COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Parks

DATE:

November 7, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 18, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David G. Holland, Director, Department of Parks

SUBJECT:

Acceptance of a California Department of Fish and Game Habitat Conservation Planning Grant in the Amount of $98,480

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing and directing the Director of the Department of Parks to accept a California Department of Fish and Game Habitat Conservation Planning Grant in the amount of $98,480, for the preparation of an amendment to the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan, and execute documents in connection therewith.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

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

Goal 14: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship.

Authorizing the Director of Parks to accept this grant contributes to this commitment and goal as the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is a document that was created to provide for actions that preserve important natural resources on San Bruno Mountain and is being amended. The approval of the amendment to the HCP will include approval of the Master Plan for the San Bruno Mountain State and County Park to guide future enhancements in the Park.

BACKGROUND:

The San Bruno Mountain HCP was adopted in 1982 for the purpose of providing for the protection of certain federally listed plant and animal species and to preserve and restore the ecological values on the Mountain. The County, the cities of Brisbane, Daly City, and South San Francisco, the California Departments of Parks and Recreation and Fish and Game, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS”), and several developers of property within the San Bruno Mountain Area, are signatories to the Plan. The USFWS issued a Section 10a Permit to allow the incidental take of protected species in association with development allowed by the Plan.

An amendment of the HCP Agreement and Section 10a Permit is needed in response to the listing of the Calippe silverspot butterfly and to incorporate adaptive management to better manage and implement the HCP.

The Board is being asked to enter into revised agreements with Thomas Reid Associates for preparation of the Amendment, and Jones and Stokes for preparation of the Initial Study/Environmental Assessment to determine the most appropriate level of CEQA/NEPA environmental review, and if found appropriate, to prepare a Mitigated Negative Declaration/Environmental Assessment as part of the process of amending the HCP. The anticipated time of completion of the HCP amendment is December 31, 2008.

DISCUSSION:

In order to secure the necessary funding for the completion of the process, funds have been obtained from several sources, including a prior grant from the California Department of Fish and Game, and a contribution from Brookfield Homes.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This action will secure a grant to assist in funding the HCP amendment process. No general fund monies will be required. All funding has been secured to complete the process.