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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/03/2001, C5 - RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT FUNDS FROM THE URBAN STREAMS RESTORAT council M° im D44 j acEnba nEpopt CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Wendy George,Assistant City Administrative Officer Prepared By: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Manager 4 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR APPLICATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GRANT FUNDS FROM THE URBAN STREAMS RESTORATION PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES CAO RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution supporting a joint application(in conjunction with the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County) to the Urban Streams Restoration Program of the Department of Water Resources for $50,000 in grant support for a project to stabilize heritage trees on San Luis Obispo Creek. DISCUSSION The California Department of Water Resources provides grants for local projects that reduce flooding and erosion on urban streams while improving environmental values. In recent years, this program has had very little money available; however; with passage of Proposition 13 in March 2000, the program has become revitalized and some $2 million is currently available statewide for qualifying projects. Most of the creek restoration opportunities along San Luis Obispo Creek are already being utilized in mitigation projects, do not qualify for funding, or are otherwise "spoken for, However, the Waterway Management Program currently being prepared by Questa Engineering of Point Richmond, CA., has identified a number of large trees (primarily sycamores) along San Luis Obispo Creek within the city limits which are at risk of being undercut by high velocity streamflows during storm events. Staff considers protection of these trees a worthwhile effort in keeping with both the spirit and letter of the grant regulations. The program requires that application be made jointly by a local government agency and a qualified nonprofit organization. Thus, City and Land Conservancy staff have met on this opportunity and the Land Conservancy is preparing the grant application. The City will be a co-applicant: The deadline for the Urban Streams Restoration Program was March 27, however, DWR regulations permit formal resolutions to be submitted after submittal deadlines if scheduling conflicts arise. Staff has submitted a support letter to accompany the application by the.Land Conservancy, which asks for $50,000 for the project. Staff has also determined that the project is exempt from CEQA as a Class 8 exemption, which "consists of actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment". It is noted that the project will require a permit from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. 1 Council Agenda Report-Authorization of Application for Grant Funds Page 2 FISCAL IMPACT The grant, if successfully applied for, will provide outside funding to support a project benefiting the City and its citizens. No funding match is required. ALTERNATIVE The Council could decide not to pursue the grant monies. This is not recommended, as filing the applications does not commit the City in any way; if, however, the Council chooses not to pursue the projects we will lose the opportunity entirely. Attachments 1. Resolution 2. Grant Program Summary RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION TO THE URBAN STREAMS RESTORATION PROGRAM OF THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES FOR THE PROJECT KNOWN AS THE SAN LUIS OBISPO CREEK HERITAGE TREE PROTECTION PROGRAM WHEREAS,the California Department of Water Resources, Division of Local Assistance, Urban Streams Restoration Program has announced the availability of funds for grants; and WHEREAS,said grants are intended to help solve flooding and erosion problems in a way that provides environmental enhancement; and WHEREAS,the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County has proposed to cosponsor a grant application with the City of San Luis Obispo; and WHEREAS,the City Council has found that the project proposed for funding with the grant funds would be environmentally beneficial and categorically exempt from requirements for environmental documentation preparation as a Class 8 exemption; NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,that the City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo hereby: 1. Endorses the filing of a joint application with the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County for an Urban Streams Restoration grant in the amount of$50,000; 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 3 d day of April, 2001. C s-3 C,' � Resolution No. (2001 Series) Page 2 On motion of , seconded by and on the following roll call vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: The foregoing resolution was adopted this day of 92001. Allen K Settle, Mayor ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: Lee Price, City Clerk J 1 or ns , Ci Attorney STATE OF CALIFORNIA-THE RESOURCES.AGEN( ( GRAY DAVIS, Governor DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES 1416 NINTH STREET, P.O. BOX 942836 SACRAMENTO, CA 94236-0001 (916) 653-5791 February 14, 2001 Dear Urban Stream Advocate: The Department of Water Resources' Urban Streams Restoration Program provides grants for local projects that reduce flooding and erosion on urban streams while improving environmental values. Past grants have funded a variety of activities, including creek cleanups, revegetation efforts, bioengineering bank stabilization projects, channel reconfiguration to improve stream geomorphology, and acquisition of parcels critical for flood management. The Program.received a total of$25 million with the passage of the Costa-Machado Water Bond Act of 2000 (Proposition 13). DWR is in the process of amending the regulations for the Program, including raising the grant cap from $200,000 to $1 million per project. This change will allow DWR, in addition to funding small projects, to provide funds for larger, more complex stream restoration and flood management work. DWRhas $2 million available for grants in fiscal year 2000-2001 and anticipates having $7 million available for grants in FY 2001-2002. To expedite funding for qualified urban streams projects, DWR is now accepting applications to award grants for both the $2 million and $7 million.. For the $2 million available this fiscal year, we will give priority to the most competitive projects, which meet our review criteria and can be completed by spring 2003. Pending approval of the proposed amended regulations, the cap on grants for this cycle will be $1 million per project. Projects selected for funding with this money will be announced by late June 2001. Pending approval of the proposed amended regulations and the State's budget, DWR will consider additional competitive projects from the same application pool for funding with the $7 million budgeted for FY 2001-2002, and subject to availability of funds, will announce selected projects in September 2001. These projects must be completed by spring 2004. Enclosed is a questionnaire to help you determine whether your project could be eligible for funding through the Program. Application materials are available on our web site at the following address: http://wwwdpia.water.ca.gov/urban_streams.html. If you do not have access to the Internet and would like to have application materials sent to you, please contact Kurt Malchow at the number below. The application deadline will be 5:00 p.m., March 27, 2001. Please note that all applications must be received in our office (not just postmarked) by that deadline to be considered for funding during this application cycle. MCC I IIYl7 haaiIun ITEM # 111111111111iillillllllll11' IIIIIII council memoQAnbum Icity of San luls oBis O,aemml tuatron OE aatmif t DATE: April 2,2001 UNCIL C CDD DIR TO: City Council CAO C FIN DIR ❑ fjCAO ❑ FIRE CHIEF FROM: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Manager �_- ATLEORNEY ❑ PLERK/ORIG 13 PO DIR g (� OLICE CHF ❑ D PTH ❑ REC DIR VIA: Ken Hampian, City Administrative Officer Lby ❑ UTIL DIR ❑ HR DIR SUBJECT: Withdrawal of Agenda Item C5 We are sorry to have to report that, due to unanticipated changes in the complexity and detail of a revised application for grant monies from the Urban Streams Grant Program of the State Department of Water Resources, staff at the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County were unable to complete the application for grant support for the "San Luis Obispo Creek Heritage Tree Protection Program" in timely manner. The application form for this grant program was significantly revised this year, and a lot of new information was being requested of applicants, increasing the application workload considerably. As a result City and Land Conservancy staff have concluded that our chances of success would be improved by continuing to work on the concept, with a goal of submitting a joint application to similar grant programs administered by the Department of Fish and Game and by the Regional Water Quality Control Board later this year. For these reasons staff is withdrawing Agenda Item C5 from the April 3, 2001, Council agenda, with the expectation that we will submit a similar request to Council later this year. RECEIVED APR 0 2 2001 SLO CITY COUNCIL council memo on grant