Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: 4/5ths
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Nicholas J. Calderon, Parks Director
Subject: Acceptance of a California Department of Parks and Recreation Grant for the Memorial County Park Crumb Clean Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation to:
A) Adopt a resolution authorizing the Parks Director, or the Parks Director’s designee, to accept a California Department of Parks and Recreation grant for the Memorial County Park Crumb Clean Program in the amount of $54,000 for FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22; and
B) Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) in the amount of $9,000 from unanticipated revenue to corresponding appropriations in services and supplies.
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BACKGROUND:
Pursuant to the federal Oil Pollution Act, designated federal and state agencies are authorized to assess damages that result from oil spills into navigable waters. They are also authorized to use those funds to develop and implement a plan for applicable restoration efforts. In California, these Natural Resource Damage Accounts, which are trust accounts created to restore damages caused by incident involving a discharge of oil or substantial threat of discharge of oil into the ocean, are administered by the State’s Department of Parks and Recreation (“State Parks Department”).
Using the Luckenbach Natural Resource Damage Account from the National Pollution Funds Center, the San Mateo County Parks Department (“Department”)-in conjunction with the State Parks Department-developed the Marbled Murrelet Restoration and Corvid Management Project, also known as the Crumb Clean Program, for specified restoration work at Memorial County Park (“Memorial Park”). Previously-received grant monies funded the hiring of seasonal interpretive staff who educated park campers and picnickers about the impacts of leaving food and trash in picnic and camping areas as food and trash attract predatory birds. Grant monies also funded the purchase and installation of animal-proof trash and recycling receptacles, food lockers, and informational signs.
DISCUSSION:
The Crumb Clean Program was designed to protect the Marbled Murrelet, a threatened species of seabird that nests on branches of large trees within older coniferous forest in Pacific northwestern coastal areas, such as Memorial Park and other nearby parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Because Marbled Murrelets feed in the Pacific Ocean miles away from their nests, they have been particularly impacted by oil spill events.
A resolution from this Board is required for the Department to execute the grant agreement and accept the grant monies. Under the agreement, the Department will use grant monies to hire up to three (3) seasonal interpretive staff, as well as undertake garbage control improvements. The trained interpreters will educate and assist visitors by developing messages and distributing informational materials produced in conjunction with State Parks Department staff. Garbage control improvements involve replacing aging animal-proof trash and recycling receptacles and food lockers, along with dishwashing stations and water spigots to keep campsites clean from food debris. To provide financial flexibility, funds may be moved between one category to another as needed, so long as the aggregate total does not exceed $27,000 per year, or the total amount of $54,000.
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California Department of Parks and Recreation Grant - for FY 2020-21/FY 2021-22 |
|
Seasonal Interpretive Staff |
$36,000 |
|
Garbage Control Improvements |
$18,000 |
|
Total |
$54,000 |
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolutions as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the Memorial Park Crumb Clean Program grant will begin upon execution of the grant agreement with the State Parks Department and expire on September 15, 2022. The Department budgeted $18,000 in the FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget. The Department will budget for the remaining amount of the grant (i.e., $27,000) in the FY 2021-22 Recommended Budget. Approval of the Appropriation Transfer Request will appropriate unanticipated funds in the amount of $9,000 in FY 2020-21. No local match is required, therefore, there is no impact on Net County Cost.