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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/17/1998, C2 - AUTHORIZATION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION CHALLENGE GRANT PROGRAM council j acEnaa uEpont 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. ca -� 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 ca -� 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. Ca.-3 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 - ea - � About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation hrtp://www.nfwf.org/about nfwf.htm 04 W*i ATTACHMENT 2 7L National Flish and Wildlife -v e oundation "e- 'r., Af. About NFWF. Progo rams Support NR�rr ..'Mat's New, Contact NFVOF rQFVVF Hnle ---------- 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. 1 of 2 1115/98 2:28 PM 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 .. Cie -6 !of 2 11/5/98 2:28 PM ATTACHMENT 3 Project Location Map '•'j.1`a1� 116 10 ' 480 SP t9 ' ♦C 120 2 \t ru �` \ • `•\ n , .a Acp Project Site eb CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM LOWER EAST FORK PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS scale 1"= 1,0001 C2-7