HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/17/1998, C2 - AUTHORIZATION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM council
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Ken Hampian,Assistant City Administrative Officer
Prepared By: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Manager' ,d
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE
NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION CHALLENGE GRANT
PROGRAM
CAO RECOMN ENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing staff to complete and submit an application for grant monies in
amount of$176,500 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Challenge Grant Program,
which would be used in support of the acquisition of lands in the East Fork of San Luis Obispo
Creek,near the Filipponi property at South Higuera Street.
DISCUSSION
Background
A study undertaken in 1996-97 by the San Luis Obispo County Land Conservancy to identify
potential riparian restoration sites along San Luis Obispo Creek and major tributaries identified the
Filipponi property on South Higuera Street, and adjacent upstream bottomlands along the East Fork
of San Luis Obispo Creek, as potential properties for habitat restoration. Since that time, the City
of San Luis Obispo has been working with Mr. Herb Filipponi and his sister,Ms. Jo Ann Denbow,
to acquire a portion of the Filipponi property for habitat mitigation and greenbelt protection
purposes. Over the course of the past year, two applications to State agencies for grant support for
this project have been made successfully, with the result that $150,000 is now available from City,
and$353,000 from State sources for the project.
Challenge Grant Proposal
Recently staff learned of the so-called"Challenge Grant"program of the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation, which makes Federal funds available to local programs on a 1:2 grant match basis
(Federal: non-Federal). Discussion with Foundation staff have indicated an interest in possibly
expanding the restoration potential represented by the Filipponi property to other willing sellers in
the same area by making available funds from the Challenge Grant program. The Challenge Grant
program requires two non-Federal dollars as match for every Federal dollar put into the program,
but cannot include the applicant's own funds. Therefore, the funds currently available to the City
for the Filipponi property presents an opportunity to expand the restoration project, by adding a
50%Federal increment to the State funds (that is, $176,500). This would permit staff to undertake
renewed discussions with several area property owners to "round out"purchase of the bottomlands
of the East Fork for habitat and possibly groundwater recharge purposes.
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Council Agenda Report-Authorization of Application for Grant Funds.
Page 2
FISCAL IMPACT
The grant, if successful, will add to already existing funding to support City acquisition of the
properties, thus providing a beneficial fiscal effect. The matching funds are in the process of being
obligated to the City by contract with the California Department of Transportation and the
Department of Parks and Recreation.
There will be future capital costs associated with restoration activities and operational costs with
maintenance of those features; however, staff believes that outside finding support for capital costs
can be obtained through grant programs,and maintenance costs are expected to be minor.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could decide not to pursue the grant monies. This is not recommended as simply
filing the application does not commit the City to anything; if,however, we choose not to apply we
will lose the opportunity entirely.
Attachments
1. Resolution
2. Grant Program Summary
3. Map of East Fork Area Properties
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4TTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE NATIONAL FISH
AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS
LOWER EAST FORK PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS
WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States has created the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting improved
conservation and sustainable use of the nation's natural resources; and
WHEREAS, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has announced availability
of"Challenge " grants for conservation projects; and
WHEREAS, successful applicants will enter into a cooperative agreement with the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for use of grant funds; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo ("City') is a California Charter Municipal
Corporation; and
WHEREAS, City, acting through its City Council and through adopted public
procedures, has determined that certain lands surrounding the City of San Luis Obispo
are important to the scenic character, healthy natural environment, and economic and
social well-being of the community and its citizens and has designated these lands as the
San Luis Obispo Greenbelt; and
WHEREAS, within said Greenbelt, City seeks to preserve and conserve
characteristics such as visual quality, wildlife habitat, healthy agricultural economy, and
rural setting through a variety of techniques and programs, including purchase of land
and conservation easements; and
WHEREAS, the purchase of fee title and/or conservation easements upon the
above-mentioned land in the judgment of City would act to preserve the values indicated
above and serve an important municipal purpose; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo finds that the project is
exempt under Section 15325 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and is a
categorical exclusion under Section 58.35(a)(5) of the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), as the project consists of the acquisition of land or easements for wildlife habitat
and agricultural conservation purposes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San
Luis Obispo hereby:
1. Authorizes the submittal of an application to the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation Challenge Grant Program for grant support 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 17th day of November, 1998.
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On motion of seconded by .__.___ __ —_ _ _ and'
on the following roll call wote: --
AYES-
IN116
ABSENT: -
The foregoing resolution'-was adopted this.__:_ -.day of 1998. .
Allen'K.Settle, Mayos--_
ATTEST:
Lee Price, City Clerk - -
APPROVED AS TO'FORM:
/rawrgdl S Ci ttorney -
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About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation hrtp://www.nfwf.org/about nfwf.htm
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ATTACHMENT 2
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About the National Fish and Wildilfe Foundation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)is a 501(c)(3)nonprofit organization that was
established by an act of Congress in 1984 and is dedicated to promoting improved conservation and
sustainable use of our nation's natural resources. Its goals are conservation education,natural resource
management,habitat protection, ecosystem restoration, and public policy development.NFWF meets these
goals by developing partnerships between the public and private sectors and supporting conservation
activities that address the root causes of environmental problems.
"Challenge"Grants and Federal Matching Funds
NFWF awards challenge grants for on-the-ground conservation using federally appropriated funds.
Congressional appropriations are used for project support. By law, each federal dollar used in a
conservation project must be matched with at least one nonfederal dollar raised by NFWF and its project
partners. However,NFWF has met or exceeded this statutory one-to-one match for eleven successive
years, achieving an average of more than two dollars for every federal dollar appropriated.
For the period 1986 to July 1998,NFWF has awarded 2,550 grants using over$100 million in federal
funds,which have been matched with nonfederal dollars to bring more than$300 million to conservation
projects. NFWF has funded domestic grants in all fifty states, and the District of Columbia.NFWF has also
widely distributed its grant funds to 780 grantees, including federal, state, and provincial agencies; colleges
and universities; and domestic and international conservation organizations. None of NFWF's grants
support lobbying or political advocacy.
Operating Funds
By law,NFWF's federal appropriations cannot be used for operating expenses. Instead,NFWF must raise
the money for its operations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Private support for operations
is used to identify conservation priorities,develop project and management solutions, administer grants,
forge partnerships, conduct project evaluations,publish and distribute the annual Fisheries and Wildlife
Assessments, and fund the day-to-day operations of the organization.
NFWF's six program areas:
NFWF has five conservation"initiatives"and a policy department. All grants are funded through one or
more of these initiatives.
The Conservation Education Initiative gives educators access to conservation materials and
programs, encourages youth to pursue conservation careers, funds community-based conservation
programs, and supports leadership training for conservation professionals. This initiative also
focuses on bringing conservation education to typically underserved,multicultural communities.
TheFisheries Conservation and Management Initiative addresses resource and habitat depletion
issues for marine, estuarine, and inland fisheries.
The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Initiative brings public and private partners
together in efforts to conserve migratory songbirds and the habitats on which they depend.
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About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation bup://www.nfwf.oTg/about—nfwf.h=
The Wetlands and Private Lands Initiative,working through the North-American Waterfowl
Management Plan and the Wetlands Reserve Program,builds partnerships to cooperatively protect
and restore both publicly- and privately-owned wetlands in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The Wildlife and Habitat Initiative encompasses broad issues in fish,wildlife, and plant
conservation, including threatened and endangered species recovery, habitat conservation, and big
game management.
The Conservation Policy Group, the policy division of NFWF,publishes the Fisheries and Wildlife
Assessments annually for Congressional representatives and staff, the executive branch, and
conservation organizations. These documents provide the only comprehensive,nongovernmental
budget analysis of the major federal agencies with significant natural resource management and
stewardship responsibilities.
Strategic Growth
Because NFWF's grant program is designed to build partnerships at the local level and to use limited
resources efficiently,we identify distinct geographic areas and resource challenges for program activities.
Focusing attention on available resources helps NFWF maximize the impact of our programs and policy
analyses and allows us to establish models that can be applied regionally and locally. Thus, to administer
our grant programs and continue to build relationships more effectively,NFWF has begun to develop
regional partnership offices.NFWF opened its first regional office in Maine in 1995, a second office in
California in 1997, and a third office in Texas in late 1997. These new offices will provide the necessary
regional presence for NFWF to further develop our current and future efforts to promote improved
conservation and sustainable use of our nation's natural resources.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
1120 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202/857-0166 Fax: 202/857-0162
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ATTACHMENT 3
Project Location Map
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM
LOWER EAST FORK PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS
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