DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 3
SUBJECT:
Funding Agreement with Municipal Golf Association-San Antonio for Re-forestation Project
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a Funding Agreement in the amount not-to-exceed $500,000.00 with the Municipal Golf Association-San Antonio (MGA-SA) for the use of Tree Canopy and Mitigation Funds to plant trees at City-owned golf courses managed by MGA-SA.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
MGA-SA has efficiently managed and operated the City's municipal golf courses over the past seven (7) years while making improvements to increase the quality of these golf facilities. One of the short-term planned improvements is the reforestation of municipal golf courses beginning with Mission Del Lago; plans also include tree plantings at Riverside and Willow Springs golf courses.
MGA-SA's reforestation efforts support the City's goal of protecting and increasing the tree canopy in San Antonio. To augment MGA-SA's efforts, the City's Tree Canopy and Mitigation Fund can be used for tree plantings and presents a good opportunity for a collaborative approach to develop a tree succession and forestation plan by targeting golf courses which are situated on public park land. This large scale tree planting project will provide numerous environmental benefits as new trees provide cleaner air and reduce temperatures while increasing the aesthetics of the City-owned golf courses.
This Agreement allows MGA-SA oversight and responsibility for the administration of the reforestation project at the City-owned golf courses. Trees will be species-appropriate and sourced locally to the extent possible, and MGA-SA has full responsibility for irrigation and maintenance of all trees planted through the establishment period. Approximately 1,100 trees will be planted at Mission Del Lago golf course. Under this effort, the trees will be three times the standard size normally installed on public land. This caliper of tree is most appropriate for planting on golf courses as they are mature and frame the course of play while providing privacy to the surrounding area. Mission Del Lago golf course has existing irrigation ideal for newly planted trees which will be expanded as necessary to maximize the tree survival rate during the establishment period. Trees planted under this Agreement will not be used to offset any other tree mitigation efforts.
The solicitation conducted by the MGA-SA associated with this Funding Agreement will be executed in compliance with the Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) Program, which requires contracts be reviewed by a Goal Setting Committee to establish a requirement and/or incentive unique to the particular contract in an effort to maximize the amount of small, minority, and women-owned business participation on the contract. The Goal Setting Committee applied the Small Business Enterprise Prime Contract Program with ten (10) evaluation preference points.
This Agreement is consistent with the park system plan and City policy to increase the number of trees planted on public property to improve overall air quality, storm-water runoff control, reduce temperatures, and enhance the overall beauty of the greater San Antonio area. This collaborative approach allows for a multi-strategy approach to increasing the City's tree canopy while minimizing long-term maintenance of trees by the City.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes a Funding Agreement in the amount of $500,000.00 with MGA-SA for the use of Tree Canopy and Mitigation Funds to plant trees at City-owned golf courses managed by MGA-SA.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City could elect not to augment MGA-SA's reforestation efforts which directly support the goals and outcomes of the Tree Canopy and Mitigation Fund and undertake a similar planting effort. However, such an effort would extend beyond the optimum range for planting, decreasing the success rate during the establishment period. MGA-SA's schedule for planting ends well within the optimum range which concludes in February and allows for the greatest success rate.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If approved, the $500,000.00 in funding for this agreement will be provided through the Tree Canopy and Mitigation Fund as adopted with the City's FY2015 operating budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Funding Agreement with the Municipal Golf Association-San Antonio in the amount of $500,000.00.
The Discretionary Contracts Disclosure Form required by the Ethics ordinance is attached.