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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/17/2003, C10 - APPROVAL OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE TRI-COUNTY FUNDING FOR IMPROVED SALMONID HABITAT ( U _ - council Mcati�Da• ,L1, j AgcnOA aEpont t,wNum6� ra 1 C I T Y OF S AN L U IS O B I S P O FROM: Wendy George, Assistant City Administrative Officer 11 Prepared By: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Manager U SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE TRI-COUNTY FUNDING FOR IMPROVED SALMONID HABITAT (F. I. S. H.) TEAM RELATIVE TO FUTURE GRANT APPLICATION ACTIVITIES CAO RECOMMENDATION Approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the Tri-County F. I. S. H. Team,making the City of San Luis Obispo a full member of this informal organization,and authorize the Mayor to sign the document.. DISCUSSION The Tri-County F. 1. S. H. (Funding for Improved Salmonid Habitat) Team has been an informal group of representatives from several agencies and non-government organizations in the Counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura for the past several years. This organization has had as its goal the securing of grant funds for in-stream habitat improvements, primarily for southern steelhead, within the area of the three counties. It was originally organized by the Casitas Municipal Water District, but quickly gained the interest of other agencies, and over a period of a year or so, evolved into the group which functions today.. Since its inception the organization has operated on grant support provided by the Department of Fish and Game and other funding sources. These sources appear to be secure for the next two to three years; however, in order to ensure the ongoing ability of the organization to function, participants are being asked to sign a Memorandum of Understanding which will provide internal funding support should grant support be lost. Each county is asked to ensure a commitment of $15,000 (for a total of$45,000), to be apportioned among the participants in that county. In the case of San Luis Obispo County, there are five participating agencies (County of San Luis Obispo; Cambria Community Services District; Central Coast Salmon Enhancement; Greenspace, the Cambria Land Trust; and the Steelhead and Stream Recovery Coalition of the South Central California Coast), and the City would be the sixth. Therefore, in the event that funds are needed to support the organization, each entity's share would be approximately$2,500. The City's involvement with the Tri-County F. I. S. H. Team has been a very successful one. In part through the efforts of the group, the City of San Luis Obispo has obtained some $450,000 in grant funds, for the Upper San Luis Obispo Creek dam removal ($310,000), the Foster property acquisition ($65,000), and the Froom Creek jeep road decommissioning ($75,000). As a result staff feels that participation in the organization is worthwhile and recommends Council approval. Participation is voluntary and can be terminated at any time. G/HavUlcouncilagenda/FISH Team MOUt Council Agenda Report—FISH Team MOU Page 2 FISCAL IMPACT As noted earlier, there is a possibility that the City of San Luis Obispo could be asked to provide $2,500 toward the support of the Tri-County F. I. S. H. Team if grant support from other sources should be unavailable in the future. The amount is not great, and given the benefit that participation in the organization has brought to the City, staff feels that the potential expenditure is worth the effort and potential cost. Should the need arise to provide funds, they would come from the operations of the Natural Resources Protection Program. Attachment: 1. Memorandum of Understanding 0-(D -a ATTACHMENT I MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE COOPERATIVE MEMBERS OF THE TRI-COUNTY F.I.S.H. TEAM FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING FOR THE RECOVERY OF PACIFIC COAST SALMON AND STEELHEAD This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING is entered into by and between the local government agencies, sponsoring agencies, and non-governmental organizations within San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties listed in Attachment A and hereinafter collectively referred to as"COOPERATING MEMBERS". WHEREAS, the decline of salmon and steelhead populations along the Pacific Coast region from California to Alaska over the last decade has led to their listing by National Marine Fisheries Service of salmonid populations as "threatened" or "endangered", pursuant to the Endangered Species Act; and WHEREAS, numerous watersheds that are tributaries to the Pacific Ocean are subject to these listings; and WHEREAS, for a number of years, state and federal funding for salmon and steelhead restoration has focussed on north-central and northern California; and WHEREAS, the California Department of Fish and Game has conducted a statewide assessment of the steelhead population, and concluded the southern steelhead stocks (South of San Francisco Bay) are the most jeopardized of all the California's steelhead populations; and WHEREAS, the COOPERATING MEMBERS share common interest to improve salmonid habitat conditions and to implement restoration work that promotes long-term recovery of naturally-spawned salmonid populations; and WHEREAS, local funding resources are limited; and WHEREAS, the COOPERATING MEMBERS formed the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team (Funding for Improved Salmonid Habitat) to work with federal, state and local agencies and groups to secure funding for the recovery of Pacific coastal salmon and steelhead trout to the tri-county area; and WHEREAS, the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team is formed in accordance with the "Purpose and Procedures"document set forth in Attachment B and as they may be revised from time to time as set forth pursuant to the Purpose and Procedures document. NOW, THEREFORE, the. COOPERATING MEMBERS agree to work together as the Tri- County F.I.S.H. Team in good faith and in a cooperative manner to seek funding and November 5. 2001 Page 1 of 3 Ctc�—� ATTACHMENT I additional means for the recovery of Pacific Coast salmon and steelhead in the tri-county area as follows: 1. To maintain group membership open to those interested in participating in the development and implementation of restoration plans and projects within the tri-county area, and 2. To provide the most complete picture of the actions that are occurring with the region and to coordinate those actions to the benefit of the salmon and steelhead restoration, and 3. To work with other regional groups, federal and state agencies, and other organizations to secure resources for projects in the tri-county area; 4. To develop an annual regional project plan; and 5. To focus efforts on those projects which improve habitat conditions and migratory access for naturally-spawned salmonid populations; and 6. To bear their respective expenses with regard to project specific funding acquisition activities sponsored by individual agencies/organizations under this MOU; and 7. To seek grant funding to hire consultants to provide coordination and technical assistance to the COOPERATING MEMBERS; and 8. To maintain a minimum level of administrative support should grant funding be unavailable, each county's local government and sponsoring agency participants shall commit to funding up to $15,000 per county ($45,000 total) with the proportion between agencies within each county determined within each county group. Any signatories to the MOU may terminate their participation in this MOU with 30 days written notification to the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team Coordinator. Any local government or sponsoring agency terminating participation which later wishes to participate in this MOU shall first make payment of any funding due from such party at the time of its termination, and also pay its share of any obligations, costs and expenses for which it otherwise would have been obligated absent such termination, as determined by the local government and sponsoring agency participants from the county of such party which provided such funding. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the COOPERATING MEMBERS hereto have executed this MOU effective on the dates provided hereof. This MOU may be executed in one or more counterparts and each counterpart shall be evidence of participation by all signatories. November 5. 2001 Page 2 of 3 Flo-4 ATTACHMENT I Exhibit A AGENCY/ORGANIZATION: CATEGORY: Local Government Agency; Sponsoring Agency; Public Member BY: DATE: NAME/POSITION November 5. 2001 Page 3 of 3 Go �� -4TTACHMENT I Exhibit B Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team (Funding for Improved Salmonid Habitat) Purpose and Procedures 1. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The purpose of the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team is to work with federal, state, and local agencies and non-governmental groups to • secure funding in support of salmonid recovery and habitat enhancement, • improve information about restoration and recovery activities, and • enhance public understanding and support for such actions in the tri-county area. To succeed at this goal, the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team will coordinate with local groups to develop a regional approach. This will result in an Regional Restoration Projects Plan for the tri-county area (San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties). 2. REGIONAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT For a number of years, state and federal funding for salmonid restoration has been focussed on north-central and northern California. In these areas, local entities have formed regional groups (FishNet4C and the 5 Northern Counties) to speak on behalf of local funding needs and projects. State and Federal agencies work with these regional groups more frequently than the many, smaller, local agencies and groups. Prior to the formation of the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team, there were no corresponding regional group s to the south with a similar purpose. The Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team incorporates three coastal counties (San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura) into such a regional group. The purpose of the F.I.S.H. Team is toactas a regional voice to draw state and federal resources to the tri-county area in support of fishery restoration projects, to improve information about restoration activities, and to enhance public understanding of fishery issues. The tri-county area has federally listed threatened (south central coast steelhead) and endangered (southern California steelhead) salmonid species. In order to facilitate the restoration and recovery of these species and other species and their habitat, the F.I:S.H. Team will coordinate local restoration efforts at a regional level (the tri-county area). The F.I.S.H. Team understands that restoration will occur at a local level, and that a regional voice will provide weight to funding and assistance requests to support these efforts. The F.I.S.H. Team also recognizes that fishery enhancement projects do not stop at the county lines. To this end, the F.I.S.H. Team will collaborate with the other local, regional, state and federal groups and agencies, as needed to facilitate fishery restoration actions. TCFr Purpose&Procedures July 13, 2001 Page 1 of 7 n o,� ATTACHMENT I Exhibit B The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has conducted a statewide assessment of the steelhead populations. According to the Stee/head Restoration and Management Plan for California(McEwan &Jackson, 1996), "southern steelhead stocks are the most jeopardized of all of California's steelhead populations" [note that here "southern steelhead"refers to those occurring south of San Francisco Bay]. According to this DFG document, of the steelhead streams south of San Francisco, 47% have reduced production from historical levels and 33% no longer have steelhead populations. Restoration of these populations should be a high priority. A number of needs for successful fish restoration efforts have been identified within the tri-county area that includes San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. Needs in the tri-county area include (but are not limited to) the following: (1) identification and coordination of local restoration and enhancement efforts, (2) additional funding resources for restoration efforts; (3) creation of a resource for sharing information among restoration/ recovery agencies and organizations, (4) increased public awareness and support for fishery restoration, (5) organization of scientific information on the fishery and on restoration project success, and (6) development a recovery plan for the salmonid species in the area. The Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team will attempt to address some of these needs and will be a resource in the region to the DFG and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as they address these items. Finally, the F.I.S.H. Team acknowledges the efforts of DFG, NMFS, and the California Resources Agency in establishing priorities for funding and will work closely with them to ensure that regional projects fit these priorities. 3. ORGANIZATION PROCEDURES The Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team is open to all in the tri-county area interested in participating. Participation of agencies and groups that develop and implement restoration plans and projects is especially desired because it will provide the F.I.S.H. Team with the most complete picture of the actions that are occurring within the region. The meetings of the F.I.S.H. Team are open to the public and any interested parties. The F.I.S.H. Team has created an Executive Committee to provide guidance and direction for the group's activities; a Technical Review Committee to review regional restoration proposals; and holds meetings to which all participants and the. public are invited (Public Forum). The F.I.S.H. Team, through a grant with the California Resources Agency, has hired consultants to provide coordination and technical assistance to the F.I.S.H. Team. An MOU formally establishing the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team is in progress and will cite this document as describing the operating procedures of the group. Finally, attached is a schematic diagram of the organization structure for the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team. TCFT Purpose& Procedures July 13, 2001 Page 2 of 7 CA Exhibit . B Executive Committee Responsibilities An Executive Committee has been established to provide guidance and direction for the F.I.S.H. Team's activities. The Executive Committee will work within the budget established under the funding provisions outlined in the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team MOU. Their responsibilities are to: • Determine the need for F.I.S.H. Team meetings and set dates/times; • Establish meeting topics and agenda items; • Review and provide comment on consultant deliverables as needed; • Provide direction to the Technical Review Committee; • Compose letters to federal and state agencies in support of projects; • Guide the development of the Regional Restoration Projects Plan and updates to the plan; • Review the Purpose and Procedures document annually and make changes as appropriate; • Seek additional funding for the activities of the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team; • Work to ensure that fishery restoration grant monies continue to be available; • Develop additional work plans as needed; • Work with contractors to provide the necessary organizational and technical support for the F.I.S.H. Team; Review, comment, and forward deliverables to the F.I.S.H. Team for discussion; and • Provide the final vote on group actions where consensus can not be reached in the F.I.S.H. Team. Composition The Executive Committee is composed of one local government representative, one local sponsoring agency representative, and one public representative from each of the three counties (San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura) represented by the regional group (9 total). The local government representative may come from any division that deals in some way with fishery issues within city or county government. The `sponsoring agencies'are local agencies with existing fisheries and habitat improvement. interests. The public member can be anyone that participates in fishery restoration and recovery activities within that county. The Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team has established a coordinator to organize and conduct meetings. The coordinator and Executive Committee members may attend additional functions as necessary to provide information to the F.I,S.H. Team. The coordinator also attends Executive Committee meetings. Other people can be invited to attend Executive Committee meetings as deemed necessary by the Committee. TCFT Purpose& Procedures July 13, 2001 Page 3 of 7 did -S ATTACHMENT Exhibit B Election During the early formation of the Tri-County F,I.S.H. Team, representatives were appointed by the group participants in the individual counties to fill each of the three positions for each county. In the future, county representatives to fill the categories described above will be elected by a vote of the group participants from each county and category. For example, nominations for the Local Government Representative from Ventura County will be taken from people who work for Ventura Local Governments and participate in the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team. Those that get to vote on the nominees for this category fit the same description, namely they are participants in the F.I.S.H. Team who also work for Local Governments in Ventura County. Each organization/agency that has participated in at least half of the F.I.S.H. Team meetings throughout the previous year and has signed the MOU will be eligible to nominate a person to fill a representative position and will receive one vote to elect the representative from among the nominees. The positions will come up for a vote at the first F.I.S.H. Team meeting held in the fourth quarter (i.e. October through December). Decision Making Wherever possible, decisions within the Executive Committee will be made via consensus. However, where consensus can not be reached, then the voting procedures are as follows: • Only the 9 county representatives (3 from each county, one in each of the following categories: Local Government Agency, Local Sponsoring Agency, and Public Member) are voting members of the Executive Committee. • At least 2 representatives from each of the 3 counties must vote for the action item in order for it to pass. The Executive Committee provides a balanced forum in which to provide final approval for deliverables. The Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team includes any and all who wish to participate in the process. Because of this nature, the larger group is unlikely to have balanced participation between the three counties. As with the all of the decisions to be made by the F.I.S.H. Team and its Committees, all attempts will be made to work by consensus. Where consensus can not be reached, the Executive Committee will have the final vote after a full opportunity for comment, review, and revision has been made in the F.I.S.H. Team forum. Administrative decisions regarding the Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team's budget will be made as noted in the MOU and the Executive Committee will work within the budget provided for under the MOU. TCFT Purpose&Procedures July 13, 2001 Page 4 of 7 Cta 9 ATTACHMENT Exhibit B Technical Review Committee Responsibilities The Technical Review Committee (TRC) is tasked with technical review of the proposed projects. This committee will evaluate projects for (1) technical merit, (2) feasibility, and (3) benefit to the fish. The purpose of this committee is to provide an independent body to conduct the prioritization of the proposed projects. The results of the committee's technical prioritization will provide the foundation for the Regional Restoration Projects Plan that will be developed under the direction of the Executive. Committee, and future updates to the plan. Composition &Selection All of the committee members must have a technical background that will allow them to critically review the proposed projects. Selections for the TRC will be made by the same 9 groups that are eligible to elect the Executive Committee county representatives: the Local Government Agencies, the Local Sponsoring Agencies, and the Public Members from each of the three counties. The difference for the TRC, is that the person selected by those in the county/category group to represent them does not have to come from that county/category. For example, the group participants that are Local Governments from Ventura County can select a fisheries biologist who works in the Central Valley (or anywhere else) to be their representative if they so choose. Selection for the county participants in the TRC will occur annually at the same time that the Executive Committee representatives are elected. In addition to the 9 representatives selected to represent the three counties, state and federal agencies will be invited to provide technical expertise. Participation from the California Resources Agency (e.g. DFG), NMFS, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be sought. More than one representative from each agency may participate in order to provide representation familiar with the different geographic areas covered by the Regional Group. The committee can request additional technical expertise as necessary for their review. Voting representatives from the Executive Committee can not sit on the Technical Review Committee. Decision Making The TRC will work by consensus. The TRC will develop proposed methods for technical prioritization of projects working with existing prioritization methods employed by various granting entities. The TRC will forward to the Executive Committee and F.I.S.H. Team a description of the proposed prioritization methods for review and comment. Once the methods have been approved by the Executive Committee, the prioritization will be.applied to the Regional Restoration Projects List and the TRC will forward to the. TCFT Purpose&Procedures July 13, 2001 Page 5 of 7 Exhibit B F.I.S.H. Team a list of technically sound projects. Updates to the Restoration Projects plan will be made as needed based on new information and projects. Coordination &Technical Assistance Currently, ENTRIX, Inc. is under contract to the City of Santa Barbara and the California Resources Agency to assist the Executive Committee and the F.I.S.H. Team in the development of the first Regional Restoration Projects Plan. 4. Tru-CouNTY F.I.S.H. TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES The responsibilities of the F.I.S.H. Team include the following: • To work with other regional groups, federal and state agencies, and other organizations to (1) secure funding for salmonid recovery and habitat enhancement projects in the tri-county area, (2) to improve information about restoration and recovery activities, and (3) to enhance public understanding and support for restoration actions/projects. • To coordinate with the local entities and groups which develop and implement restoration projects. The F.I.S.H. Team will be responsible for outreach to these local entities and to develop a F.I.S.H. Team that can appropriately develop a regional projects plan. • To use the region's needs and this coordinated, regional effort to create additional funding opportunities at the local, state, and federal level. • To work with the appropriate entities to direct more state and federal funding to the southern part of the state. This will include providing input to granting agencies on changes needed to re-balance the historical Northern California bias in the funding processes. TCFT Purpose&Procedures July 13, 2001 Page 6 of 7 CIO -l( Ad fACHMEi�� ExhibitB Tri-County F.I.S.H. Team (Funding for Improvement of Salmonid Habitat) Organization Structure —*< EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE(EC) The EC is made up of one representative from each of the three counties in each of the three following areas: (1)local gov't agency (2)sponsoring agency (3)public member -guiding F.I.S.H.Team and TRC activities -develop annual projects plan -pursue funding for group and restoration activities -final decision making authority if consensus can not he reached I I <:TECHNICAL GROUP AT LARGE REVIEW - - (PUBLIC FORUM) COMMITTEE Made up of 9 people that represent the i------ -----� Anyone that works within the tri- same groups as those established for Work groups may be t county area and has an In in the Executive Committee. i established for specific fishery restoration issues. purposes as needed by -developare technical any of the three groups - preliminary � provide input to the EC and TRC prioritization process t -develop project proposals -conduct annual,technical Work Group -work to develop additional funding prioritization of the tri-county resources Legend standing Group 'this list is only a partial list of responsibilties,see Purpose Group Composition and Procedures document fo"r a full list Group Responsibilities* TCFT Purpose&Procedures July 13, 2001 Page 7 of 7 OD- 12-