Fremont City Council Meeting: 05/09/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Landscape Architecture
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Grants
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 4910) DOC ID: 4910
Updated: 5/5/2023 9:27 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 1
ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO SUBMIT GRANT APPLICATIONS TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE USDA FOREST SERVICE - Adopt a resolution to authorize the City Manager or her designee to submit a grant application to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation's Land and Water Conservation Fund and authorize the City Manager or her designee to submit a separate grant application to the USDA Forest Service's Urban & Community Forestry program and to consider exemptions from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), each on a separate and independent basis, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections: (1) 15307; (2) 15308, (3) 15304 and (4) 15301
Contact Persons:
Name: Tara Bhuthimethee Suzanne Wolf
Title: Senior Landscape Architect Community Services Director Div/Dept: Landscape Architecture Community Services
Phone: 510-494-4738 510-494-4329
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: Consider adopting a resolution authorizing the City Manager or her designee to submit a grant application to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Land and Water Conservation Fund; submitting a separate grant application to the USDA Forest Service’s Urban & Community Forestry program; and authorizing the City Manager or her designee to execute grant funding agreements and appropriate any grant funds received should the applications be successful.
BACKGROUND:
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
On February 14, 1963, President Kennedy’s Administration proposed legislation to establish a "Land and Water Conservation Fund" to assist states in planning, acquisition, and development of recreation lands. At the State level, these funds are administered through the Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS). For 2023, approximately $30M will be available to local municipalities statewide.
USDA Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Program (UCFP) The Inflation Reduction Action of 2022 funded $1B in multiyear, programmatic, competitive grants for tree planting and related activities, with a priority for projects that benefit underserved populations. Of the funded amount, California has been allocated approximately $43M in 2023.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: Staff has identified the Northgate Community Park Closed Roof Arbor and Restroom project, PWC9060, as a viable candidate for the LWCF grant, as it fits the requirements of grant eligibility, funding, and timeline. Staff is proposing to request $280,000 from the LWCF grant. The grant requires a 50% match, which staff proposes to be through other direct costs, such as other construction costs associated with the project.
Council Staff Report (ID # 4910) Meeting of May 9, 2023 Updated: 5/5/2023 9:27 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 2 The matching money of at least $140,000 will be covered by existing funding in the Northgate Community Park Closed Roof Arbor Project, PWC9060. No additional funds are requested or needed to complete this application.
The UCFP grant is a five-year grant, proposed to fund the planting and maintenance of 425 trees for a total of $318,750. Since the UCFP grant allows for in-kind matches of non-federal awards, staff proposes the dollar-for-dollar match to be through the current CALFIRE grant, of which $320,000 has been allocated to plant 1,000 trees. No additional funds are requested or needed to complete this application.
FISCAL IMPACT: Both grants require matching funds. The LWCF grant requires a 50% match, and the UCFP grant requires a dollar-for-dollar match, which equates to a 100% match.
Staff proposes making an application to the LWCF grant for the amount of $280,000. The Northgate Community Park Closed Roof Arbor and Restroom project is fully funded and able to account for and exceed the 50% match ($140,000). The current project budget of the roofed arbor portion of the project is $280,000. Staff anticipates the estimate to be higher than the allocated amount and the grant funds will assist with closing the gap. Staff proposes the 50% match to be through other direct costs, such as other construction costs associated with the project. Any remaining project balance will return to the fund balance to be reallocated to other PWC projects.
Staff proposes making an application to the UCFP grant for the amount of $318,750. The UCFP grant requires a dollar-for-dollar grant match. Staff is proposing a project to plant and maintain 425 trees at a cost of $750 per tree, totaling $318,750. The UCFP grant allows for in-kind matches of non-federal awards. Staff proposes that the dollar-for-dollar grant match be fulfilled through a project with the City’s current State of California CALFIRE grant, for which $320,000 has been allocated toward planting 1,000 trees. This combination of grants will allow the City to plant 1,425 trees total during the grant periods without the use of City funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The proposed grant application would be exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per, without limitation, each on a separate and independent basis, (1) CEQA Guidelines Section 15307, Class 7, as an action taken by a regulatory agency for the protection of the environment by planting more trees; (2) CEQA Guidelines Section 15308, Class 8, as an action taken by a regulatory agency for the protection of the environment, specifically, for the protection of the clim ate and to prevent further pollution of the air and water by planting more trees; (3) CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 as a minor alteration to land by planting new trees; and (4) CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) as the improvements and modifications are for the operation, repair, maintenance, and minor alteration of public facilities, including parks, and do not involve the expansion of an existing use. None of the exceptions stated in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies, including the unusual circumstances exception, because there is nothing unusual about the size, location or other circumstance of the project.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Resolution Land and Water Conservation Fund
Council Staff Report (ID # 4910) Meeting of May 9, 2023 Updated: 5/5/2023 9:27 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 3 RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Find the grant applications to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Land and Water Conservation Fund and USDA Forest Service’s Urban & Community Forestry are exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per, without limitation, each on a separate and independent basis, (1) CEQA Guidelines Section 15307, (3) CEQA Guidelines Section 15308, (4) CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 and (5) CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
2. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or her designee to submit a grant application to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Land and Water Conservation Fund, execute grant funding agreements, and if grant is awarded, Council authorizes the appropriation of any grant funds received.
3. Authorize the City Manager or her designee to apply to the USDA Forest Service’s Urban & Community Forestry grant, execute grant funding agreements, and if grant is awarded, Council authorized the appropriation of any grant funds received.