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Home My WebLink About2009-03-10; City Council; 19744; TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program GrantCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL AB# MTG. DEPT. 19,744 03/10/09 PLN Authorization to Submit Grant Application for TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program DEPT. HEAD CITY ATTY. CITY MGR. RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council ADOPT Resolution No. 2009-049 . AUTHORIZING the filing of an application for TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program Grant funds through the San Diego Association of Governments for the Lake Calavera Preserve Planning Area Access Control and Habitat Restoration project. ITEM EXPLANATION: The SANDAG Board of Directors has allocated $1.63 million of TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP) funds for FY 2009 for a number of land management projects that help to implement the regional habitat conservation planning efforts. The FY 2009 EMP grants will be focused on burn recovery areas and areas under threat of degradation by unauthorized human access and invasive, non-native plant species. The Board is requesting proposals from Land Owners and Land Managers in San Diego County for projects that will benefit regional conservation consistent with the State's Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP). The City's Habitat Management Plan (HMP) serves as a habitat conservation plan within the NCCP. Staff is requesting authorization to submit a grant application for EMP funds for FY 2009. The proposed project involves installation of fencing and signage and habitat restoration around the Lake Calavera area. The project area, as shown in Attachment 2, is located in the Northeast Quadrant of the City and includes the City-owned Lake Calavera Mitigation Parcel and other preserve lands owned by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). The scope of work (Attachment 3) identified in the grant application includes two components: 1) the installation of fencing and signs to control unauthorized access around the 735 acre project area and associated public outreach and education, and, 2) restoration of several degraded areas near the northern boundary of the project area. The proposed grant funding for each task is noted on the scope. The City has earmarked funds in the amount of approximately $100,000 in the FY 08-09 Community Development Department HMP budget for fencing and signage around the perimeter of the Lake Calavera property which can be considered as matching funds. The City also proposes utilizing in-kind services for part of the local match requirement, including the public outreach and education component of access control, contract administration, and/or for preparing the required grant monitoring reports under the existing Preserve Steward contract. No additional City funds beyond those already budgeted are proposed for a match on the grant application. DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Barbara Kennedy, 760-602-4626 bkenn@ci.carlsbad.ca.us FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY. COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED DENIED CONTINUED WITHDRAWN AMENDED XD D D D CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN RETURNED TO STAFF OTHER - SEE MINUTES D D D D Page 2 Installation of the perimeter fencing is expected to reduce City costs associated with garbage removal, patrolling public use, and law enforcement. Much of the unauthorized motorcycle entry to the Lake Calavera preserve area comes from the CDFG property. The proposed fencing of those properties, paid for by the EMP grant funds, should significantly reduce motorcycle use and, commensurately, the costs of patrolling, enforcement, erosion control, and revegetation of disturbed areas. The grant also includes a request for $175,000 for habitat restoration on City- owned property. Grants that include multiple partners, matching funds, a public outreach component, and which cover a larger geographic area are eligible for a higher ranking during the project evaluation process. The proposed project includes all of these components. The project meets the criteria outlined in the grant application indicating that proposed projects should be ready to start within 12 months of submission of the application to SANDAG. Staff feels that this project is a good candidate for receiving grant funding since much of the project can be completed in 2009, it involves both City and CDFG habitat areas, and it includes matching funds and in-kind contributions. Due to time constraints, Staff submitted the grant application to SANDAG on January 30, 2009, the submission deadline. If the City Council does not authorize submittal of the application, staff will withdraw the grant application immediately. FISCAL IMPACT: The total cost for the scope of work is $500,346 with a grant request for $294,881 and matching funds of $205,465. The sources for matching funds include $76,539 in the FY 08-09 Community Development Department HMP budget for fencing and signage and over $50,000 in the form of volunteer hours. The remainder of matching funds includes contributions by CDFG and the City for in-kind services for public outreach/education, and in-kind services for administrative tasks that are currently included in the City's contracts with the Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) and the City's Preserve Steward. The grant application does not require a specific percentage of matching funds, but does require that funds shall be available to complete the scope of work. No additional City funds beyond those already budgeted are proposed for a match on the grant application. If awarded, the grant would reduce the City's cost for fencing and signage around the Lake Calavera property by approximately $80,281. The grant also includes a request for $175,000 for habitat restoration on City-owned property. If approved, the Planning Department would advocate for the habitat restoration area to be used to offset the City's requirement to obtain additional acreage of Coastal Sage Scrub (CSS) in the Core Area, resulting in a potential savings of $136,400 or more. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The application for grant funds does not constitute a "project" pursuant to Section 15378(b)(4) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and no environmental review is required. The proposed scope of work (fencing, signs, and habitat restoration) belongs to a class of projects that the State Secretary for Resources has found do not have a significant impact on the environment, and it is therefore categorically exempt from the requirement for the preparation of environmental documents pursuant to Section 15308 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment) - of the State CEQA Guidelines. In making this determination, the Planning Director has found that the exceptions listed in Section 15300.2 of the State CEQA Guidelines do not apply to this project. PageS EXHIBITS: 1. City Council Resolution No. 2009-049 2. Location Map 3. Scope of Work. EXHIBIT 1 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2009-049 2 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A 3 GRANT APPLICATION FOR TRANSNET ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION PROGRAM (EMP) FUNDS THROUGH THE SAN 4 DIEGO ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS FOR THE LAKE CALAVERA PRESERVE PLANNING AREA ACCESS CONTROL 5 AND HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT. 6 WHEREAS, $1.63 million of TransNet Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP) 7 grant funds are available to local jurisdictions in Fiscal Years 2009-2010; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to apply and become eligible to receive up to $294,881 in EMP funds for the Lake Calavera Preserve Planning Area Access Control and Habitat Restoration Project; and WHEREAS, it is in the City's interest to apply for these funds to be used for fencing, signage, public outreach, and habitat restoration within the Lake Calavera Preserve Planning Area in that the proposed scope of work is expected to reduce the risk of further degradation due to illegal activities; will result in a significant cost-savings to the City for expenses associated with garbage removal, patrolling public use, law enforcement, erosion control, and restoration of disturbed areas; and would vastly improve the quality of the habitat preserve. 1 O1 ° NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City 19 of Carlsbad: 20 1. That the above recitations are true and correct. 21 2. That the City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Department is authorized 22 to submit an application to the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) for EMP 23 funding in the amount of up to $294,881 for the Lake Calavera Preserve Planning Area Access 24 Control and Habitat Restoration Project. 25 26 27 28 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 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 10th day of March, 2009, by the following vote to wit: AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Hall, Packard and Blackburn. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. , Mayor ATTEST: L0RRAINE/M. WOOD(Oity Clerk ' (SEEAL) U CJ EXHIBIT 2 Adjacent Preserves: ( ) Hardline - Future Managed Preserve Area Hardline - Preserve Actively Managed Softline Preserve Area CITYOFENCtNITAS mf Regional I Location 'Map CLTtffOEOGEANSIEE ManagementiLQDJLG GarlsbadlHIgtilarids EcSlggigalLRes'ecv.e VIS-TA J:\Requests\Planning\3839806_09\CalaveraLocation8x11 .mxd Figure 1 City of Carlsbad Calavera Preserve Planning Area Location Map Future High School Fence • 12-foot Access Gate • Entry Kiosk • Pedestrian Access Gate i{Jj Small Sign Preserve Parcel * Fences: ——- Existing 3-strand Smooth Wire Fence —— Existing K-rail —— Proposed 3-strand Smooth Wire Fence • - - - Phase II Proposed 3-strand Smooth Wire Fence Proposed Lake Calavera Trail System (Not a Part) — Restoration Areas: — Current Restoration Project * Fence |ocatjons are conceptual and will be Future Trails Plan Restoration Area adjusted to include trail access points at f") Proposed Restoration Area appropriate locations. Proposed Chain-link Fence Proposed Post and Rail Fence J:\Requests\Planning\3839806_09\HabitatRestoration8x11.mxd City of Carlsbad Calavera Preserve Planning Area Access Control and Habitat Restoration Figure 2