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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-21; City Council; 15657; Habitat Management Planning Grant, 4 ?, ” 1 e m CITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENIJA BILL AB# 6657 TITLE: MTG. 3-&l-@ ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT FROM CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME FOR DEPT. PLNWf HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLANNING RECOMMENDED ACTION: CITY MGR That the City Council ADOPT Resolution No. adoa*g7 , AUTHORIZING the acceptance of a grant in the amount of $60,000 from the California Department of Fish and Game. ITEM EXPLANATION: The City is in the process of seeking final approval for the Habitat Management Plan (HMP). It is anticipated that the HMP will be approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game in June of this year. Following approval of the plan, one of the implementation steps that will be required is preparation of a Preserve Management Plan which will describe in detail how the conserved open space will be managed and maintained. The City has proposed a two-phased program. Phase I would consist of an interim management plan and would cover the first three years following HMP approval. Phase II would cover management and maintenance for the lifetime of the permits. The California Department of Fish and Game has offered the City a grant to help defray the costs of preparation of the Preserve Management Plans. Exhibit 2 is a letter from the Department indicating that they will fund $60,000. City staffs original estimate of the cost to prepare both phases was $97,000, primarily for consultant services. The estimate was made without benefit of actual proposals from consultants, and the actual cost is likely to be less than the staff estimate. The scope of work can also be adjusted to reduce costs. If the City Council approves the staff recommendation, staff will refine the cost estimate and scope of work and will develop a grant agreement with the Department of Fish and Game. The agreement will be brought back to the City Council for final action. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Acceptance of the grant from the Department of Fish and Game is exempt from the requirement to prepare an environmental review per Section ?5061(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act, in that there is no possibility the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. FISCAL IMPACT: Acceptance of the grant will provide $60,000 toward the cost of preparing the HMP Preserve Management Plan, which the City has committed to doing upon final approval of the HMP. Because the actual cost of preparing the plan may exceed the amount of the grant, there may be a cost to the City. As noted above, staff will be refining the costs, and when the grant agreement is brought to the City Council for approval, any costs to the City will be detailed. EXHIBITS: 1. City Council Resolution No. m - g7 2. Letter from California Department of Fish and Game. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO. 2ooo-87 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, ACCEPTING A GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad has approved a Habitat Management Plan to provide for the conservation of sensitive species and habitats while allowing appropriate development; and WHEREAS, the Habitat Management Plan includes a provision calling for the City to prepare a Preserve Management Plan detailing how conserved open space lands will be managed and maintained; and WHEREAS, the California Department of Fish and Game has offered the City a grant in the amount of $60,000 to help defray the cost of preparing the Preserve Management Plan; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad wishes to accept the grant. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows: 1. That the above recitations are true and correct. 2. That the grant offered by the California Department of Fish and Game in its letter dated February 4, 2000, is accepted, pending drafting of a grant agreement and further refinement of the scope of work. 3. Staff is authorized to work with the Department of Fish and Game to refine the scope of work and to draft the grant agreement. 4. Staff is further directed to reduce the total costs as much as possible and to return to the City Council with a final cost estimate and grant agreement. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Carlsbad City Council held on the 21st day of March , 2000, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Council Members Lewis, Hall, Nygaard and Kulchin NOES: None ABSENT: Council Member Finnila ABSTAIN : None ATTEST: (SEAL) -2- 3 SiATE OF CALIFORNIA-THE RESOURCES AGENCY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME 1416 NINTH STREET SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 (916) 653-l 070 Michael Holzmiller Planning Department City of Carlsbad 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, California 92008- 1576 February 4,200O ,i / { : “ ! $ \ i- c! i‘. \ +,;’ ,’ i’ ‘., i2 I’ ‘1: .‘. . . ‘. - _ .-- .i,. ;*a-, i .-._ - ._ I- ..-- Dear Mr. Holzmiller: Congratulations! I am extremely pleased to inform you that the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has selected your proposal to receive local assistance grant funds for implementation of urgent project activities related to the Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) Program. DFG recognizes the importance and significance of local participation and partnerships in contributing to meeting the goals of the NCCP through proactive planning efforts and leadership such as that demonstrated by the City of Carlsbad. We are prepared to approve the following project conditional upon a revised scope of work and a revised budget from the City of Carlsbad that reflects the tasks that will be performed given the allocation provided. Development of a Preserve Management Plan - DFG is willing to provide $60,000 to the City of Carlsbad to prepare a two-phase preserve management plan to implement the Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan. Phase I will prescribe start-up of the preserve system and initial management activities. Phase II will prescribe long-term administration and management of the preserve system. The specific contents of the plan will be discussed during the contract preparation phase. In past years, we have received invoices from some jurisdictions for tasks that are inconsistent with those identified in their contracts with DFG. In an effort to improve our contracting process, we will be developing more specific contract language, and will only apprqve reimbursement for tasks that are consistent with those identified in the contract. Any significant change to the tasks, or expenditures that are not explicitly identified in the contract, will not be reimbursed. DFG staff will be contacting you shortly to initiate the contract processing procedures. During the interim we will need for you to initiate the process of obtaining a resolution of 4 . Michael Holzmiller February 4,200O Page 2 authorization from your jurisdiction that confirms their approval of the project and grant monies. In addition, please submit a revised scope of work and a revised budget for the project to reflect the amount selected for funding. Please forward these documents as soon as possible to: Colleen Miller, Staff Services Analyst Caitlin Bean, Environmental Specialist Department of Fish and Game Department of Fish and Game 4949 Viewridge Avenue AND 1416 9ti Street San Diego, CA 92 123 Sacramento, CA 95814 Again, we want to express our enthusiasm and appreciation for your interest and success in the NCCP Program. If you have any questions, please.contact Ms. Caitlin Bean, Environmental Specialist, Habitat Conservation Planning Branch, at (9 16) 65 l-602 1, or Ms. Colleen Miller, Staff Services Analyst, South Coast Region - Habitat Conservation Planning, at (858) 467-4238. Sincerely, Ronald D. Rempel Deputy Director cc: Mr. C.F. Raysbrook Department of Fish and Game San Diego