DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 3
SUBJECT:
Funding Agreement with Municipal Golf Association-San Antonio for Reforestation Project
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a Funding Agreement with the Municipal Golf Association-San Antonio and the appropriation of $600,000.00 from the Tree Canopy and Mitigation Fund to plant trees at City-owned golf courses managed by the Municipal Golf Association-San Antonio.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Municipal Golf Association-San Antonio (MGA-SA) has efficiently managed and operated the City’s municipal golf courses over the past eight (8) 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 which was successfully initiated in 2014 at Mission Del Lago Golf Course where over 1,000 trees were planted through a funding agreement in the amount of $500,000.00 in Tree Canopy and Mitigation Funds. As a result of this successful project, MGA-SA plans to initiate tree planting projects at Riverside and Willow Springs Golf Courses.
Continuation of MGA-SA’s reforestation efforts supports the City’s goal of protecting and increasing the tree canopy in San Antonio. 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 reforestation 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 of appropriate species 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 900 trees will be planted at Riverside 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. Riverside 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 tree mitigation requirements.
This 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.
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 collaboration 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 with the MGA-SA and the appropriation of $600,000.00 from the Tree Canopy and Mitigation Fund balance to plant trees at City-owned golf courses managed by MGA-SA.
This contract is within the scope of the SBEDA Program. However, due to the type of commodities/services being procured, no SBEDA tool was applied.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City could elect to identify an alternative planting effort, however the magnitude of the impact from the efficiency and effectiveness of this single 85+ acre production ready site with available irrigation infrastructure, would not be realized. MGA-SA’s reforestation design plan is complete and the project will commence upon approval of the Funding Agreement which falls within the optimum range for planting to ensure the greatest tree survival rate.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The funding for this agreement will be provided by amending the adopted Fiscal Year 2016 Budget with the appropriation of $600,000.00 from the Tree Canopy and Mitigation Fund balance.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Funding Agreement with the Municipal Golf Association-San Antonio in the amount of $600,000.00.
The Discretionary Contracts Disclosure Form required by the Ethics ordinance is attached.