COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

 

DATE:

September 2, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 27, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Authorizing Resolution for Recreational Trails Program Grant Application in the Amount of $150,000 for the Mirada Surf Coastal Trail

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

1.

Approving the filing of a Recreational Trails Program grant application in the amount of $150,000 for the Mirada Surf Coastal Trail;

2.

Certifying that said applicant has, or will have available, prior to commencement of any work on the project included in this application, sufficient funds to operate and maintain the project; and

3.

Appointing the Director of the Environmental Services Agency as the agent of the County to conduct all negotiations and execute and submit all documents, including, but not limited to, applications, contracts, amendments, payment requests, and so on which may be necessary for the completion of the Project.

   

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

Goals 14 and 15: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship; residents have nearby access to green space.

 

This Recreational Trails Program grant application, is successful, will contribute to these goals by funding the development of the Mirada Surf Trail, a natural resource acquired by the County for preservation and enhancement to provide residents nearby access to green and open space.

 

BACKGROUND:

The Transportational Equity Act for the 21st Century provides funds to the State of California for grants to state, local and non-profit organizations to acquire, develop and/or maintain motorized and non-motorized trail purposes. The State Department of Parks and Recreation has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of the program within the State, setting up necessary procedures governing project application under the program known as “The Recreational Trails Program” (RTP).

 

The San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation (Foundation), as part of their contract with the County, is preparing a grant application to the RTP in the amount of $150,000 for the Mirada Surf Coastal Trail. Completion of the missing segment of the trail on Mirada Surf was one of the reasons the County made the acquisition in August 2004. Also, completion of the trail segment was an important factor in the California Coastal Conservancy's grant towards the acquisition. Their grant included $100,000 for the trail planning currently in progress.

 

DISCUSSION:

The Foundation will prepare the grant application, which is due by October 3, 2005. The authorizing resolution required by the RTP for the grant application states that the County certify all funding will be in place before beginning trail construction and funding is in place for maintenance. County policy requires adequate funding to be in place before issuing bids for construction. To date the Foundation has secured $50,000 towards the trail development. Although an additional $100,000 from the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation program was secured through Caltrans, those program funds were deleted from the State's budget. Grant requests to other funding programs are pending. Maintenance of the trail will fall under the normal activities of the Parks and Recreation Division.

This project will include development of approximately a half of mile of Class 1 multi-use trail with a small bridge to protect riparian habitat, a bathroom and signage.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The project for which this grant application is being made will be fully funded by grant funding; there will be no Net County Cost associated with the project work. Upon project completion, County Parks and Recreation staff will maintain the trail – funding for maintenance operations is budgeted under the County’s General Fund.