Project Description

What is Urban Greening Handout (PDF)

In collaboration with the City of Oroville (City) and the Feather River Recreation and Park District (FRRPD), and in coordination with other local agencies, Butte County (County) will complete a Master Greening Plan to serve as the master document guiding and coordinating greening projects in the Oroville urban area. The Plan will cross City, County and FRRPD jurisdictional boundaries, and will be consistent with the state's strategic growth goals of increasing forest canopy, reducing stormwater runoff, improving air and water quality, conserving energy, providing open space, and achieving long-term community sustainability.

The Urban Greening Plan will be consistent with the City and County General Plans and the FRRPD Master Plan. The effort will draw upon interagency collaboration, community members and consultant expertise to ensure that the Urban Greening Plan is coordinated with public health needs, community preferences, and the provision of local services.

The cost of the project will be $466,360, of which the State will contribute $322,160 through a planning grant for the three collaborating jurisdictions (County, City and FRRPD) to develop and adopt the Plan. The City, County, FRRPD and other stakeholders will contribute an in-kind match of $53,200. The County will seek additional partnerships and funding including a CDBG Technical Assistance Grant of $70,000 for a drainage study of South Oroville; and a Caltrans Environmental Justice grant of $21,000 to enhance outreach to low-income and minority communities and Native American Tribal governments.

The planning effort will begin in early 2012 with an assessment of needs and baseline conditions. Public workshops will begin five months after the project start date. The Urban Greening Master Plan will be presented to the City Council, County Board of Supervisors and FRRPD Board 24 months later for adoption in early 2014. Work will be accomplished through a combination of County, City, FRRPD and partner staff resources, and contract(s) with qualified consultants.

The Urban Greening Master Plan will encompass the following major components:

A comprehensive map of opportunity sites for greening.

A tree inventory will provide needed baseline information on the existing tree canopy in the Oroville Urban Area and will help identify potential locations for additional tree plantings.

A pedestrian and bicycle system greening plan that emphasizes pedestrian and bicycle convenience and comfort to provide greater mobility for the significant portion of the community that relies on foot or bicycle transportation.

A low-impact stormwater management plan that will improve stormwater management through green and / or previous street and alley improvements, pedestrian and bicycle system greening, environmental restoration of natural drainage areas, and guidelines for industrial site greening.

An integrated parks and open space plan to identify opportunities to provide or green parks and open space through the city or regional parks agencies. Opportunities to be explored include improving access to outstanding natural features such as the Feather River.

A plant palette to minimize irrigation needs, enhance biodiversity, and provide environmental benefits will be created consistent with the State's urban greening program. A street tree and planting plan will provide green amenities to shade and cool streets, sidewalks, and bicycle paths, increasing their use and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Opportunities to "green and clean" vacant lots as community gardens and green spaces.

Potential project funding sources will be identified. Concept plans will be developed for a minimum of six opportunity sites. The Plan will be accompanied by an initial study under the California Environmental Quality Act in order to ensure that identified opportunities and guidance can be readily implemented. Following is a detailed description of elements that will comprise the Plan. When implemented, the activities and projects identified in the Plan will be consistent with the State's planning priorities and will reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.