HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/21/1998, C5 - AUTHORIZATION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM council ? g�
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Ken Hampian,Assistant City Administrative Officer!y
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Prepared By: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Manager V,-#-
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE
NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT SMALL
GRANTS PROGRAM
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing submittal of a grant application to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service in the amount of$10,000 in support of acquisition of the Union Pacific(formerly Southern
Pacific)Railroad property in Sterner Creek Canyon.
DISCUSSION
In 1996 the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service began a pilot program, known as the Small Grants
Program,under the 1989 North American Wetlands Conservation Act. This program was designed
to encourage partnering with smaller agencies and nonprofit organizations which were being
overlooked under the existing program because of its emphasis on large projects such as in the
Central Valley of California.For 1998, funding priority will be given to new grant applicants where
the project ensues long-term conservation benefits,and grant requests are limited to$50,000.
Over the last year, the City of San Luis Obispo, working with State and Federal partners, has
identified a 363-acre property in Stenner Creek Canyon and the mountains northeast of the City,
owned by the Union Pacific Railroad, as having high value for both mitigation and permanent
habitat protection. A 49-acre portion of the property has especially high mitigation potential of
value to the City for oak mitigation purposes. This would be as partial mitigation for impacts upon
oaks occasioned by either the Salinas or Nacimiento projects. Of the remaining acreage, 151 would
be acquired by the State of California and 163 acres by the U.S.Forest Service. The 49 acre parcel
includes an area of permanent wetlands and a permanent stream(the headwaters of Stenner Creek)
occupying about 7 acres, and because of those features we believe a grant application seeking
funding support from the Small Grants program for this acquisition is appropriate. We therefore
anticipate a request of$10,000 from the program as a prorata share(based on acreage) of the City's
potential acquisition cost. The grant program has an application deadline of May 1, 1998.
The City applied for this grant unsuccessfully last year. However, due to the takeover of Southern
Pacific by Union Pacific, the project did not advance. Therefore, staff feels that another attempt to
utilize this grant source is appropriate at this time.
CONCURRENCES
The Natural Resources Manager has worked with Utilities Department staff on this project for the
past year,and that Department is supportive of the funding request.
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FISCAL IMPACT
The grant, if successful,will have a beneficial fiscal effect by providing outside funding support for
this project. The program requires that Federal fiords be matched on at least a 50-50 basis. The City
match can be accomplished since funding for the City's share of the acquisition price(estimated to
be$65,000)would come from the Water Enterprise Fund, and fiords for project mitigation purposes
are in the current City budget. Staff will return to Council for a specific appropriation when(1) we
have heard that we have been successful with this application, and (2) we and our partners have
advanced the project to the appropriate point. No General Fund obligation is involved.
ALTERNATIVE
The Council could decide to not authorize the application. This is not recommended as the
application does not constitute a commitment on the City's part, and if the discussions with the
railroad are successful,the grant funds will assist in the acquisition cost
Attachments
Grant Program Summary
Resolution
North American Wetlands Principal
Conservation Act conservation
actions supported
Small Grants Instructions by NAWCA are
acquisition,
The purpose of the 1989 North American Wetlands Conservation Act creation,
(NAWCA), as amended,is to promote long-term conservation of North
American wetland ecosystems,and the waterfowl and other migratory enhancement and
birds,fish and wildlife that depend upon such habitat. Principal restoration Of
conservation actions supported by NAWCA are acquisition, creation,
enhancement and restoration of wetlands and wetlands-associated habitat. ,Wetlands and
In 1996,the North American Wetlands Conservation Council(Council) wetlands-associated
initiated a pilot Small Grants program with an allocation of$250,000. The
objective was to promote long-term wetlands conservation activities habitat.
through encouraging participation by new grantees and partners who may
not otherwise be able to compete in the regular grants program. The
Council also believed that a Small Grants program could be important in
developing a pool of new partners/grantees that might eventually
participate in the regular grants program. Thus far,in its first 2 years
as a pilot program, the Council has approved 19 projects worth$499,200.
In that same time period,217 proposals worth$6.4 million were submitted
for funding. For 1998,with the approval of the Migratory Bird
Conservation Commission,the Council is malting the Small Grants
program operational at a funding level of$500,000.
To be considered for funding in 1998, proposals must have a grant request
no greater than$50,000. Proposals requesting more than$50,000 are
ineligible for Small Grants program funding consideration. All wetland
conservation proposals which meet the requirements of the Act will be
accepted. However,funding priority will be given to projects from new
grant applicants (individuals or organizations who have never received
a NAWCA grant) with new partners,where the project ensures long-
term conservation benefits. At this time,the Small Grants program is
open only to projects proposed for the U.S.;it is not open to projects in
Canada or Mexico.
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USFWS C��•.3
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Keep in mind that n addition,proposals must represent on-t ,round projects,and any ,
overhead in the grant budget may be no greater than 10 percent of the
NAWCA and grant amount. The anticipated magnitude of wetlands and wildlife
resources benefits that will result from project execution are important
matching funds factors to be considered in proposal evaluation,and there should be
a reasonable balance between wetlands and wetland-associated uplands.
may only be
usedfor wetlands Please keep in mind that NAWCA and matching funds may only be
used for wetlands acquisition,creation,enhancement,and/or restoration;
acquisition, they may not be used for signage,displays or other educational materials,
programs, or equipment,even though the goal of the project may
creation, ultimately be to support wetland conservation education curricula. Projects
enhancemen and/ oriented toward education are not ordinarily eligible for NAWCA
funding because education is not a primary purpose of the Act. However,
or restoration . . . useful project outcomes can include educational benefits resulting from
conservation actions. Research also is not a primary purpose of the Act,
and research proposals will not be considered for funding(See Appendix
A).
Even though requiring less information than those submitted for the
regular grants program, Small Grant proposals still must be clearly
explained and meet the basic purposes given above and the 1:1 or greater
non-Federal matching requirements of the NAWCA. Small Grants
projects must also be consistent with Council guidelines,objectives and
policies. All non-Federal matching funds and proposed expenditures of
grant funds must be consistent with Appendix A, "Eligibility Requirements
for NAWCA Grant and Matching Funds."
Although one objective of Small Grants program administration is still to
provide for brevity and a lessening of the applicant's paper burden when
compared to the regular grants program,successful applicants will be
asked in some instances to provide greater detail on certain features of
their projects. This results from NAWWO's accountability and reporting
needs,and the desirability of providing for short-and long-term
assessment of the success of the program consistent with the regular
grants program.
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Successful applicants with proposals including real property acquisitions
usually are required to assign conservation easements covering properties
acquired with Act(grant)funds and those properties used as match to the
Fish and Wildlife Service,or a State resource conservation agency,or an
established trust or conservancy,or otherwise provide a legal recordable
document that provides protection in perpetuity to the partnerships'
investments. In the case of small enhancement projects on private lands,
Y -• this investment protection may only entail guaranteeing the life of
the project for a period not to exceed 25 years.
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USFWS
C-PZ/
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE UNITED STATES
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD PROPERTY ACQUISITION
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo is considering the acquisition of certain
real property in the vicinity of the City, commonly known as the Union Pacific Railroad
property, for wildlife habitat, passive recreation, scenic conservation, potential mitigation
and other public purposes, in partnership with several other public agencies; and
WHEREAS, the United State Fish and Wildlife Service has created the small
grants program of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, whose purpose is to
assist in the preservation of small areas of wetland throughout the nation; and
WHEREAS, said property contains small areas of wetland within it, which meet the
intent of the Act in linking preservation of small areas of wetlands and associated
uplands;
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 Small Grants Program of the North
American Wetlands Conservation Act for grant assistance for the above project; and
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
Approved and adopted this 21 st day of April, 1998.
On motion of . seconded by and
on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this day of , 1998.
Allen K. Settle, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Bonnie L. Gawf, City Clerk Jo nh Attorney C-S�s