The Economic Development Finance Standing Committee voted 4-0 Aug. 4 to approve a resolution to apply for a Kansas Forest Service grant of up to $100,000 and to fast-track acceptance of any award to the Board of Commissioners meeting on Aug. 7. The grant requires no local match and targets revitalization of community trees in areas identified by the federal economic and climate justice screening tool.

The grant application deadline for the second cycle is Aug. 22, committee members were told, and the maximum award is $100,000. Angel Ferrer, parks and recreation liaison for the Unified Government, introduced the parks staff presenting the request and identified parks staff who helped prepare the application.

Vince Balachi, manager of parks, told the committee this is the second round of the Kansas Forest Service program for the Unified Government and that the first round funded primarily tree plantings in parks including Kensington Park, Clam Park, Jersey Creek Park, Copperfield, Huron Park and Leo Alvey Park. “We’re anticipating with the first-round planting between 120 and 150 trees and then with this second round we’re going to primarily focus on dead and dangerous tree removal,” Balachi said, adding the grant requires a planting-to-removal ratio and the city is coordinating with the Forest Service to count both rounds together.

Balachi identified removal locations under consideration as Quindaro Park, Kensington Park, Clam Park, Copperfield, Huron Park, City Park, Pearson, Edgerton, Ruby, Bethany, Parkwood and the median at 70 Third in Parallel, and said the proposed work falls inside areas flagged by the screening tool. He said the earlier award paid for plantings and that a local nonprofit, Bridging the Gap, is also applying and has agreed to plant any trees they receive within Kansas City, Kansas.

Committee members asked about sourcing and planting logistics. Commissioner Lopez asked whether the city would buy nursery stock directly or bid the work; parks staff said they will solicit bids and expect to contract most of the plantings though some in-house work is possible and watering plans for up to two years will be included in contracts. Staff said typical planting stock for this effort will be two-inch caliper trees and that the Kansas tree board’s approved species list will guide selection.

The committee recorded a 4-0 roll-call vote approving the resolution and the fast-track request. The motion was moved and seconded during the meeting; the clerk recorded the vote as Lopez — aye; Stites — aye; Townsend — aye; Burrows — aye. The resolution will be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for final action at the Aug. 7 meeting.