Explanation
Green Columbus is a sustainability-focused nonprofit striving to activate volunteer engagement, grow equitable tree canopy coverage, and foster resilient communities. The organization maintains two tree nurseries. Throughout the year, they host volunteer activities to plant, care for, and distribute trees at no cost to residents of the community. In the fall, they distribute trees from their Linden nursery, Hilltop nursery, and many community partners. Each April, Green Columbus coordinates hundreds of volunteer worksites. These events bring thousands of volunteers together to remove litter, plant trees, and so much more. In order to celebrate the work of their volunteers and sponsors, Green Columbus hosts an annual Earth Day celebration on the banks of the Scioto.
The organization has recently undertaken many efforts to program their annual Earth Month celebrations, all while enduring the challenge of losing their sponsor in light of Covid-19. Green Columbus had a need for bagged mulch and topsoil to be donated to community gardens and local conservation projects around Columbus, from which more than 40 organizations stood to benefit. Furthermore, the organization incurs costs related to the operation of its volunteer-supported Linden Tree Nursery; the Nursery grows approximately 3,000 native trees annually to be distributed to residents in support of the City's Urban Forestry Master Plan and Climate Action Plan, which recognizes the importance of a robust urban tree canopy to protect residents from hotter summers and harmful UV rays.
Finally, Green Columbus continues to experience growing demand for its Earth Month programming. In particular, the organization purchases thousands of native tree seedlings that are distributed to groups far and wide to be planted along riparian corridors, in Metro Parks, given away to students to plant, and grown in volunteer nurseries. In 2023, the organization broke their planting record with 72,000 seedlings planted in April. However, they had 85,000 requests for seedlings. The need for trees is huge, and Green Columbus is the only organization offering this service. Even our City parks and schools are seeking support as their budgets do not include funding for restoration. In order to meet the goals in our Urban Forestry Master Plan and Climate Action Plan, we must speed up planting rates. As seedlings cost approximately $1.50 each, this funding will reimburse the organization for nearly 16,600 trees planted in Columbus. This April, Green Columbus planted 74,000 seedlings, their all-time record.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Green Columbus in support of their Earth Month programming; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Job Growth subfund. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The City of Columbus has established various goals in the Urban Forestry Master Plan and the Climate Action Plan to plant more trees across the City; and
WHEREAS, Planting more trees to augment the City's urban tree canopy will aid in protecting residents from hotter summers and harmful UV rays, as well as strengthen the health and biodiversity of the City's local ecosystem by focusing on native tree species; and
WHEREAS, Green Columbus is a sustainability-focused nonprofit striving to activate volunteer engagement, grow equitable tree canopy coverage, and foster resilient communities; and
WHEREAS, The need for trees is huge, and Green Columbus is the only organization offering this service. Even our City parks and schools are seeking support as their budgets do not include funding for restoration. In order to meet the goals in our Urban Forestry Master Plan and Climate Action Plan, we must speed up planting rates; NOW THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Green Columbus to reimburse the organization for expenses incurred since April 1, 2024, when the organization began their Earth Month programming.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $50,000.00 in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015, to the City Clerk per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $50,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance is hereby authorized in the Job Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.