Date: September 3, 2014 To: Through: From: Subject: Recreation and Park Commission Capital Committee Philip A. Ginsburg, General Manager Dawn Kamalanathan, Director of Planning and Capital Program Toni Moran, Environmental Specialist, Fiscal/Grants Habitat Conservation Fund Grant Application: Agenda Wording: Discussion and possible action to adopt a resolution authorizing the Department to apply for a Habitat Conservation Fund Grant in an amount up to $200,000 from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation to fund the Sharp Park Safety, Infrastructure Improvement, and Habitat Enhancement Project approved by the Commission on January 23, 2014. (ACTION ITEM) Background / Description: The Habitat Conservation Fund program allocates approximately $2 million per year to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation to provide grants to local entities to protect fish, wildlife and native plant resources, to acquire or develop wildlife corridors and trails, and to provide for nature interpretation programs and other programs that bring urban residents into park and wildlife areas. During July2014, the Department s Planning and Capital Division staff reviewed the scoring criteria for the Habitat Conservation Fund Program and determined that the wetland restoration elements of the Sharp Park Safety, Infrastructure Improvement, and Habitat Enhancement Project would be competitive for this funding program. This Commission approved the conceptual plan for the Sharp Park Safety, Infrastructure Improvement, and Habitat Enhancement Project on January 23, 2014. The Department s Planning and Capital Division proposes to submit a grant application on October 1, 2014 for the for an amount up to $200,000 to fund improvements to the park s wetlands. The grant application would cover three aspects of the proposed project
Page 2 of 5 1) Construction of a perennial pond, approximately 1,600 square feet (sf) in size, located approximately 400 to 500 feet southeast of Horse Shoe Pond (HSP); 2) Realignment of a portion of an existing golf cart path located west of the fairway for golf course hole number 14 and east of the tee box for golf course hole number 15; 3) Removal of sediment and emergent vegetation within HSP and the connecting channel that links HSP with Laguna Salada (LS); The project also includes safety and infrastructure improvement to the pump house. While the grant will not cover these elements, parts of the project could provide the required matching funds. The purpose of the proposed construction of the new pond, the golf cart path realignment, pump house improvements, and the sediment and vegetation removal is to: 1) restore habitat in several locations within the wetland complex for the California red-legged frog and the San Francisco garter snake, and 2) facilitate continued operation of pumps and maintenance of the existing infrastructure. Additionally, the sediment and vegetation removal would ensure that RPD can continue to manage water levels in the LS wetland complex by removing impediments to water flow within the wetland complex. Sediment removal is typical of maintenance activities that occurred in the past at Sharp Park and is considered typical maintenance for managed wetlands to prevent excessive accumulation of sediment in the wetland complex. Excessive accumulation of sediment in HSP and the connecting channel could cause malfunction of the pumps by allowing sediment to enter the pump system and/or preventing the water from entering the pump intake. Another purpose of the proposed improvements to the pump house (which, as noted above, include construction of steps and a maintenance walkway and replacement of an existing wooden retaining wall with a new concrete retaining wall) is to improve the safety conditions of workers operating and maintaining the pumps by enhancing access to the pump intake structure. Source of Funds and Amount: Current Project Estimate: $400,000 Funding Sources Identified: Habitat Conservation Fund, Trails Category, up to $200,000 Grant Funds Open Space Funds, $200,000 Grant Match Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Recreation and Park Commission adopt a resolution authorizing the Department to apply for a Habitat Conservation Fund Grant in an amount up to $200,000 from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation to fund the Sharp Park Safety, Infrastructure Improvement, and Habitat Enhancement Project approved by the Commission on January 23, 2014. (ACTION)
Page 3 of 5 Supported By: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) California Department of Fish and Wildlife County of San Mateo San Francisco Public Golf Alliance Opposed By: Wild Equity Institute Surfrider Foundation Contacts: Matt Jasmin, Project Manager, Planning and Capital Program Division, 581-2552 Toni Moran, Capital Division, Environmental Specialist- Fiscal/Grants, 581-2555 Attachment: Resolution
Page 4 of 5 RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION City and County of San Francisco Resolution No. APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE HABITAT CONSERVATION FUND PROGRAM FOR THE SHARP PARK SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT, AND HABITAT ENHANCEMENT PROJECT. WHEREAS, the people of the State of California have enacted the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990, which provides funds to the State of California for grants to local agencies to acquire, enhance, restore or develop facilities for public recreation and fish and wildlife habitat protection purposes; and WHEREAS, the State Department of Parks and Recreation has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of the HCF Program, setting up necessary procedures governing project application under the HCF Program; and WHEREAS, said procedures established by the State Department of Parks and Recreation require the applicant to certify by resolution the approval of application(s) before submission of said application(s) to the State; and WHEREAS, the applicant will enter into a contract with the State of California to complete the project(s); now, therefore, be it RESOLVED that the Recreation and Park Commission hereby: 1. Approves the filing of an application for the Habitat Conservation Fund Program; and 2. Certifies that said applicant has or will have available, prior to commencement of any work on the project included in this application, the required match and sufficient funds to complete the project; and 3. Certifies that the applicant has or will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the project(s), and 4. Certifies that the applicant has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the provisions contained in the contract shown in the grant administration guide; and 5. Delegates the authority to General Manager, or designee 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 project.
Page 5 of 5 6. Agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and guidelines. Adopted by the following vote: Ayes Noes Absent I certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted at the meeting of the Recreation and Park Commission held on October 16, 2014 Margaret A. McArthur, Commission Liaison