Title
Amending the Parks and Recreation 2017 Capital Improvement Budget in the amount of $1,455,000 to reflect a grant received from the State of Minnesota for the replacement of publicly owned shade trees.
Body
WHEREAS, Emerald ash borer (EAB) was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009, in the South St. Anthony neighborhood of the City of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, Emerald ash borer is a destructive forest pest that kills all species of North American ash trees (Fraxinus); and
WHEREAS, Minnesota is estimated to have the most ash trees in the nation, nearly 1 million, and the City of Saint Paul’s urban forest is made up of approximately 20% ash trees with over 26,000 publicly owned ash trees on street boulevards alone; and
WHEREAS, it is expected, based on the experiences of other communities, that EAB’s toll on Saint Paul’s ash trees will be exacting and quick (within the next ten years or so); and
WHEREAS, the loss of ash trees will require a massive replacement effort of trees of varying diverse species in order to maintain the urban forest and tree canopy from which we all currently benefit ; and
WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota has passed legislation to award Saint Paul $1.5 million in state capital bonding funds, available through the Department of Natural Resources, towards replacement efforts; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, pursuant to Section 10.07.01 of the Charter of the City of Saint Paul, does certify that there are available for appropriation, funds of $1,455,000 (total grant less 3% administration fee) in excess of those estimated in the 2017 CIB budget; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul approves these amendments to the 2017 CIB Budget.
Financial Analysis
See Attachment
CIB Recommendation
The Saint Paul Long-Range Capital Improvement Budget Committee received this request on August 14, 2017 and recommended approval.