Title
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation/Forestry staff to seek Improving Community Forests Through Citizen Engagement grant funding on behalf of the City, and, if successful, enter into an agreement with the State, which includes an indemnification clause, to accept $30,000 in grant funds on behalf of the City.
Body
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, as recommended by the Legislative‐Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), has provided the funding to the State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the Improving Community Forests Through Citizen Engagement grant program; and
WHEREAS, the DNR and its partners will be selecting communities to participate in the program; and
WHEREAS, the grants will be made to enable communities to increase their capacity to manage their community forest by creating or expanding their "volunteer-base" community forestry activities; and
WHEREAS, political subdivisions of Minnesota such as the City of Saint Paul are eligible to apply for the grant; and
WHEREAS, such grant funding will allow the City, Department of Parks and Recreation through its Forestry unit to increase citizen engagement in planting an estimated 350 trees over the next two years through volunteer projects, and to provide care for trees through Citizen Forester pruning and watering programs, and to expand educational and outreach opportunities within the community; and
WHEREAS, the amount of the grant is $30,000 and requires a 25% match of which half can be in-kind support; and
WHEREAS, if funded, the grant agreement will require that the grantee indemnify the State, its agents and employees from any claims or causes of action arising from performance of the grant agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council finds that accepting these grant funds will allow Parks and Recreation to enhance the urban forest; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of public funds, which includes the promise of indemnification, for such a purpose will facilitate and enable it to take place, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that designated Parks and Recreation staff are hereby authorized to seek Improving Community Forests Through Citizen Engagement funding on behalf of the City and, if successful, enter into an agreement with the State, which includes an indemnification clause, to accept the funds on behalf of the City.