Title:
Title
Cultural, Community and Natural Resources Grant for Mama Marks Park Improvement Project
End
FileID
File ID: 2018-00050
Location
Location: District 2
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or City Manager’s designee to apply for funding and execute the grant agreement for the Mama Marks Park Improvement Project in the amount of $810,795 from California Natural Resources Agency’s Cultural, Community and Natural Resources Grant Program.
Contact: Janelle Oishi, Program Specialist, (916) 808-1016, Department of Youth, Parks & Community Enrichment
Body
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: On December 20, 2018, the California Natural Resources Agency issued a notification of funding availability for projects under the Cultural, Community and Natural Resources Grant Program (CCNR). The CCNR program is intended to fund competitive projects that protect, restore, and enhance cultural, community, and natural resources. Projects must restore and protect resources, support fossil fuel powerplant conversions, develop or improve nonprofit science centers, enhance park, water, or natural resources, or promote or develop community, cultural, civic, or athletic venues.
Under the CCNR grant guidelines, a minimum of 15 percent of the funds will be allocated for projects serving severely disadvantaged communities. California Natural Resources Agency uses the Department of Water Resources Disadvantaged Communities Mapping Tool to identify census tracts meeting criteria for disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged communities. For the purposes of this grant, “severely disadvantaged communities” is defined as a community with a median household income less than 60 percent of the statewide average. The City has such low-income census tracts to qualify for grant funds.
Projects must meet the following criteria:
• Projects must accomplish at least one of the following:
o Improve a community’s ability to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
o Improve and protect coastal and rural economies, wildlife corridors or habitat.
o Develop future recreational opportunities.
o Enhance drought tolerance, landscape resilience, and water retention.
• Projects must provide workforce education and training, contractor, and job opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
• Projects must be accessible to the public.
Other priorities include:
• Serves a severely disadvantaged community.
• Protect and restore natural resources and provide urban recreation.
• Projects that propose to use the services of the California Conservation Corps or certified community conservation corps.
• Projects that include carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reduction features in the project design.
Staff from multiple divisions of the Department screened potential projects for eligibility based on the grant criteria and recommend submitting an application for the following park project:
• Margarette “Mama” Marks Park Improvement Project: Grant request of up to $801,795 for park improvements that include restoration of natural resources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by planting an urban forest, improving field and youth sports equipment as well as park amenities including provision of safe drinking water, making Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements, and implementing water conservation and retention strategies across the park site.
Grant applications are due February 13, 2019. Grant applications that pass the approval process will move on to a second approval process involving a site visit and submission of supportive documentation. This action authorizes the City Manager or his designee to execute the grant agreement. If the grant is approved, staff will later seek authorization to establish the capital improvement project.
Policy Considerations: Funding for this project would enhance recreational opportunities, meet ADA requirements, and restore natural resources and increase conservation efforts. This is consistent with the City’s General Plan goals in the areas of Land Use, Recreation, and Environmental Resources. The project is also consistent with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Economic Impacts: Not Applicable
Environmental Considerations: This report concerns fiscal activities that do not constitute a "project" as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4). Environmental review of the park improvement project will occur before construction is authorized.
Sustainability: The project has been reviewed for consistency with the goals, policies, and targets of the City’s Sustainability Master Plan (SMP), the Parks and Recreation Sustainability Plan, and the 2035 General Plan. The Project will advance the goals, policies, and targets of these plans by improving the health of residents through access to a diverse mix of wellness and recreation activities.
Commission/Committee Action: Not Applicable
Rationale for Recommendation: The recommended project meets all grant criteria and maximizes competitiveness based on the following criteria:
• Serves a severely disadvantaged community, as defined by the Department of Water Resources Disadvantaged Communities Mapping Tool.
• Meet the grant goals to restore natural resources, adapt to climate change/reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop recreational opportunities, enhance water retention and conservation, provide workforce education and training, and increase accessibility.
Financial Considerations: The proposed grant application would provide for State funds for the planned project. No matching funds are required. This is an existing park; the annual maintenance and utilities costs are covered in the Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment’s operating budget for maintenance, water, and utility costs.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable; no goods or services are being purchased with this action. The City’s LBE requirements will be applied to the construction project if local business preferences are allowed under the State grant agreement.