHE specific to its climate and the historical sensitivity of people in that area to past heat events. The Urban Greening Grant Program created a high, medium, and low ranking to aid in scoring HHEs. All census tracts were placed into quartiles using the parameters RCP8.5, June/July/August, general population, 95th percentile, and 2021-2040. The HHE quartiles are as follows:
Percentile 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
HHE # 0.00 0.90 1.65 2.60 8.45
Those in the first quartile (25th percentile) are considered LOW. Those in the second and third quartile (26th-75th percentiles) are considered MODERATE. Those in the fourth quartile (76-100th percentile) are considered HIGH. To determine if your project location falls within the LOW, MODERATE, or HIGH category, select the period 2021-2040 on the 34 sliding scale at the bottom of the mapping tool. Enter the number(s) associated with your project’s census tract(s). In the example screenshot, above, you would enter 4.25 for census tract 6077004600, which would be considered HIGH because it exceeds the 75th percentile.
Heat Health Action Index
CHAT also calculates a HHAI or heat vulnerability score for each census tract. The index ranges from 0 to 100. This is a statistically weighed result of over a dozen social, health, and environmental indicators and is intended to represent overall heat vulnerability.
Similarly, the Urban Greening Grant Program created a high, medium, and low ranking to aid in scoring of heat action index/heat vulnerability. All census tracts were placed into quartiles using the parameters RCP8.5, June/July/August, general population, 95th percentile, and 2021-2040. The heat action index/heat vulnerability quartiles are as follows:
Percentile 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
HHAI # 0.00 25.98 35.61 47.45 100.00
Those in the first quartile (25th percentile) are considered LOW. Those in the second and third quartile (26th-75th percentiles) are considered MODERATE. Those in the fourth quartile (76-100th percentile) are considered HIGH. To determine if your project location falls within the LOW, MODERATE, or HIGH category, determine the HHAI associated with your project’s census tract(s). In the example screenshot, below, you would enter 18.98 for census tract 6077004600, which places it in the 25th percentile (LOW category). 35 APPENDIX F. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
If your project is awarded funding, you must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000; 14 California Code of Regulations section 15000 et seq. [“CEQA”]).
The State of California, acting through its administering agencies and departments, will typically act as a responsible agency for the purposes of CEQA. Therefore, prior to the State approving construction-related grant funding, one of the following must be submitted to your grant administrator:
a. The Notice of Exemption filed with the County Clerk and State Clearinghouse (as applicable) if the proposed project is categorically or statutorily exempt, with the appropriate Public Resources Code section citation to the exemption(s) being relied upon by the lead agency.
b. The Negative Declaration or Mitigated Negative Declaration adopted by the lead agency and Initial Study, including a copy of the Environmental Checklist Form located in Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines and the Notice of Determination filed with the County and with the State Clearinghouse. If the lead agency has adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration, you must also provide the adopted mitigation monitoring and reporting program*. c. The Final Environmental Impact Report certified and adopted by the lead agency with Initial Study, including a copy of the Environmental Checklist Form located in Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines, the adopted mitigation monitoring and reporting program, and the Notice of Determination filed with the County and State Clearinghouse. Please include any State Clearinghouse Responses.
* For b and c, include documentation the State of California Department of Fish and Wildlife CEQA feed was paid or is not applicable.
d. Projects that tier from a Programmatic, Master, or other Environmental Impact Report shall include a copy of any subsequent Initial Study for the proposed project together with a copy of any supplementary environmental documentation adopted by the lead agency, including, if applicable, any required findings pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21157.1, subdivision (c), and the Notice of Determination, filed with the County Clerk and with the State Clearinghouse, as applicable.
Pursuant to Section 75102 of the Public Resources Code 75102, before the adoption of a Negative Declaration or Environmental Impact Report, the lead Agency shall notify the proposed action to a California Native American tribe, which is on the contact list maintained by the Native Heritage Commission, if that tribe has traditional lands located within the area of the proposed project. 36 APPENDIX G. LIMITED WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY
AND HOLD HARMLESS LANGUAGE
1. The Parties acknowledge that Grantee is a federally recognized Indian tribe and, as such, possesses sovereign immunity from suit. Nothing in this Grant Agreement is or shall be deemed to be a waiver of Grantee’s sovereign immunity from suit, which immunity is expressly asserted, except for the limited waiver set forth in this section.
2. Limited waiver of sovereign immunity and hold harmless. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement (including, without limitation, any provision of any Exhibit incorporated in this Agreement by reference) to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to be a general waiver of Grantee’s sovereign immunity from suit, which immunity is expressly asserted. Provided, however, that Grantee hereby expressly, unequivocally, and irrevocably provides a limited waiver of sovereign immunity from suit to allow the Natural Resources Agency to exercise all of its rights under the terms of this Agreement, and Grantee consents to suit in any court of the State of California for any claim to interpret or to enforce this Agreement. This shall include the right to contribution for loss of damage to persons or property arising from, growing out of, or in any way connected with or incident to this Agreement, except claims arising from the gross negligence of the State, its officers, agents, and employees.
3. Grantee shall indemnify and hold harmless the State, its officers, agents, and employees in perpetuity against any and all claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses, or liability costs arising out of the Project, which claims, demands, or causes of action arise under Government Code Section 895.2 or otherwise, including but not limited to items to which the Grantee has certified, except for liability arising out of the gross negligence of the State, its officers, agents, or employees. Grantee acknowledges that it is solely responsible for compliance with items to which it has certified. Under this indemnification provision, Grantee shall not be responsible for defending the State in court but shall reimburse for actual invoiced costs associated with the defense.
Grantee and the State agree that in the event of judgment entered against the State and Grantee because of the gross negligence of the State and Grantee, their officers, agents, or employees, an apportionment of liability to pay such judgment shall be made by a court of competent jurisdiction. Neither party shall request a jury apportionment. 37 APPENDIX H. VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES PLATFORM
INSTRUCTIONS
The Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation’s (LCI) Vulnerable Communities Platform (VCP) intersects data on climate impacts (e.g., increasing temperatures) with data on social vulnerability (e.g., income, health conditions, etc.) to identify the California communities most vulnerable to the impacts of anticipated climate hazards.
The VCP’s Climate Vulnerability Map includes four climate hazards (extreme heat, flooding, sea level rise, and drought). To fulfill the statutory purpose of this round of Urban Greening funding, applicants must select the Extreme Heat hazard and choose the current timeframe as depicted in blue in the following screen shot:
Each populated area on the map receives a high, medium or low vulnerability designation for both climate hazard and for social vulnerability, which results in a combined matrix. For the Urban Greening Grant Program, only projects serving communities qualifying in one of the VCP’s top three categories for the extreme heat hazard in the current timeframe will count toward the 40% Climate Bond requirement described above. The top three categories are: 1) HIGH climate hazard and HIGH social vulnerability; 2) MEDIUM climate hazard and HIGH social vulnerability; or 3) HIGH climate 38 hazard and MEDIUM social vulnerability. Essentially, the ‘L’ shaped boxes on the gradient outlined in red in the following screen shot would be considered vulnerable for the purpose of scoring bonus points in the Full Proposal:
Applicants interested in additional information related to the VCP are directed to the following guidance document: Using the VCP for the Climate Bond.