|
|
|
|
|
COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
|
Environmental Services Agency
|
|
|
DATE:
|
May 4, 2006
|
BOARD MEETING DATE:
|
May 23, 2006
|
SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
|
None
|
VOTE REQUIRED:
|
Four-Fifths Vote
|
|
|
TO:
|
Honorable Board of Supervisors
|
FROM:
|
Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency
|
SUBJECT:
|
Resolution for State Parks and Recreation Grant Agreement with County Parks and Recreation for a Memorial Park Marbled Murrelet Restoration and Corvid Management Project and Appropriation Transfer Request
|
|
|
RECOMMENDATION:
|
A.
|
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of County Parks and Recreation to execute a grant agreement between State Parks and Recreation and County Parks and Recreation and any other subsequent documents related to the grant in the amount of $106,650 for the Memorial County Park Marbled Murrelet Restoration and Corvid Management Project.
|
B.
|
Authorize an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) in the amount of $106,650 from State Aid to Fixed Assets.
|
|
|
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 and residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities.
|
|
|
This grant agreement between County and State Parks and Recreation contributes to the preservation of natural resources through grant funding in the amount of $106,650, which will be used for garbage control improvements at Memorial County Parks, including concrete pads and new animal-proof bins and cans to prevent problems associated with human food waste on corvids, Marbled murrelets, and other park wildlife; and also provide funding for a project manager to oversee the project and for seasonal interpretive staff to educate the public on proper food storage and the impacts upon wildlife from human actions.
The grant agreement and funding also contributes to the goal that residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities, through this educational and maintenance project that will in time improve the experience of visitors and campers at Memorial Park.
|
|
|
BACKGROUND:
|
The California State Lands Commission has worked with County Parks staff on developing mutually agreeable projects to use funding from the Command Natural Resource Damage Account (Command Oil Spill) for restoration with a nexus to mitigation of the damage of natural resources by the Command Oil Spill. Through this process, the Corvid Management Project in Big Basin, Butano and Portola State Parks, and Memorial County Park was developed.
|
|
|
DISCUSSION:
|
The purpose of the Corvid Management Project is the protection of 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 found in Memorial Park and other nearby State Parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Final Restoration Plan for the Command Oil Spill, dated June 2004 states: The Marbled Murrelet population in the Santa Cruz Mountains, is small, isolated and declining. At present, their rate of reproduction is insufficient to sustain the population.”
Corvids, particularly ravens and jays, are the primary nest predators of Marbled Murrelets. There is substantial evidence that that corvids associate people with food and are attracted to areas where people congregate, such as campgrounds, picnic areas and trails.
Administration of the funding from the Command Natural Resource Damage Account is by the California Department of Parks and Recreation through a standard agreement. A resolution from the Board is needed to authorize the County to execute the agreement. Under the agreement and with the grant funding, San Mateo County Parks will provide a Project Manager, two (2) seasonal interpretive employees and garbage control improvements fro the Marbled Murrelet Restoration and Corvid Management Project at Memorial Park.
|
|
|
FISCAL IMPACT:
|
The referenced project will be fully funded by the grant funding of $106,650 and there will be no negative impact on the County’s Net Costs. There will be a positive fiscal impact in that maintenance improvements and public education outreach will be accomplished at Memorial Park that protect our natural resources and enhance the public’s experience in our County’s open and green space.
|