Title
Intergovernmental Agreement with Arizona State University for the Canopy for Kids Grant Program (Ordinance S-52116) - Citywide
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University (ASU), Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Teachers’ Academies, for the Canopy for Kids grant program. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse all funds and supplies related to this item. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available from the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service through the Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) allocation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The aggregate expenditures will not exceed $2 million.
Report
Summary
Increasing urban tree canopy cover is an important public health strategy that supports the 2025 General Plan core value to build the most sustainable desert city. In November 2024, Phoenix City Council unanimously adopted the Shade Phoenix Plan, which guides the implementation of more than 30 unique strategies and programs to provide more tree and shade coverage throughout the City. Several actions in the Shade Phoenix Plan are funded by a $10 million UCF grant awarded to the City of Phoenix by the USDA. On October 4, 2023, Phoenix City Council authorized the distribution of this funding for the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation (OHRM) to create multiple grant and community impact programs.
Up to $2 million of these funds will be to develop a Canopy for Kids Grant Program. The program will provide funding and supplies for tree planting projects to public school districts, non-profit schools, and non-profits with 501(c)(3) status that provide education to youth in federally defined priority neighborhoods for increasing tree canopy. The ASU Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Teachers’ Academies will facilitate this grant program. ASU possesses the necessary curriculum, educational programs, and experience to effectively teach educators about desert trees, water conservation, and rainwater harvesting practices in the Sonoran Desert. ASU will work collaboratively with their partners Watershed Management Group (specialists in rainwater harvesting) and EcoRise (facilitators for site visits and resources) to train educators in the design and development of planting projects. The program is projected to serve 35 schools over four years.
OHRM will closely coordinate with ASU in order to administer this program. OHRM staff will ensure that all funding will be spent by the end of June 2029 to comply with IRA requirements.
Contract Term
The agreement will begin on or about July 1, 2025 and end on June 30, 2029.
Financial Impact
Funding for this program will not exceed $2 million. There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding is available through the IRA from the USDA Forest Service.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation.