Title
a. Adopt a Resolution to approve submittal of Proposition 68 grant funding applications under the California Department of Parks and Recreation Rural Recreation and Tourism Program (RRT); and
b. Adopt a Resolution to approve submittal of grant funding applications under the California Department of Parks and Recreation Regional Park Program (RPP).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Adopt a Resolution to approve submittal of grant funding applications under the California Department of Parks and Recreation Rural Recreation and Tourism Program (RRT); and
b. Adopt a Resolution to approve submittal of grant funding applications under the California Department of Parks and Recreation Regional Park Program (RPP).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Grant Program Background
On June 5, 2018, California voters passed Proposition 68, the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018, which authorized the issuance of approximately $4 billion in bonds pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all programs. Currently, the California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) is soliciting applications under the following two competitive grant funding opportunities.
The Rural Recreation and Tourism Program (RRT) is a competitive grant program with $23 million currently available to fund projects that create new recreation features in support of economic, tourism, and health-related goals. Competitive projects will improve the health of residents and attract out-of-town visitors. Eligible projects must be in a rural location with a population below 500,000 people, or in a city/town/census-designated place that has a population below 50,000 people and create or renovate at least one recreation feature. The renovation of recreation features and support amenities is allowable and cannot exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total project cost to maintain competitiveness.
The Regional Park Program (RPP) grant opportunity is a competitive grant program with $23 million currently available to fund projects that create at least one new recreation feature that attracts visitors from a 20-mile radius or countywide population to a regional park. Competitive projects will create, expand, and improve regional parks, offer nature appreciation, athletic activities, historical or cultural enrichment, or other recreational activities in an open space area and include a multiuse trail.
OGALS is accepting grant applications ranging from $200,000 to $3,000,000 for each grant program. The application deadline is November 5, 2021. Notification of funding awards is anticipated in Spring 2022.
Potential Projects
Public Works, Facilities, & Parks (PWFP) staff met regularly to evaluate the needs of Monterey County Parks and adjacent communities and developed scopes for projects meeting grant criteria for each grant opportunity. Staff held community meetings during weekdays and on Saturdays for each County park to gather insight from community members about their vision for recreation features and safety and beautification needs to incorporate into the project scopes. Staff consulted with Nossaman, LLP, (Consultant) to determine competitiveness of the proposed projects and established the best fit for each project within the active grant opportunities. Receiving grant funds will allow the County to expand recreation features at the County parks and upgrade aging recreation equipment. The overarching goal in seeking grant funding is to enhance the visitor and community experience and safety at County parks.
Three potential projects were developed that would meet RRT grant program requirements, including its median income requirement, so that no matching funds would be required. These projects are described in detail in Attachment A and include: a) Lake San Antonio-North Shore (LSA-NS) Amphitheater Project, b) Lake San Antonio-South Shore (LSA-SS) Marina Project, and c) San Lorenzo County Park (SLP) Project.
Seven potential projects were developed that would meet RPP grant program requirements. These projects are described in detail in Attachment B and include: a) Toro Park Recreation Feature Enhancement, b) Fort Ord/Travel Camp Project, c) Jacks’ Peak Park Trail and Picnic Area Project, d) Royal Oaks Park Project, e) Manzanita Park Project, f) Laguna Seca Recreation Area, and g) 855 East Laurel Drive BMX/Pump Track/ Skate Park.
If grant funds are awarded for either grant, the following requirements must be met: 1) Projects must be completed by March 31, 2025, to conclude the grant cycle by June 30, 2025, and 2) A 30-year deed restriction must be recorded on the title of the project site property to ensure that the project site and recreation features will remain open for public use and recreation for 30 years.
Based on feedback from the Consultant, the potential LSA-NS Amphitheater and LSA-SS Marina projects were deemed most competitive for the RRT grant program. The potential Toro Park Feature Enhancement and Fort Ord/Travel Camp projects were deemed most competitive for the RPP grant program.
Parks Commission Recommendation and Board of Supervisors Direction
On August 5, 2021, the Monterey County Parks Commission (Parks Commission) received a report on the proposed projects for RRT and RPP grant opportunities, including guidance from our Consultant about project competitiveness for the respective grant programs. The presentation
provided to the Parks Commission is included with this report as Attachment C. The Parks Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the Board of Supervisors: 1) approve the submittal of grant applications to the RRT grant program for the LSA-NS Amphitheater Project, LSA-SS Marina Project, and San Lorenzo Park Project (if funds are not awarded through a prior grant application for San Lorenzo Park), and 2) approve the submittal of grant applications to the RPP grant program for the Toro Park Project, Fort Ord/Travel Camp Project, and 855 E Laurel Drive Project.
Based on Parks Commission recommendations noted above, staff prepared two resolutions, one for each grant program, which are required to be included in the grant application package. The resolution for RRT projects recommended by the Parks Commission is provided in Attachment D; the resolution for RPP projects recommended by the Parks Commission is provided in Attachment E. As required by the template resolutions provided in the grant solicitation, the proposed resolutions designate a County position who will have the authority to submit the grant applications and any necessary related documents. Staff recommends that the PWFP Director serve as the County’s authorized representative, and the proposed resolutions have been prepared accordingly.
Staff requests Board consideration of the potential projects recommended for each grant funding program, or alternate direction that the Board may wish to provide. The Consultant recommended that the County not submit more than two projects under each grant program as it is highly unlikely that more than one project will be awarded. The Parks Commission chose to recommend submission of three proposed projects for each grant opportunity.
Next Steps
The County is not approving any project by this action and maintains all discretionary authority with respect to project approval. The adoption of this Resolution is not considered a “project” under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Upon Board approval of the specific projects to submit, staff will finalize and submit the applications by the November 5, 2021 deadline. The County must complete an analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for each proposed project to demonstrate project readiness. This must be completed and submitted to OGALS within three months of the application due date. Staff expects that some projects likely will be exempt from CEQA, and others might require preparation of an Initial Study and Negative Declaration or possibly Mitigated Negative Declaration. Based on preliminary coordination with on-call consultants, staff does not expect that a full Environmental Impact Report would be required for any of the proposed projects. Staff intends to engage an on-call consultant to complete the required CEQA reviews, the cost for which is considered an upfront cost eligible for reimbursement if grant funds are awarded.
The State expects to announce recommended grant recipients in Spring 2022. If any of the County’s proposed projects are selected to receive grant funding, staff will return to the Board for approval to accept the grant award(s) and approve the project(s).
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of County Counsel reviewed and approved the Report and draft Resolutions. OGALS administers the Grant Program and established the prescribed language for the Resolution that must accompany all grant applications. On August 5, 2021, the Parks Commission voted unanimously to support this recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. As LSA’s landowner, Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) is supportive of the proposed LSA-NS and LSA-SS projects. Staff is finalizing an LSA lease renewal agreement with MCWRA with a minimum term of 30 years to satisfy RTT, RPP, and other State grant requirements. Staff is working with the Consultant to determine each proposed project’s competitiveness.
FINANCING:
A cash match is not required for the RPP grant program and the proposed projects for the RRT grant program meet the median income requirement, so that no funding match would be required. An in-kind match of staff time to research and define the scopes of the projects and complete the applications is necessary. Upfront costs include hiring contractors to fulfill CEQA requirements ($7,000- $20,000 per application) and prepare a project cost estimate ($7,000- $9,000 per application). Sufficient funds are available to cover these costs in Fiscal Year 2021-2022 PWFP Adopted Budget, Fund 402 CIP Admin.
If grant funding is received for the proposed projects, the annual maintenance and operations costs described in the attachments for new recreation features will need to be augmented to the annual budget. Once the amenities are installed, they become park assets and are folded into ongoing park maintenance and operations. Each asset is identified along with the required associated time standards for maintenance operations as well as staff costs. Future operating and maintenance costs associated with the new features will be requested through the annual budget process. Should additional funds otherwise be required, staff will return to the Board of Supervisors, via the appropriate Commissions and Committees, to request increases in appropriations and/or contributions from the General Fund.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The recommended action supports the Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives for Administration, Health & Human Services, Infrastructure, and Public Safety by proactively seeking grant funding to enhance the County’s ability to facilitate infrastructure projects and offer improved facilities and safe public recreation experiences to the community.
Economic Development
X Administration
X Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Janie Bettencourt, Management Analyst II (831) 755-5184
Nathan Merkle, Parks Administrative Operations Manager
Reviewed by: Lindsay Lerable, Chief of Facilities
Bryan Flores, Interim Chief of Parks
Approved by: Tom Bonigut, PE, Interim Assistant Director of Public Works, Facilities, & Parks
Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities, & Parks
Attachments:
Attachment A-Proposed Projects RRT Grant Program
Attachment B-Proposed Projects RPP Grant Program
Attachment C-August 5, 2021 Parks Commission Presentation
Attachment D-Draft Resolution RRT Grant Program
Attachment E-Draft Resolution RPP Grant Program
(Attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board)