10/03/17 Page 1 Item #11 CITY OF DANA POINT AGENDA REPORT Reviewed By: DH X CM X CA DATE: OCTOBER 3, 2017 TO: FROM: CITY MANAGER/CITY COUNCIL MIKE ROSE, DIRECTOR OF GENERAL SERVICES JEFF ROSALER, PARKS MANAGER SUBJECT: RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING STAFF TO APPLY FOR THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FACILITIES GRANT AND HABITAT CONSERVATION GRANT, FOR FUNDS PROVIDED FROM THE CALIFORNIA CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND COASTAL PROTECTION ACT OF 2002 AND THE CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT OF 1990. RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council (1) adopt the resolutions (Action Document A and B) entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FACILITIES GRANT FUNDS; and A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE HABITAT CONSERVATION FUND PROGRAM; and 2) Authorize the City Manager or his designees to apply for subject grants. BACKGROUND: Outdoor Environmental Education Facilities Competitive Grant Program Funding for this grant program was made available through the $2.6 billion "California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002" (2002 Resources Bond). The passage of Proposition 40 provided funds for local assistance grants as set forth in Public Resources Code (PRC) 5096.600 through 5096.683. The State recognizes that facilities that educate visitors and inspire environmental stewardship are critically needed for the future health of California. The
10/03/17 Page 2 Item #11 Outdoor Environmental Education Facilities Competitive Program will provide assistance to local agencies and community-based organizations with regard to the development of outdoor environmental education facilities, including public outdoor structures and exhibits that facilitate focused learning. The focused learning must take place in a natural outdoor setting, with native vegetation, and encompass the natural environment, and inspire environmental stewardship and an appreciation of the natural world. The learning must include an understanding of how humans interact with, and are dependent on, natural ecosystems. These structures and exhibits may provide outdoor education on their own (such as signs, kiosks, nature trails), or facilitate providing outdoor education (such as campfire centers, amphitheaters, group campgrounds). Habitat Conservation Fund Competitive Grant Program The Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) administers the state-funded Habitat Conservation Fund grant program which allocates approximately $2 million each year to cities, counties and districts. This program requires a 50% match from grantees. Eligible projects include: nature interpretation programs to bring urban residents into park and wildlife areas, protection of various plant and animal species, and acquisition and development of wildlife corridors and trails. DISCUSSION: The City of Dana Point seeks funding through the Outdoor Environmental Education Facility grant to construct a space for an outdoor classroom at the Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center (NIC) for immersive nature programs. The NIC is located atop the Dana Point Headlands as part of the Dana Point Headlands Conservation Area and Trail System, 60+ acres of protected habitat and native southern California wilderness. Currently, the Center provides educational opportunities through the capacities of a small (980 sq. ft.) facility equipped with state of the art exhibits and hands-on interactive learning. As the facility has built up its interior and gained traction as a destination for field trips and educational programming, the need for more gathering space to host groups has become apparent. To provide for this need, the concrete patio outside the NIC is proposed to act as a staging area for programs. This new space will provide a large enough area for groups of 35+ individuals to gather for active, hands-on, and inquiry-based learning within natural, open space. In conjunction with the outdoor classroom, this proposal also includes a trail realignment of 164 feet of the existing trail system to begin at the patio. This allows accessibility and proximity to natural habitat to be incorporated into the experiential teaching methodologies and multi-sensory experiences of the outdoor classroom. The availability of an outdoor classroom to be aligned with existing NIC programming supports the objectives of the NIC to provide meaningful experiences for the public and promote conservation and environmental stewardship. By increasing the opportunities for exposure to native and natural open spaces, the outdoor classroom seeks to better connect individuals to their environment.
10/03/17 Page 3 Item #11 Staff also seeks funding through the Habitat Conservation Fund for a trail realignment and scenic overlook at the Harbor Point Park. The 9.34 acre park is designed to protect environmental sensitive habitat and promote biodiversity. Harbor Point Park contains several rare and/or endangered plant populations, and is home to the Federally Threatened California Gnatcatcher (CAGN). To reduce human disturbance in the area and ensure the plant and animal populations present have a place to thrive, a short, fenced-in public trail system was established and currently provides spectacular views of the open space, Pacific Ocean, and the Dana Point Harbor. In recent years, several off-limit trails through prohibited areas within the open space have emerged due to trespassing by the public going off trail. Staff is proposing bringing the closed trail system into an open system, by connecting the end of the trail back to Green Lantern. The trail system, as currently designed, dead ends causing visitors to leave the trail (trespass) instead of turning around at the dead end to return to the street. The open trail system would start at an overlook that looks out over the habitat and the Pacific Ocean and provides a loop that ends at the current trail head. This overlook would be approximately 40 feet by 15 feet, extend over the habitat and provide coastal viewing access for the general public. This platform would be ADA accessible and will provide a scenic vista that will protect the environment as visitors will not have to go off trail to seek the view provided. NOTIFICATION/FOLLOW-UP: None STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION: This action is in compliance with the Strategic Plan Initiative to restore and maintain the integrity of our ocean waters and beaches and to provide, acquire and retain open space, parks, recreational facilities, greenbelts and trails, and community serving property. It is also in compliance with the Strategic Initiative to maintain, modernize and beautify the City s infrastructure and neighborhoods. FISCAL IMPACT: The Outdoor Environmental Education Facilities Competitive Grant Program provides enhanced scoring for providing non-construction related matching funds. The match would include planning and permitting fees. The estimated cost of construction for the project is $225,000.00 (grant funding), including plans and permits estimated at $14,000.00. The trail and overlook project proposed through the Habitat Conservation Fund requires a 50% match. This project is estimated to cost $225,000.00 and is budgeted in FY 2018, State funds would offset project costs by 50%.
10/03/17 Page 4 Item #11 ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS: 1. City Council-directed alternative action. ACTION DOCUMENTS: PAGE NO. A. Resolution for the Outdoor Environmental Education Facility Grant... 5 B. Resolution for the Habitat Conservation Fund... 7
10/03/17 Page 5 Item #11 ACTION DOCUMENT A RESOLUTION NO. 17-10-03-XX A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FACILITIES GRANT FUNDS. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS, the State Department of Parks and Recreation has been delegated the responsibility by the Legislature of the State of California for the administration of the Outdoor Environmental Education Facilities Grant Program, setting up necessary procedures governing the application; and WHEREAS, said procedures established by the State Department of Parks and Recreation require the Applicant to certify by resolution the approval of the application before submission of said application to the State; and WHEREAS, successful Applicants will enter into a contract with the State of California to complete the Grant Scope project; Approves the filing of an application for the Nature Interpretive Center Outdoor Classroom; and 1 Certifies that said Applicant has or will have available, prior to commencement of any work on the project included in this application, the sufficient funds to complete the project; and 2. Certifies that if the project is awarded, the Applicant has or will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the project, and 3. Certifies that the Applicant has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the General Provisions contained in the contract shown in the Grant Administration Guide; and 4. Delegates the authority to (designated position) to conduct all negotiations, sign and submit all documents, including, but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, and payment requests, which may be necessary for the completion of the Grant Scope; and 5. Agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and guidelines.
10/03/17 Page 6 Item #11 PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Dana Point at its regular meeting held on the 3rd day of October, 2017. ATTEST: KATHY M. WARD, CITY CLERK DEBRA LEWIS, MAYOR STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss CITY OF DANA POINT ) I, KATHY WARD, City Clerk of the City of Dana Point, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. 17-10-03-XX, and was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Dana Point, California, at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 3rd day of October, 2017, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: KATHY M. WARD, CITY CLERK
10/03/17 Page 7 Item #11 ACTION DOCUMENT B RESOLUTION NO. 17-10-03-XX A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE HABITAT CONSERVATION FUND PROGRAM. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DANA POINT, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS, the people of California have enacted the California Wildlife Protestation Act of 1990, which provides funds to the State of California for grants to local agencies to acquire, enhance, restore and develop facilities for public recreation and fish and wildlife habitat protection purposes; and WHEREAS, the State Department of Parks and Recreation has been deflated 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 application to certify by resolution the approval of application(s) before submission of said application to the State; and WHEREAS, successful Applicants will enter into a contract with the State of California to complete the project; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF DANA POINT 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 sufficient funds to complete the project; and 3. Certifies that if the project is awarded, the Applicant has or will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the project, and 4. Certifies that the Applicant has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the General Provisions contained in the contract shown in the Grant Administration Guide; and 5. Delegates the authority to (designated position) to conduct all negotiations, sign and submit all documents, including, but not limited to applications, agreements,
10/03/17 Page 8 Item #11 amendments, and payment requests, which may be necessary for the completion of the Grant Scope; and 6. Agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and guidelines. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Dana Point at its regular meeting held on the 3rd day of October, 2017. ATTEST: KATHY M. WARD, CITY CLERK DEBRA LEWIS, MAYOR STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss CITY OF DANA POINT ) I, KATHY WARD, City Clerk of the City of Dana Point, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. 17-10-03-XX, and was duly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Dana Point, California, at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 3rd day of October, 2017, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: KATHY M. WARD, CITY CLERK