Consent Item 4d
STAFF REPORT
City Council Consent Item
DATE: May 5, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Amy Nilsen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Approve the Grant Funds from the State Coastal Conservancy for the Acquisition of 237 Acres of Lower Eel River Wetlands and Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute all Grant Agreement Documents Resolution 2025-11
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution 2025-11 Approving the Grant Funds from the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) for the Acquisition of 237 Acres Along the Lower Eel River and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute all documents related to the grant agreement.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On April 17, 2025 the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) authorized disbursement of up to $1,272,250, of which $972,250 is from the United Staes Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, to the City of Fortuna to complete pre-acquisition tasks and acquire 237 acquires of Lower Eel River Wetlands in Fortuna; and to prepare plans and designs for a park on 7.2 acres of the property, and to prepare a management plan for the other portion of the property.
The City will retain 7.2 acres for open space, public access, and recreation, and the remaining 230 acres will be transferred to the Wiyot Tribe for the preservation of open space; protection, restoration, and enhancement of natural resources and habitat for fish and wildlife; protection of cultural resources; and to the extent compatible with habitat protection, providing public access and California Native American tribal cultural use and access.
The land acquisition process and the documentation required to complete the acquisition is lengthy and documented in Attachment 2, Acquisition Document Checklist for Grantees.
FISCAL IMPACT:
City staff and attorney will be required to complete the acquisition and other related tasks. The City will provide $10,000 of in-kind match to this project. In addition, staff may need to return to the City Council with a supplemental budget request to support the plans and design for the park and management plan of the property. The SCC has included approximately $300,000 in funding for some of these tasks. There are currently no dollars budgeted for the development of the 7.2 acre park.
Consent Item 4d
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Motion to approve Resolution 2025-11. Consent Agenda Vote.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Resolution 2025-11, A Resolution of the City Of Fortuna Approving Grant Funds From the State Coastal Conservancy for the Acquisition of 237 Acres of Lower Eel River Wetlands • State Coastal Conservancy Acquisition Document Checklist for Grantees • State Coastal Conservancy Staff Recommendation April 17, 2025