TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Application to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Urban and Community Forestry - Hurricane Ian Recovery (U&CF-HIR) Grant Program for the Funding of Sumter Boulevard Tree Recovery and Maintenance, in the Amount of $48,000, and Authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as Applicable Under the City Charter, to Execute all Funding Documents After Legal Review, Should the Grant be Awarded to the City.
Recommended Action
Approve the application to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Urban and Community Forestry - Hurricane Ian Recovery (U&CF-HIR) Grant Program for the funding of Sumter Boulevard Tree Recovery and Maintenance, in the amount of $48,000, and authorize the City Manager or the Mayor, as applicable under the City Charter, to execute all funding documents after Legal Review, should the grant be awarded to the City.
Background Information
In September 2022, Hurricane Ian struck peninsular Florida with extensive wind, flood, and storm surge impacts, causing significant damage to the urban forest. While making landfall as a category four hurricane with sustained winds of 150 MPH, this storm had significant and clear direct impacts on the urban tree canopy due to wind damage on the southwest coast of Florida. However, the impacts of this storm spread much further with flooding caused by excessive rain (between five and 20 inches, depending on specific location) and severe erosion in many locations.
The purpose of this program is to improve and reestablish urban forests in 29 counties of the peninsular region of the state that were negatively impacted by Hurricane Ian. The primary goal is to ensure that the urban forest is more resilient to future storms.
The City of North Port submitted an application for $48,000 to fund Sumter Boulevard Tree Recovery and Maintenance. If awarded this grant, funds will be allocated towards replanting trees that were previously impacted or have died due to the hurricane and hurricane pruning of the existing trees to improve their resiliency for future storm events. The area of interest for this work is the median and sidewalk areas adjacent to Sumter Boulevard between I-75 and US 41. The work will be subcontracted.
The grant application was submitted on December 19, 2024. Notification of award is expected in spring of 2025. If awarded, this will be a cost reimbursement grant. The City spends first, then submits reimbursement requests to the the granting agency for review, approval, and payment.
If awarded, the Interim City Attorney will review the Contract to ensure it is legally correct as to form.
Strategic Plan
Quality of Life
Environmental Resiliency and Sustainability
Financial Impact
Potential award of $48,000 to be utilized to fund the replanting and hurricane pruning of trees previously impacted by Hurricane Ian. Matching funds are required for this grant in the amount of $12,000. The total cost of the project is expected to be $60,000. Development Services has funds of $12,000 available for the balance of this project in the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, account number 115-2755-537.46-10, Environmental Protection Fund.
Procurement
The City of North Port, Florida Procurement Code, policies and procedures will be followed when the purchase is made.
Attachments:
1. Grant Application
2. Application Supplemental Information
Prepared by: Jennifer Sadonis, Grants Coordinator
Department Director: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager