Denver spent about $10 million on planting trees and creating job programs for youths during Tuesday’s Mayor-City Council meeting.
Three contracts of $2 million each totaling $6 million were awarded to three tree companies for on-call planting and watering of trees for two years. The money will help pay for replacing diseased trees on Monaco Parkway, between 1st and 6th Avenues.
The companies winning the contracts included CTM, Inc., Tiger Tree, Inc. and SuperTrees. Trees will be planted on private property and in the public right-of-way.
Replacing the trees will be a three- to four-year project beginning now. “Many of the locust trees in this area of the parkway are dying from thyronectria canker, an incurable disease common in locust trees in our area,” according to the city’s website.
Last winter, the city removed trees in the worst condition. More diseased trees will be removed in the next three to four years as they worsen.
Trees are marked with a ribbon to indicate the need for removal and replacement, according to the city’s website. “Starting in the spring of 2021, trees will be replaced with a mix of species.” The city requests residents’ help in maintaining the trees through supplemental watering and avoid wounding when mowing or trimming.
$4.2 million funds job programs for youths
Also Tuesday, the Mayor-Council group advanced about $4.2 million in contracts for youth job training. Some of the money is earmarked toward at-risk youths that neither are in school nor employed. “They require some real help and service in developing a path forward,” said Susan Liehe of the office of Economic Development and Opportunity.
Ability Connection of Colorado, Inc. will manage the at-risk program at a cost of $550,000 through June 30, 2020. A $3.1 million contract was given to Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. “to provide one-stop operator and comprehensive services specific to employment and training as required under Denver’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act,” according to the agenda.
Liehe said the contract marks the second year the city has done business with Eckerd. She said the provider performed well last year. “They have done especially well on a metric with the dislocated worker. These are the workers that have been pushed out of the workforce that need help getting back in.”
A $600,000 intergovernmental agreement was forged with Denver Public Schools. The money pays for the Denver Youth Employment Program through the end of this year. “This is our wonderful summer program,” Liehe said.