Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 08/21/2023

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DEPARTMENT OF 2023 Shade Tree Program NATURAL RESOURCES Bonding Grants All contributions,whether cash or in-kind,will be accepted as the grantee's matching funds when those contributions meet the following criteria: 1. Are verifiable from the grantee's records; 2. Are not included as matching contributions for any other project,contract or program; 3. Are necessary and reasonable for accomplishing grant objectives;and 4. Are incurred and contributed within the grant period (not before the contract is fully executed, or after the grant timeline ends). Minimum Requirements Applicants must meet the minimum requirements to be considered for this grant opportunity. Minimum requirements are: • Showing the ability to implement the project,meet all grant objectives,and submit a final report by December 31,2027. • Showing an understanding of and ability to follow all bond fund requirements including:the submission of certifications and declarations on land where work takes place;and contractual obligation for all contractors to meet prevailing wage. • Planting requirements: o Planting trees can take place without removal. o Removals conducted on streets and manicured parks must meet a minimum of one tree planted for each tree removed. o Removals conducted in park woodlands must incorporate replanting at a meaningful rate. • Removals need to be considered a necessary component of replanting. • Removals in woodlands need to be mitigating a public safety concern or to address degraded ecosystems. • Removals must meet a minimum of one tree planted for five trees removed. • Providing photo documentation of the project's progress at appropriate phases,and illustrations,diagrams,charts,graphs,and maps to show results.All trees removed and planted must be mapped and submitted. • Publicly post and promote grant project information and purpose. • Complying with all Federal and State laws and regulations related to the completion of projects as stated in the grant agreement. Additional Criteria • Tree planting projects must follow standards set in A Pocket Guide to Planting Trees • Tree planting projects must identify tree species;site location;and number,size,and type of planting stock o Species list must increase the diversity of the community's tree canopy to work toward the 20-10-5 guidelines,meaning a community has no more than 20%of their trees within a single family, no more than 10%of their trees within a single genus,and no more than 5%of their trees within a single species. If your community does not have a completed tree survey,contact the DNR at ucf.dnr@state.mn.us to receive your community's 2010 tree survey. o Species list for trees to be planted needs to be submitted and approved by DNR prior to planting,and must be limited to climate-adapted species to Minnesota. o Tree planting projects must include a 3-year maintenance plan. o Tree stock can be%-2 inch caliper bareroot,or a container class size#20,or smaller. DNR recommends trees be purchased with a one-year warranty. Page 3 of 8 July 2023