HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo 3TO
FROM
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Pedro G. Hernandez DATE:
City Manage
SUBJECT:
Rob R an
REFERENCES:
Director, Grants & Sustainable Initiatives
ENCLOSURES:
May 20, 2009 FILE:
Including City Wide Tree
Plantings on List of
Expedited Projects
The Green Miami urban reforestation initiative mandates the planting of several thousand trees to
meet reforestation goals and climate change action plan objectives. The nature of these initiatives,
and the requirements posed by South Florida's growing season dictate that the bulk of these
planting occur over the rainy season, primarily the summer months. To accomplish this task will
require speed and efficiency across planning, procurement, and implementation of the program
components.
The current structure of the program results in a cumbersome methodology for planting execution.
Typically municipal tree planting projects are done in large groupings, many which typically
exceed the $50,000 Tree Trust Fund limit. This is particularly true for the size and type of trees
we are using in reforestation: 3" dbh, 12-14 ft, large trees, often costing $500 per tree. Under the
current ordinance, any planting project over 100 trees would be forced to go commission, slowing
the planting process tremendously. The current structure could slow many projects and increase
costs, particularly if projects are delayed past the rainy season; planting past the rainy season will
require increased contracting for post -planting watering and maintenance.
Tree cultivation and installation requires both low -skill and high -skill labor: horticulturalists,
nursery managers, pest managers, maintenance crews, installation contractors, truck drivers,
excavators, and a post -planting maintenance crew. Expediting the Green Miami program will play
an important role in creating jobs and stimulating the local economy. Based on the 2005
University of Florida Food and Resource Economics Department report on the economic impact of
Florida's horticultural industry, total industry sales in 2005 were estimated at $15.24 billion (Bn).
Direct employment in the industry was 190,000 full-time jobs, plus nearly 104,000 temporary,
part-time, or seasonal jobs. Total employment impacts were highest in Miami -Dade with 40,837
jobs (1).
Due to fallout of the housing market many nurseries, growers, and tree installation companies are
suffering. Many in the landscaping business are closing their doors do to the lack of business, the
bulk of which typically comes in installations that accompany new construction projects. In the
Miami Herald article South Florida's plant business wilts in weak market Ben Bolusky, executive
director of the.Florida. Nursery,_ Growers_ arLd..Landscape Association in Orlando states, ".The
landscape business is down considerably... You're going to see a number of firms get stronger and
a number probably disappear (March 2009)." Expedited tree planting projects will help maintain
Miami -Dade agricultural sector, and perhaps help these business persist past the fallout of the
housing market.
In summary, several benefits exist with adding tree planting to the expedited ordinance:
• Green Miami Urban reforestation objectives for the South Florida planting season can be
accomplished without delay and save possible maintenance expenditures
• Large scale planting projects, the typical nature of plantings, will not have to individually
wait for commission approval
• An expedited planting program will provide relief to the ailing South Florida horticultural
industry
1) Economic Impacts of the Florida Environmental Horticultural Industry in 2005, Hodges
and Haydu, Food and Resource Economics Department, Florida Cooperative Extension
Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville,
FL. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FE/FE67500.pdf).
Cc: Hamilton Hicks, CIP - Capital Improvements Program
Stephanie Grindell, Public Works
Glen Hadwen / Miami Office of Sustainable Initiatives (MSI)
1)