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Home My WebLink About04/24(1)/2001, C2-A - AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT MONIES FROM THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND IN council �_2N_0l j ACEnaA nEpont "c � C I T Y OF SAN L U IS O B I S P 0 FROM: Wendy George,Assistant City Administrative Officer;!' Prepared By: Neff Havlik,Natural Resources Manager • -�h SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT MONIES FROM THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT KNOWN AS THE AHEARN PROPERTY ACQUISITION CAO RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution authorizing staff to complete and submit an application for grant monies in the amount of$100,000 from the Land and Water Conservation Fund which would be used in support of acquisition of the Ahearn property at Stagecoach Road and Highway 101. DISCUSSION Mr. Dennis Ahearn of San Luis Obispo is the owner of an approximately 700-acre ranch in the upper watershed of San Luis Obispo Creek. A portion of this property is within the City's identified greenbelt;most of it is within the boundaries of Los Padres National Forest. It is bisected by the Cuesta Grade (map) and contains several of the spring sources of San Luis Obispo Creek. Mr. Ahearn recently approached City staff regarding the possibility of sale of the property for conservation purposes. Several sources of grant funding are available to support this acquisition; these include the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a Federal program administered by the Department of Parks and Recreation. This program provides funding support for a variety of conservation projects, and City staff consider the Ahearn property to be a good candidate for this funding source, due to the multiplicity of conservation and recreation values that the property exhibits. We are therefore requesting authorization to seek grant support from the Land and Water Conservation Fund in its current round. Appraisal of the property is underway, as staff and Mr. Ahearn have different views on the value of the property. Both parties have agreed to use the appraised value as the basis for negotiation. In the meantime, staff continues to pursue other potential funding sources and is seeking direct funding support from the United States Forest Service, since most of the property lies within the boundaries of Los Padres National Forest. The project has also attracted the attention of the National Park Service, as the property lies on the route of DeAnza National Historic Trail. FISCAL IMPACT The grant, if successful, will provide outside funding to support City acquisition of the property, thereby providing a beneficial fiscal effect. City staff are working with Mr. Ahearn on the concept of a phased transaction that would be accomplished over a period of years, or possibly a partial acquisition, and will report to the Council as the concept is more fully developed. In the meantime, however, staff believes it is prudent to pursue existing funding sources in an effort to assemble a C2 A-1 Council Agenda Report-Authorization to Apply for Grant Funds Page 2 funding package for the property. Staff does foresee the likelihood of ultimate use of City funds in the transaction; this would be over and above the budget allocation for 2001-2003 to the Open Space Protection Program since those funds are expected to be completely used in the Johnson Ranch acquisition. Staff is confident, however, that substantial outside sources of funds will be available for Abeam property acquisition, due to the property's Federal, highway, and coastal nexuses. The application deadline is May 1, 2001. We would expect to be notified about the success of the grant in the fall. ALTERNATIVE The Council could decide not to pursue the grant monies. This is not recommended as submitting the application does not commit either the City or Mr. Ahearn in any way; if,however, we choose not to apply we will lose the opportunity entirely. Attachments 1. Resolution 2. Location Map 3. Grant Program Summary C2 A-2 ATTACHMENT 1 RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT KNOWN AS THE AHEARN PROPERTY ACQUISITION WHEREAS,the Congress of the United States has established the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides funds to the States for grants to local agencies to acquire and/or develop facilities for public recreation and wildlife habitat protection purposes; and WHEREAS,the State Department of Parks and Recreation has been assigned the responsibility for the administration of a portion of the program within California, including the establishment of necessary procedures governing grant applications by local agencies under the program; and WHEREAS,said procedures require the applicant to certify by resolution the approval of the application before submission of said application to the State; and WHEREAS,the applicant will enter into an agreement with the State of California for acquisition or development of the project. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,that the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo hereby: 1. Authorizes the filing of an application to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program in support of the Ahearn property acquisition project for purposes of habitat protection and enhancement; and 2. Certifies that said applicant understands the assurances and certification in the application form; and 3. Certifies that said applicant has or will have available prior to commencement of any work on the project included in this application, the required match and will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the project; and 4. Appoints the City Administrative Officer as agent of the City to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents,including,but not limited to, applications, agreements, amendments,payment requests and so on,which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. On motion of Councilmember , seconded by Councilmember and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: C2 A-3 Resolution No. (2001 Series) Page 2 The foregoing resolution was adopted this day of . ,2001. Allen K. Settle, Mayor ATTEST: Lee Price, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Jeffrey G. Jorgensen, City orn C2 A-4 u V , \\.� 10 NATION _ '• `__X11 v'..., .�;` _ a I 1. 1.•K � < '\L=' `j��17766 `'` '• �� l ` 1` �.�� ' 'Q. \ � __- ... �� ;III i��I� \` �\ ��/AI� '//•) _ `\I \ ' 9i! .•{1 ' �iii/ // �/�/�i ` xzz�s/I/ ,��-� ��/rte 1024 \-_ ••. ,^_:/•� - H f� pil N \ ``�� 1 �I� \11` 111• �` ,1`�� .��/��J. .."t 07 l/ 9i,� r<86:.� ...gl ,•�.� \\` `\� �I� II -111 ��_ \l;�\._f_��_` .. I ' //6l I. 13 pnng FF 3,30 It i oa � •�+\ G vel � ,. / o I c I I' ��•', � ;� 2 11 11 I ` 1 o I lol 0 Location Map _ City of San Luis Obispo GREENBELT PROTECTION PROGRAM Ahearn Property San Luis Obispo, CA. U. S. G. S. Quadrangles: San Luis Obispo, Lopez Mountain I"=2,000'approx. C2 A-5 State of California•The Resou 'kgency , � _Gray Davis; Governor DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION•P.O. Box 942896•Sacramento,CA 94296-0001 Rusty Areias,Director (916) 653-7423 January 5, 2001 iii eACHMENT 3 To: Local Officials and Interested Parties Subject: Application Deadline for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Program - May 1, 2001 We are pleased to announce that the State of California will receive the largest apportionment of funds from the Land and Water Conservation 'Fund (LWCF) since 1981. Funding levels for local agencies are detailed below. Applications for the LWCF Program must be postmarked or delivered to the Department at the address below no later than May 1, 2001. Local units of government, including cities, counties, and districts authorized to acquire, develop, operate and maintain park and recreation areas are eligible to apply. The LWCF provides matching grants for acquisition and development of facilities that provide for or support outdoor recreation. There are approximately $4.3 million available for local assistance grants to be awarded on a competitive basis. About $2.6 million will be available for Southern California and $1.7 million for Northern California. The procedural guide, with application forms and program information, is available at our web page at (http://www.parks.ca.aov/grants/LWCF.htm). You may also request a guide by writing to the Department at the address below: California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Grants and Local Services P. O. Box 942896 Sacramento, California 94296-0001 Our address for delivery of applications is 1416 Ninth Street, Room 108, Sacramento, California 95814. If you have any questions about the Land and Water Conservation Fund Program, please call us at (916) 653-7423 or email at localservicesnaparks.ca.gov. Sincerely, Charlie Willard, Chief Office of Grants and Local Services C2 A-6 council Melv n[Dale j acEnaa Pepoin C I T Y OF S AN L U IS O B I S P O FROM: Wendy George,Assistant City Administrative Officer U,? Prepared By: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Manager ell.A. SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS THE FROOM CREEK ROAD STABILIZATION PROJECT CAO RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution authorizing staff to complete and submit an application for grant monies in the amount of$75,000 from the California Department of Fish and Game's Fishery Restoration Grants Program, which would be used to decommission (or"retire) and stabilize the old ranch road along Froom Creek on the DeVaul Open Space. DISCUSSION The DeVaul Open Space is a 182 acre open space dedicated to the City of San Luis Obispo by Investec, the developers of the DeVaul North housing project. The property is noted for its scenic character and high resource value, particularly the serpentine woodland and chaparral, with its several species of rare plants, and for Froom Creek, which is a permanent stream in this area and consequently supports a small population of rainbow trout and spawning habitat for southern steelhead. Some years ago a road was constructed alongside Froom Creek in this area. The road provides a route for cattle drives from the adjacent Froom Ranch to other pasture lands in the upper Froom Creek and Prefumo Creek watersheds. The road is occasionally graded to maintain it for this use, but such maintenance is quite damaging to the creek, as loose material may fall or be pushed into the creekbed or may get washed into the creek during rainstorms. This in turn has negative effects on water quality and on the in-stream habitat of Froom Creek, both on site and further downstream. The California Department of Fish and Game has a grant program designed to support activities intended to enhance fishery habitat, and City staff believe that a project designed to stabilize the roadbed, revegetate it, and control erosion,'is in keeping with the spirit of the grant program and would be a good candidate for funding support. The project would utilize equipment for grade changes on the road and several structures to "drop" water from the road to the creek without causing erosion, but the grant would primarily utilize hand labor such as California Conservation Corps to install check dams and other grade stabilization structures on the roadbed, and to revegetate the site. The roadway would continue to function as a hiking trail and could continue to accommodate the occasional cattle drives which have occurred there over the years. Staff believes, however, that the project would significantly reduce siltation from the road and have a strong beneficial effect on in-stream habitat on Froom Creek. C2 B-1 1 1 Council AgendaReport-Authorization to Apply for Grant Funds Page 2 FISCAL IMPACT The grant, if successful,will provide outside funding to support a City-sponsored project benefiting the environment, thereby providing a beneficial fiscal effect. There is no match requirement; however, City staff will undertake all necessary administrative details of the project, which will provide perhaps a 10-15% match in actuality. The grant deadline is May 18, 2001, and we would not expect to hear whether or not we have been successful before the fall. If the application is successful,the project itself would most likely occur in the summer of.2002. ALTERNATIVE The Council could decide not to pursue the grant monies. This is not recommended as the project is a valuable one, benefiting the community's natural environment, and submitting the application does not commit the City in any way; if, however, we choose not to apply we will lose the opportunity entirely. Attachments 1. Resolution 2. Location Map 3. Grant Program Summary C2 B-2 ATTACHMENT 1 RESOLUTION NO. (2000 Series) RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME'S FISHERY RESTORATION GRANTS PROGRAM IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT KNOWN AS THE FROOM CREEK ROAD STABILIZATION PROJECT WHEREAS, the California Department of Fish and Game ("Department) has requested proposals for the California Coastal Salmon Recovery Program for fishery conservation work throughout the State of California; and WHEREAS, The City of San Luis Obispo maintains a strong interest in the potential for improvement of in-stream and riparian habitat within San Luis Obispo Creek and its tributaries; and WHEREAS, City staff have identified the decommissioning and stabilization of a road alongside Froom Creek in the Irish Hills as a means to improve in-stream and riparian habitat of Froom Creek, which is known to contain southern steelhead spawning habitat. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo hereby: SECTION 1. Authorizes the filing of an application for grant funds from the California Fishery Restoration Grant Program for the project known as Froom Creek Road Stabilization Project; and SECTION 2. Appoints the City Administrative Officer as agent of the City to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including, but not limited to, applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests and so on,which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. On motion of seconded by and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: C2 B-3 Resolution No. (2001 Series) Page 2 The foregoing resolution was adopted this day of ,2001. Allen K. Settle,Mayor ATTEST: Lee Price, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Z ;i Z<;; Jeffrey G. Jorgensen C2 B-4 •'�:�.• �., x'11 '�� •, .►� .� . OW sic • s • s 0= � ti � •• : Ile `� �I'' ,�• • ` Yom) OrAol 576 \\\`�� Project Area \ �_ �_, _ - Gr it 0. ek f % ,N, r 7 �� ', ; '� `= moo t -7 i • N `o 480 CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO DEVAUL OPEN SPACE 1" =1,000'approx. C2 B-5 SECTION I GENERAL INFORMATION J K (f►CH IE j' 1. The Department of Fish and Game(DFG) is requesting proposals for fishery restoration work throughout Califomia. Because of legal constraints on expenditure of funds allocated for this work, emphasis for funding will be on proposals for restoration of salmon and steelhead. Funding for the items in bold is limited to anadromous fish restoration work in coastal drainages (outside the Central Valley drainage). Items not bolded, can be funded both in coastal areas of the state and in the Central Valley drainage. Specific details, requirements, and funding for each are explained later in this document We will consider proposals for work in the subject areas of. 1� Instream Habitat.Restoration 10. Watershed and Riparian Habitat Restoration 0. Watershed Evaluation,Assessment, and Planning, including Multi-year Grants for Watershed Planning Conservation easements that protect and improve water quality and quan- tity, including acquisition of water from willing sellers, and,acquisition from willing seller's of permanent easement or fee title to riparian buffer strips along coastal rivers and streams to protect key salmon and steelhead habitat 10. Project Maintenance and Monitoring following Project Implementation, including Multi-year Grants for Project Monitoring and Evaluation 10. Watershed Organization Support and Assistance that:includes,capacity building within regionallcounty efforts (e.g. Fish Net 4C,5 Northern County Group and south central and southern groups),for anadromous salmonids, and development of scientific framework for future funding years Public School Watershed and Fishery Conservation Education projects Private Sector Technical Training and Public Education Project Grants California Forest Incentive Program(CFIP)Projects meeting CFIP Guide- lines Monitoring projects that use protocols approved by DFG and NMFS that provide baseline and/or trend data for anadromous fish populations or physical factors known to be limiting their recovery Research projects that advance the science of anadromous fish recovery and result in recommendations for restoration and management activities.. This could include descriptions of fish population abundance,distribution, presencelabsence and biological response to habitat modifications Cooperative Fish Rearing Water Diversion Screening only in the Sacramento River and Suisun Marsh to mitigate for the effects of striped bass restoration on federally listed fish species . 2. Please read this Request for Proposals (RFP) Document carefully. It is a legal document. Proposals submitted must be in full compliance with all requirements in it. 3. Proposals must use a 12-point standard font on plain white paper. 3 C2 B-6 C.. •»' c.' .ac'a- e.' + -na.- oa::' -i.:,-'c- :'r"-gT',a-•off=----�-a .i •:q. >: Sv Y � °�b%Jroe:s.;;e.G _J..�V�;;r � :ci,'.,,'L?XcxWf!1�:1J 5'i �....fi•. r0 ':iSutti• t?: C.�.l:ti:9>My.. P�{� c.a;r..-•m.'^"^�r,.. °�'"a�nr.' y � :c::?? �r 4. DFG has developed a two-letter coding system for various types of projects. A list of these two- letter codes is shown below; the codes are used throughout this RFP to represent restoration project types. HI Instream Habitat Restoration HS Instream Bank Stabilization HB Instream Barrier Modfication FL Fish Ladder SC Fish screening of diversions HU Watershed Restoration (Upslope) HR Riparian Restoration PL Watershed Evaluation, Assessment, and Planning HA Conservation easement for riparian buffer strips PM Project Maintenance OR Watershed Organization Support MO Project Monitoring for Completed Projects ED Education TE Technical Training CF CA Forest Incentive Program MO Monitoring projects:that provide baseline and/or trend data RP Research projects that advance the science of anadromous fish recovery RE Cooperative Rearing AC AmeriCorps Program only CC California Conservation Corps only SB Diversion screening for Striped Bass Restoration Program mitigation 5. Addresses and telephone numbers of Department Regional offices are included in Appendix B. 6. For purposes of this RFP a watershed, or planning watershed, may be as small as the smallest significant unit contained within a distinct hydrologic basin or as large as an entire hydrologic basin, and includes the following elements: A common drainage area flowing to a larger stream or into the ocean. • A stream inhabited now or in the past by coho or chinook salmon, steelhead, or anadro- mous cutthroat trout 7. Sections 1501 and 1501.5 of the Fish and Game Code pertains to habitat restoration activities funded by.DFG. Within certain limitations, DFG may grant funds for this work to public agencies, nonprofit organizations; and Indian tribes. For your reference, these sections of the Fish and Game Code are reprinted here. §1501. The department.may expend such funds as may be necessa improve- merit of property, including nonnavigable lakes and streams,riparian z s, and upland, in order to restore, rehabilitate, and improve fish and wildlife habits a improvement activities may include, but are not limited to, the removal ofbarri o migration offish and wildlife and the improvement of hatching,feeding, restin nd breeding places for wildlife. The department may undertake the services and t improvement work on private, public, and public trust lands without the State a ng an interest in the property. §1501.5 (a)The department may enter into acts for fish and wildlife habitat preserva- bon, restoration, and enhancement with p and private entities whenever the depart- ment finds that the contracts will assist' meeting the department's duty to preserve, protect, and restore fish and wildlife (b)The department may grant for fish and wildlife habitat preservation, restoration, and enhancement to public cies, Indian tribes, and nonprofit entities whenever the department finds that th nts will assist it in meeting its duty to preserve, protect, and restore Ish and wildli (c) Contracts aut under this section are contracts for services and are governed by Article 4(corn cing with Section 10335)of Chapter of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Co Code. No work under this section is public work or a public irrif?b7ergt!, 4