Title
Adopt a resolution to:
a. Authorize the Monterey County Resource Management Agency Director to submit a grant application to the California Coastal Commission in an amount of up to $100,000 for financial assistance to fund the development of a Maritime Chaparral Management Plan and the evaluation of sea level rise adaptation measures as part of the County's update of its certified Local Coastal Program, and
b. Authorize the Resource Management Agency Director, or his designee, to execute on behalf of the County of Monterey, all necessary applications, contracts and agreements and amendments thereto as needed to receive grant funding.
(REF140055/California Coastal Commission LCP Planning Grant)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Adopt a resolution to:
a. Authorize the Monterey County Resource Management Agency Director to submit a grant application to the California Coastal Commission in an amount of up to $100,000 for financial assistance to fund the development of a Maritime Chaparral Management Plan and the evaluation of sea level rise adaptation measures as part of the County's update of its certified Local Coastal Program, and
b. Direct the Resource Management Agency Director, or his designee, to execute in the name of the County of Monterey, all necessary applications, contracts and agreements and amendments thereto to implement and carry out the grant application.
SUMMARY:
On April 23, 2014, the California Coastal Commission (CCC) announced the availability of Fiscal Year 2014-2015 grants to support local government updates of their Local Coastal Programs (LCP) under the California Coastal Act in order to conserve and protect coastal resources with special emphasis on addressing impacts from climate change and sea-level rise. The application is due by July 7, 2014 and must be accompanied by an adopted resolution by the Board of Supervisors.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed grant application program is designed to address the most pressing issues related to climate change on California's central coast-increased frequency and intensity of wildfire and sea level rise. The work program includes two parts: Part 1 is the preparation of a Maritime Chaparral Management Plan that would provide the latest in science-based information on the characteristics and range of the habitat and set forth a management plan for habitat stewardship and fire safety. Part 1 also includes the integration of the Maritime Chaparral Management Plan into new LCP policies and regulations for each of Monterey County's four coastal Land Use Plans-North County, Del Monte Forest, Carmel, and Big Sur.
Part 2 of the work program is an adjunct to the Monterey Bay Sea Level Rise Adaptation Project (funded by the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) in FY 13-14) designed to identify and evaluate specific adaptation and management strategies that could be implemented in the Monterey Bay Region. Table 1 shows the detailed project budget (Attachment A)
The work to be undertaken under this grant is a critical component to the successful completion of the Monterey County LCP, which is currently underway. The status of the update process, which is expected to be complete in early 2017, is as follows:
· RMA-Planning began the LCP update process in 2008 by initiating work on the Moss Landing Community Plan, which is Chapter 5 of the North County Land Use Plan. This update was actively pursued until 2010, when the project was placed on hold due to staffing and budget limitations.
· The Moss Landing Community Plan update was restarted in early 2012, made possible with funding from the Coastal Impact Assistant Program (CIAP). These funds also allowed staff to prepare a detailed work program for the remainder of the Monterey County LCP. The Moss Landing Community Plan is currently the subject of an environmental impact report, which is expected in draft form by August 2014.
· Staff began work on the North County Land Use Plan in spring 2013.
· Beginning in the spring 2013, the Big Sur Land Use Advisory Committee undertook revisions to the Big Sur Land Use Plan. County staff has attended upon request and is in the process of reviewing and commenting on proposed revisions.
· Also in 2013, staff began work on a new LCP Part I (General Provisions) that will contain provisions that apply consistently across all land use plan areas.
· Major revisions to the Del Monte Forest Land Use Plan were certified by the Coastal Commission in 2012 as part of the Pebble Beach Company's (PBC) project. There are a few revisions required to address issues that did not pertain to the PBC project.
· Staff met with the Carmel LUAC in early 2013 and will begin working on the Carmel Land Use Plan in early 2015.
· Staff expects to have a draft Local Coastal Plan/General Plan update by early 2017
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
This application for grant funds through the California Coastal Commission's LCP Grant Program falls outside the definition of the term "project" as defined in §15378 of the CEQA Guidelines. The term "project" does not include "the creation of government funding mechanisms or other government fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any specific project. . . ." The County will prepare such environmental review as is appropriate under the Coastal Act and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the proposed LCP Update, which is the subject of the grant application.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The grant application will be reviewed and considered by the California Coastal Commission.
FINANCING
There is no impact to the General Fund as a result of the recommended actions. The proposed application for the California Coastal Commission LCP Planning Grant is for $100,000 for stand-alone technical study and LCP policy development. The proposed project, as conceived, depends only on in-kind services provided by RMA - Planning staff costs equivalent to $30,000 and no additional matching funds. RMA-Planning staff costs associated with the General Plan Implementation, which includes the LCP update, are included in the Adopted Budgets for RMA-Planning. The proposed grant project would complement the ongoing work to update the Monterey County LCP, which includes the North County Land Use Plan, Del Monte Forest Land Use Plan, Carmel Land Use Plan, and Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan.
Prepared by: Martin Carver, AICP, Management Specialist, Ext. 6049
Approved by: Mike Novo, Director, RMA-Planning, ext. 5192
Benny Young, Director Resource Management Agency
This report was reviewed by Jacqueline R. Onciano, Planning Services Manager
cc: Front Counter Copy; Jacqueline Onciano, Planning Services Manager; The Open Monterey Project; LandWatch; Project File REF140055
The following attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Attachment A: Table 1- Detailed Project Budget
Attachment B: Draft Resolution with Attachment (Grant Application)