Title
Adopt 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 $315,000 for financial assistance to support the County's update of its certified Local Coastal Program
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.
(REF130104/California Coastal Commission LCP Planning Grant)
StaffReport
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 $315,000 to provide financial assistance to support the County's update of its certified Local Coastal Program
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 September 5, 2013, the California Coastal Commission announced the availability of Fiscal Year 2013-2014 grants to support local government update of their Local Coastal Program (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 November 22, 2013, and an adopted resolution by the Board of Supervisors must accompany the grant application by no later than December 19, 2013 for the application to be considered by the California Coastal Commission. RMA-Planning prepared an application for the California Coastal Commission LCP Planning Grant and submitted it on November 22, 2013 without an approved resolution.
DISCUSSION:
The LCP Update is the update of the Monterey County Local Coastal Program (LCP), which is comprised of four Land Use Plans (North County, Del Monte Forest, Carmel, and Big Sur) and associated Coastal Implementation Plans (contained in Title 20 of the Monterey County Code). The proposed grant application will assist in the funding of this effort. Other funding includes proceeds from the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) in the amount of $387,986, the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) in the amount of $75,000, and from Moss Landing applicants in the amount of $352,070.
The status of the update process, which is expected to be complete by April 2016, 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 shortages.
· The Moss Landing Community Plan update was restarted in early 2012 made possible with an infusion of funds from Coastal Impact Assistant Program (CIAP). These funds also allowed staff to scope out its update 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 the end of 2013.
· Staff began work on the North County Land Use Plan in spring 2013 and has provided information upon request to a citizen's group that meets to discuss the North County LUP update and provide recommendations to the District 2 Supervisor.
· Beginning spring 2013, the Big Sur Land Use Advisory Committee undertook revisions to the Big Sur Land Use Plan. County staff has attended upon request.
· Also in 2013, staff has outlined 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 2014.
· Staff expects to have a draft Local Coastal Plan/General Plan update by April 2016
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 decided upon by the California Coastal Commission.
FINANCING:
The LCP Update is projected to costs $1,647,070 through April 2016. The proposed application for the California Coastal Commission LCP Planning Grant is for $315,000 and would represent approximately 20 percent of the total budget. The County has secured other project funding from various sources, and with the additional funds from the California Coastal Commission the LCP Project would be 88 percent funded. An additional $290,000 is needed to complete project funding, and RMA staff will be working to identify a source for these funds, including a possible request as part of the coming FY14-15 County budget. Accordingly, there may be an impact to the General Fund.
The County would provide an in-kind contribution to the LCP Update in the form of staffing that is equivalent to $227,014. The total summary budget for the LCP Update is presented in Table 1 below.
Table 1. LCP Update Budget
Task Number |
Task |
Total Cost |
Allocation of total cost among all funding sources |
|
|
|
Monterey County1 |
LCP Grant Funding |
CIAP |
OPC |
Moss Landing Applicants |
1 |
Scoping/Initiation |
$15,000 |
$2,014 |
|
$12,986 |
|
|
2 |
LCP Part I (General Provisions) |
$485,000 |
$215,000 |
$230,000 |
|
$40,000 |
|
3 |
North County2 |
$592,070 |
$30,000 |
$5,000 |
$170,000 |
$35,000 |
$352,070 |
4 |
Del Monte Forest |
$205,000 |
$30,000 |
$5,000 |
$170,000 |
|
|
5 |
Carmel |
$85,000 |
$45,000 |
$40,000 |
|
|
|
6 |
Big Sur |
$80,000 |
$45,000 |
$35,000 |
|
|
|
7 |
Environmental Review3 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
|
|
|
|
8 |
Hearings |
$15,000 |
|
|
$15,000 |
|
|
9 |
CCC Certification |
$10,000 |
|
|
$10,000 |
|
|
10 |
Final Adoption |
$10,000 |
|
|
$10,000 |
|
|
TOTAL |
|
$1,647,070 |
$517,014 |
$315,0004 |
$387,986 |
$75,000 |
$352,070 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes: 1Slightly more than half of this amount ($227,014) is in-kind services; the remainder of this amount ($290,000) is unsecured, and Monterey County will be pursuing these funds from other sources, including Monterey County funds in the FY14-15 budget.
2This task includes update of the Moss Landing Community Plan
3The primary technical studies needed to support the environmental review would be completed as part of LCP Part I (General Provisions).
4Of this total, $98,934 would be expended directly on technical studies undertaken by outside experts to support plan development, including a maritime chaparral management plan, a visual resources analysis, an air quality and greenhouse gas emission analysis, and a cultural resources analysis. An additional $15,000 would go to facilitate a regional sea level rise dialog. The remaining $201,066 would be used to prepare key parts of LCP Part I (General Provisions), including a new safety element addressing climate change adaptation; to prepare plan documents for the Carmel and Big Sur planning areas; and to supplement public participation efforts in all planning areas.
Prepared by: Martin Carver, AICP, Management Specialist, Ext. 6049
Approved by: Mike Novo, Director, RMA-Planning, ext. 5192
Benny J. 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 REF130104
The following attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Attachment A: Draft Resolution with Attachment (Grant Application)