Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution of the City Council of the City of McKinney, Texas, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract, Funded by the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant, with Texas Trees Foundation to Conduct an Urban Forestry Assessment and Make Recommendations for an Urban Canopy Plan for the City of McKinney
Summary
MEETING DATE: February 1, 2011
DEPARTMENT: Engineering
Office of Environmental Stewardship
CONTACT: Emily Braht, RLA, Landscape Architect and Arborist
Julie Smith, Manager, OES
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Approve Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Contract with Texas Trees and AMEC Earth and Environmental
ITEM SUMMARY:
• This Resolution authorizes a contract with Texas Trees Foundation (TTF), working with AMEC Earth and Environmental, to conduct a study of McKinney’s urban canopy to further identify and understand the function, structure and value of the urban forest with respect to several parameters including water quality, flood control, air quality, urban heat island effect, and carbon footprint. The study will identify ways to enhance this valuable resource. Funding is provided as part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• The City of McKinney identified its urban canopy as an important natural resource for the environmental services it provides. Specifically, the urban forest reduces temperature, heat island effect, improves water and air quality, reduces flood impacts, and sequesters carbon.
• The City of McKinney’s DOE EECBG grant application identified the need to study the urban canopy to better understand its function, structure, and ecological value and therefore be better able to recommend ways to enhance the urban forest.
• The City of McKinney received three submittals to conduct an urban canopy study and interviewed all three firms. Texas Trees Foundation, with AMEC Earth and Environmental, were selected as the best qualified firm for the project.
• The study will employ geospatial services and ecosystem benefits modeling to map and assess the canopy.
• After the assessment and ecosystem services analysis is completed, TTF will provide a detailed report of their findings including species information and modeling showing the benefits of the current urban tree canopy under existing conditions as well as various growth scenarios. The report will also offer recommendations for the enhancement of the canopy.
• TTF will attend several public meetings in conjunction with the Sustainability Plan effort as well as present the final report to City Council.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• The entire study will be funded from the DOE EECBG grant for a total cost of $50,000.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• N/A