COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

November 14, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 3, 2002

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director

SUBJECT:

Acceptance of a Donation from the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation in the Amount of $115,000 for the Parks and Recreation Division's Volunteer Program and Phase 2 of the Vegetation Management Plan

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution:

1.

Accepting a donation of $115,000 from the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation to the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Division; and

2.

Approving an Appropriation Transfer Request in the amount of $15,000 and $100,000 respectively for Division's Volunteer Program and Phase 2 of the Vegetation Management Plan.

Background

County policy requires that gifts (other than real property) of a value over $2,500 be acknowledged in writing and referred to the Board of Supervisors for acceptance or rejection.

The Foundation was established in 1998 to financially support the recreational, environmental and educational programs and projects of the Parks Division. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and has an Executive Director.

Discussion

Volunteer Program

Beginning in 2000, the Foundation has directed $15,000 toward the annual funding for the Division's Volunteer Program. The funds traditionally have been used for Volunteer Recognition and Appreciation ($2,500), Volunteer Programmatic Needs ($6,000) and Special Projects or Programs ($6,500).

Phase 2 of the Vegetation Management Plan

The Foundation proposes to donate $100,000 towards the second phase of the Vegetation Management Plan as matching funds to Proposition 12 funds in the amount of $179,000 from the Roberti-Z'Berg-Harris Urban Open Space and Recreation Program block grant..

The work for Phase 1 of the Plan was funded entirely by the Foundation and completed in the spring of 2002. Vegetation communities and habitats were inventoried and mapped, and a database of the health and conditions in those vegetation communities was developed.

The work for Phase 2 of the Plan has three components:

1.

Development of a written vegetation management plan. This written plan will guide the Division's routine and one-time special major maintenance project activities in all of the parks. It will include best management practices and a decision-making system with success standards. The plan will provide the decision-making framework for addressing numerous management issues, including fuel load reductions, restoration of sensitive habitats, adaptive management, reducing non-point source pollution, addressing invasive exotic plants, pests and plant disease, and managing lands for recreational activities.

2.

Programmatic California Environmental Quality Act review of the plan (less than 25 percent of the total project cost).

3.

A collaborative pilot project in Junipero Serra Park and Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve. The written plan will be used to address special major maintenance issues such as fuel load reductions, removal of diseased trees and restoration of the parks' native habitats in collaborative work with other agencies and through utilization of community involvement.

Vision Alignment

Annual funding for the Parks Division's Volunteer Program keeps the commitment of PEOPLE, Realize the potential of our diverse populations and goal number 2: Civic engagement - including voting, public service, charitable giving, volunteerism and participation in public discussions of important issues - is uniformly high among the diverse population. The Foundation donation for the Volunteer Program contributes to this commitment and goal by providing funds that are used to develop greater and more diverse volunteer support in the Parks through activities and events that reach out to the community and for recognizing the efforts of volunteers.

Funding for Phase 2 of the Vegetation Management Plan keeps the commitment of PLACE, Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment and goal numbers 14 and 15: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship and residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities. The Foundation donation for funding of the 2^nd Phase of the Vegetation Management Plan contributes to this commitment and goal since the components of the plan address numerous management issues for the preservation and restoration of the natural resources of the Parks, the development of collaborations for the stewardship of the Parks' environment, and provides residents continued access to nearby green space.

Fiscal Impact

There is no significant impact on the County Parks budget. Annual funding for the Parks Divisions' Volunteer Program comes primarily from the General Fund. The annual contribution from the Foundation supplements the County's funding to enhance the Program. The Foundation's fund donation for Phase 2 of the Vegetation Management Plan supplements existing Proposition 12 funds and provides a required match that would otherwise make the County ineligible for those funds.