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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 2001 1107 CC REG ITEM 11I 10 1 ITEM MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL 5"0 AGENDA REPORT TO: Honorable City Council FROM: Deborah S. Traffenstedt, ATCM/City Clerk DATZ: October 26, 2001 (CC Meeting of 11/7/01) SUBJECT: Consider Resolution Supporting Application by Santa Monica Mountains Cozservancy for Grant Funds for Tierra Rejada Greenbelt Open Space Preservation and Wildlife Corridor Protection Efforts BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION Enhancement of open space and greenbelt areas is included as one of the top ten priorities adopted by the City Council for Fiscal Year 2001-2002 . In support of the adopted policy, staff has been working to identify open space acquisition opportunities and potential grant funds. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy has taken action to support a joint grant application with the City of Moorpark. Attached are two Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy staff reports dated October 17, 2001, pertaining to an application for grant funds From the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program of the Streets and Highways Code Section 164 , 56 . The intent is to use the grant funds in support of fee title or open space conservation easement acquisition, if a sale can be negotiated, for a property in the Tierra Rejada Greenbelt area. The subject grant application is for the 2002 -2003 funding cycle . If the grant is awarded, a minimum 25 percent cash match would be required. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy has approved a share of matching funds (estimated to be $50, 000- $60, 000) . Action on allocation of City funding for a grant application match can be deferred until and if a grant is approved. A draft resolution is attached in support of the subject grant application. The attached resolution does include a commitment for a minimum 25 percent cash match by the City. Honorable City Council November 7, 2001 Meeting Page 2 STAFF RECOMMENDATION Adopt Resolution No. 2001 - � . Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Staff Reports 2 . Draft Resolution r• RESOLUTION NO. 2001- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, SUPPORTING APPLICATION BY SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR TIERRA REJADA GREENBELT OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION AND WILDLIFE CORRIDOR PROTECTION EFFORTS WHEREAS, the City Council strongly supports and encourages efforts to preserve and protect the Tierra Rejada Greenbelt area located within the Moorpark Area of Interest; and WHEREAS, enhancement of open space and greenbelt areas is included as one of the top ten priorities adopted by the City Council for Fiscal Year 2001-2002 ; and WHEREAS, the City Council has affirmed through the 2001- 2002 Fiscal Year budget adoption the intent to move forward with open space preservation efforts within the Moorpark Area of Interest ; and WHEREAS, the City Council supports a joint application with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy for grant funds from the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program of the Streets and Highways Code Section 164 . 56 for acquisition of open space within the Tierra Rejada Greenbelt area. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1 . The City Council finds that the grant application and open space acquisition project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act . SECTION 2 . The City Council approves the joint filing with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy of an application for the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program of the Streets and Highways Code Section 164 . 56 for grant assistance . SECTION 3 . The City Council agrees to provide a minimum 25 percent cash match if the California Transportation Commission approves a grant award. 4 .fft - . Resolution No. 2001- Page 2 SECTION 4 . The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall cause a certified resolution to be filed in the book of original resolutions . PASSED AND ADOPTED this 7`h day of November, 2001 . Patrick Hunter, Mayor ATTEST: Deborah S . Traffenstedt, City Clerk State of California—The Resources Agency SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY Los Angeles River Center and Gordens 570 West Avenue Twenty-six,Suite 100 (� t tos Angeles, California 90065 i ��E I �! EZ t� (323)221-8900 Memorandum To The Conservancy Date: October 17, 2001 The Advisory Comm' From JJose T. Ed miston,AICP, Executive Director s�bie a Item 7(n): Consideration of resolution authorizing application for grant funds from the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program of the Streets and Highways Code Section 164.56 for the Tierra Rejada Valley Wildlife Corridor, unincorporated Ventura County. Staff Recommendation: That the Conservancy adopt the attached resolution authorizing application for grant funds from the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program of the Streets and Highways Code Section 164.56 for the Tierra Rejada Valley Wildlife Corridor, unincorporated Ventura County. Legislative Authority: Public Resource Code Sections 33203 and 33203.5 Background: The Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation(EEM)Program authorizes the allocation of$10 million each year for grants to State, local and federal government agencies and non-profit organizations to mitigate the environmental impacts of modified or new public transportation facilities. In the EEM program the Resources Agency prescribes procedures and criteria to evaluate grant proposals. Based on its evaluation, the Resources Agency prepares and submits a list of proposals recommended for funding to the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The c-rc annually awards grants to fund proposals from the Resource Agency's list. Grants for individual projects are generally limited to $250,000. Of the $10 million, six million must be spent in the identified southern counties. The grant applications are due November 16`h. There are three grant categories Urban Landscape and Urban Forestry, Resource Lands, and Roadside Recreation. Both the Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) have received EEM grants beginning in 1994. Generally, it is most efficient for the Conservancy to apply for land acquisition grants and for the MRCA to apply for landscaping and all other improvement grants. The grants are awarded in late April or May and the funds become available in early October. The subject applications are for the 2002-2003 grant cycle. The projects must be finished by the middle of 2003. Strong applications must have a minimum 25 percent cash match. The Tierra Rejada Valley currently provides a little known habitat linkage hub that connects the Santa Susana Mountains, the Simi Hills and the Las Posas Hills. As part of this function, the Tierra Rejada Valley is a critical component of the eastern habitat linkage that connects the Santa Susana Mountains to the Santa Monica Mountains via the Alamos Canyon-118 Freeway undercrossing to both the Simi Hills and the Las Posas Hills. This linkage was detailed by The Nature Conservancy in 1990. With the exception of a few dedications and Agenda Item 7(n) October 17, 2001 Page . donations of perimeter parcels to the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, and the recent dedication of the Carlsberg vernal pool property to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority,there has been no concerted effort to protect this habitat linkage hub. The attached map shows this new MRCA property, the boundaries of all other parcels in the immediate vicinity, and the approximate flow of wildlife across the 23 Freeway and Tierra Rejada Road. Several years ago the MRCA also obtained a conservation easement within the natural portions of the golf course located at the northeast corner of the 23 Freeway and Tierra Rejada Road. Although the subject area is part of a greenbelt agreement between the cities of Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, and Moorpark and Ventura County, none of these entities has take action to preserve this area. However, recently the City of Moorpark has expressed an interest in partnering with the Conservancy and the MRCA it acquiring portions of the greenbelt within its sphere of influence. Staff will work with the City of Moorpark staff to identify an acquisition strategy. Appraisals are being conducted on some of the properties located south of Tierra Rejada Road. Staff will also consult with the author of a recent California State University at Northridge Masters thesis (Ng, 2000) that studied wildlife movement in this area. The actual parcel or parcels that the grant application will center on shall depend on the appraised values and the cooperation of the owners. That distillation will be a difficult task over the next month. A subsequent item on this Conservancy agenda addresses the authorization of a grant to the MRCA to provide a minimum 25 percent cash match of Proposition 12 funds for the proposed acquisition(s). The City of Moorpark may also contribute matching funding. October 17, 2001; Item 7(n) Resolution Into. 01-183 RESOLUTION OF THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT AND MITIGATION PROGRAM OF THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE SECTION 164.56 FOR THE TIERRA REJADA VALLEY WILDLIFE CORRIDOR, UNINCORPORATED VENTURA COUNTY WHEREAS, The Tierra Rejada Valley wildlife corridor constitutes a critical, cross-freeway connection forwildlife movement between the Las Posas Hills and the Northern Simi Hills; and WHEREAS, The Tierra Rejada wildlife corridor is included on the Conservancy's adopted Acquisition 2000 Workprogram; and WHEREAS, The subject parcels are a critical,unprotected component of this inter-mountain range habitat linkage; and WHEREAS, The project is important to implementing,and is consistent with,the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor Master Plan; and WHEREAS, The City of Moorpark is interested in joint participation in this project; and WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of California has authorized a program for funding grants to state, local and federal agencies and nonprofit entities for projects to enhance and mitigate the environmental impacts of modified or new public transportation facilities; and WHEREAS, The Resources Agency has established the procedures and criteria for reviewing grant proposals and is required to submit to the California Transportation Commission a list of recommended projects from which the grant recipients will be selected; and WHEREAS, Said procedures and criteria established by the Resources Agency require a resolution certifying the approval of application by the applicant's governing body before submission of said application to the State; and WHEREAS, The Conservancy, if selected, will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out the environmental enhancement and mitigation project; and WHEREAS, The staff report dated October 17, 2001 incorporated herein by reference describes the nature of the project; and Agenda Item No. 7(n) October 17, 2001 Page 2 WHEREAS, The proposed action is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEOA); Now Therefore be it resolved, That the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy hereby: 1. FINDS that the project is important to implementing, and is consistent with, the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor Master Plan. 2. -vDoPTS the staff report and recommendation dated October 17, 2001. 3. CERTIFIES that the project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 4. APPROVES the filing of an application for the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program for grant assistance. 5. CERTIFIES that the Conservancy will make adequate provisions for the operation and maintenance of the project. 6. APPOINTS the Executive Director or his designee as agent of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to, applications, amendments, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for *the completion of the aforementioned project. 7. CERTIFIES that the Conservancy or its designee has,or will have,sufficient funds to operate and maintain the property in perpetuity, if applicable. 8. AUTHORIZES the Executive Director to do any and all acts necessary to carry out this resolution. End of Resolution I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was adopted at a meeting of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, regularly noticed and held according to law, on the 17`h day of October, 2001 at Pasadena, California. Executive Director 1' Now aYArse' PAOto4'iP A Y �RabefT '\ A Z ` rc 126 iCif CR.DH 7 r kiist *SAO OKI S P CANTON RE pU?K • S U S A A t/0� f r a0 is T�� ga0A8r►+ q0 f l 4:. (1 / TAPO CANTON A REGIONAL �t* PARK < T 0AK PARK MOORPARK�. i , AW 51y1•YA(jLr jR317.• t)' �l j �.•.. .• 3)S •� o' b N Spa;VALLEY YS�. `..- s /1 _�• p nr3lleA �� ' LOS•ANMUS 11orK ..• _ . ., ABC. o _ AVE. . l ARR0Y0 ! 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'� , . //: pue,)2ed = r *VANS r, �' .r'aeti.' ,`' ' :yS�._ �!' .y. /'_ _J_,- —r- - ; >tiaed�ooy1 jo 1 4I3 .'.• (u)L # won VRV•4v ' ,`f. • /. +1(.1„∎• --- L: \�i. / \` I f`(��, .. ``I ' ,`.. `ti `�.';`�, "` .. ,1%LL /1 _ I• ;;��jj � _ _• State of California-The Resources Agency SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY Los Angeles River Center and Gardensr 570 West Avenue Twenty-Six,Suite 100 Los Angeles, California 90065 (323)221.8900 Memorandum To The Conservancy Date: October 17, 2001 The Advisory Commit From Josep . Edmiston,AICP, Executive Director Subject: Agenda Item 7 (p): Consideration of resolution authorizing a grant to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCS) to provide matching funds for the following Conservancy and MRCA Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program grant applications: Big Tujunga Wash-Verdugo Mountains Wildlife Corridor, Santa Susana Mountains-Simi Hills Wildlife Corridor, Tierra Rejada Valley Wildlife Corridor, and Los Angeles River and Arroyo Seco park improvement projects. Staff Recommendation: That the Conservancy authorize a grant of up to $250,000 to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority(MRCA)to provide matching funds for the following Conservancy and MRCA Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program grant applications: Big Tujunga Wash-Verdugo Mountains Wildlife Corridor, Santa Susana Mountains-Simi Hills Wildlife Corridor, Tierra Rejada Valley Wildlife Corridor, and Los Angeles River and Arroyo Seco park improvement projects. Legislative Authority: Section 33204 (c) of the Public Resources Code provides that the Conservancy may: Award grants to state agencies,cities,counties, resource conservation districts, and park and recreation districts for the purpose of acquiring sites identified as necessary for park, recreation, or conservation purposes and for development of essential related public facilities. Section 33203.5 of the Public Resources Code provides, in part, as follows: Notwithstanding any other provisions of this division, the conservancy may . . . improve real property, or any interests therein, anywhere within the zone upon a finding that the action is consistent with the plan. Background: Grant applications to the Environmenta'Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP) score additional points when matching funding is indicated by the applicant. The_ Conservancy and MRCA have been very successful in previous EEMP grant cycles,at least in part because of the agencies' willingness to commit funds to a project proposal. Approximately $50,000 to $60,000 per project is proposed for matching funding. r October 17, 2001; Agenda Item No. 7(p) Resolution No. 01-185 RESOLUTION OF THE SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS CONSERVANCY AUTHORIZING A GRANT TO THE MOUNTAINS RECREATION AND CONSERVATION AUTHORITY(MRCA)TO PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS FOR THE FOLLOWING CONSERVANCY AND MRCA ENVIRONMENTA1.ENHANCEMENT AND MITIGATION PROGRAM GRANT APPLICATIONS: BIG TUJUNGA WASH-VERDUGO MOUNTAINS WILDLIFE CORRIDOR,SANTA SUSANA MOUNTAINS-SIMI HILLS WILDLIFE CORRIDOR,TIERRA REJADA VALLEY WILDLIFE CORRIDOR, AND LOS ANGELES RIVER AND ARROYO SECO PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. WHEREAS. The State of California has authorized expenditure of funds from Proposition 12, the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Act to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; and WHEREAS, The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy has entered into a joint powers agreement with the Conejo and Rancho Simi Recreation and Park Districts pursuant to Government Code Section 6500 et seq. to create the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA);and WHEREAS, The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy has recommended application by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority to the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program for Big Tujunga Wash-Verdugo Mountains Wildlife Corridor, Santa Susana Mountains-Simi Hills Wildlife Corridor, Tierra Rejada Valley Wildlife Corridor, and Los Angeles River and Arroyo Seco park improvement projects; and WHEREAS, The grant of funds to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation for matching grant funds that may be received for the projects will further enhance the projects' objectives for wildlife corridor protection and river parkway recreational and environmental improvements; and WHEREAS, The proposed action is consistent with the objectives and principles of the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor Master Plan and the Santa Monica Mountains Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS, The proposed action is categorically exempt from the provisions of th° California Environmental Quality Act; NOW Therefore Be It Resolved, That the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy hereby: 1. AUTHORIZES award of a grant to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority for matching funds. Agenda Item No. 7(p) October 17, 2001 Page 2 2. FINDS that the proposed action is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. 3. ADOPTS the staff report and recommendation dated October 17, 2001. 4. FINDS that the proposed action is consistent with implementation of the Rim of the Valley Trail Corridor Master Plan and the Santa Monica Mountains Comprehensive Plan. 5. AUTHORIZES such amendments as may be necessary to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Fiscal Year 2001/2002 budget to carry out this resolution. 5. AUTHORIZES the Executive Director to perform any and all acts necessary to carry out this resolution. End of Resolution I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was adopted at a meeting of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, regularly noticed and held according to law, on the 17" day of October, 2001 at Pasadena, California. Dated: Executive Director "'.t ;