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RPVCCA_SR_2010_10_19_09_Land_Water_Conservation_GrantCITY OF MEMORANDUM RANCHO PALOS VERDES TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: HONORABLE MAYOR &MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL CAROLYNN PETRU,DEPUTY CITY MANAGER OCTOBER 19,2010 LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT APPLICATION:PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS AT ABALONE COVE SHORELINE PARK REVIEWED BY:CAROLYN LEHR,CITY MANAGER ~/ Project Manager:Sara Singer,Senior Administrative Analyst ~ RECOMMENDATION ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND ABALONE COVE SHORELINE PARK PROJECT. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION The California State Parks and Recreation Department is accepting grant applications for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)Grant Program.The LWCF program provides matching grants for acquisition or development of lands and facilities that provide or su pport pu blic outdoor recreation.The amou nt of the state's apportionment for this year is $1,740,430.Applications for the LWCF are due on November 1,2010. Over the past month,staff has been meeting with the City's grant consultant,Blais & Associates,to learn more about the grant program and discuss potential projects that would be competitive forthis funding opportunity.This grant is a reimbursement program. The City would be expected to fund the entire project,and the award could be a reimbursement up to 50 percent of the project cost.The City is proposing to make improvements to Abalone Cove Shoreline Park as outlined in the City Council approved Coast Vision Plan. 9-1 LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT APPLICATION:PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS AT ABALONE COVE SHORELINE PARK October 19,2010 Page 2 Based on the grant scoring criteria,improvements at the Abalone Cove site would be highly competitive.Staff proposes submitting a grant application with the following scope of work: •Replace picnic tables and benches; •Construct two shade structures; •Replace trash receptacles; •Install a drinking fountain; •Install mutt mitt dispensers; •Install park benches; •Improve trailheads and all trails/paths; •Improve picnic areas (grading); •Replace bluff top fencing; •Install interpretive signage along trails; •Improve viewing areas (grading); •Public art nodes (grading);and, •Install a Preserve kiosk sign. In 2010,the City Council adopted the following Tactical Goal: Improve the City's recreational and educational facilities by expanding opportunities for active recreational uses and improving access to all parks. If this grant were to be awarded to the City,access to Abalone Cove Shoreline Park would be significantly improved and the educational experience at the park would be enhanced through the proposed improvements.In keeping with staff's commitment to seek all reasonable grant opportunities available for projects consistent with the City's goals,with Council's concurrence,staff plans to continue work with the City's grant consultant to develop a grant application for the Abalone Cove Shoreline Park site. Site Information Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is zoned Open Space Recreation (OR)and the adjacent cliffs are zoned Open Space Hazard (OH).The park is located within Subregion 5 of the City's Coastal Specific Plan and a portion of the property is also within the City's Landslide Moratorium Area. The site currently consists of two beaches:Abalone Cove and Sacred Cove,both of which feature tide pools,magnificent viewing areas,hiking trails and picnic areas.The park is accessed off of Palos Verdes Drive South and visitors are required to pay a $5 fee for parking in the unimproved dirt/gravel parking lot.Visitors to the park can explore the extraordinary geology,marine life,peninsula history and learn about the Native Americans who once resided in the area through scheduled docent-led tours.The site is also adjacent to the Lower Filiorum property,which when eventually developed for single family homes,would be required to dedicate an open space/wildlife corridor to the City connecting 9-2 LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT APPLICATION:PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS AT ABALONE COVE SHORELINE PARK October 19,2010 Page 3 Abalone Cove to the balance of the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. Coast Vision Plan The City Council adopted the Coast Vision Plan in 2008,which provides the City with guidance for implementing future improvements to key areas along the coast.The key areas examined in the Plan include the following sites:Upper Point Vicente,Lower Point Vicente,Abalone Cove,Gateway Park and Del Cerro Park.Staff assessed all sites studied in the Coast Vision Plan to determine which site was best suited for this grant opportunity. As described below,it was determined that these amenities proposed at Abalone Cove Shoreline Park would meet the criteria outlined in the grant. Abalone Cove The Coast Vision Plan identifies the following goals for the Abalone Cove site: •Add new park amenities -picnic tables,shade features,benches,trash receptacles,and an ADA accessible bluff top trail and trail signage. •Implement an invasive species removal and low profile shade tree planting program within the park Public Outreach Public outreach was a key component in the development of the Coast Vision Plan.Three public workshops were held,and many interested individuals sent comments via letters and emails.All input from the public was summarized and considered when developing the final plan for each site evaluated in the Vision Plan. In addition to the public outreach efforts completed during the Coast Vision Plan process, the City will be conducting a focus group meeting on Friday,October 22,2010,to gather input from community members regarding this grant application for Abalone Cove.The focus group includes members from the following groups:neighbors of Abalone Cove, PUMP,City Council,Los Serenos de Point Vicente,PVP Land Conservancy,Library District,School District,Terranea,Park Rangers,and staff from the Community Development and Recreation &Parks Departments.The public input received during this outreach meeting will be incorporated as staff prepares the application for submittal. Future CIP Projects and Grant Opportunities The City's Capital Improvement Plan currently includes improvements for both Abalone Cove and Gateway Park in FY11-12 and FY12-13.The funding for the improvements would be provided by potential grant funding which would require a 20 percent match from the City.Public Works submitted an application for Metro's 2009 Call For Projects. Unfortunately,the application was denied. 9-3 LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT APPLICATION:PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS AT ABALONE COVE SHORELINE PARK October 19,2010 Page 4 In June 2010,the City applied for the State Parks and Recreation Department's Nature Education Facilities Grant Program.This application included improvements to the parking lot,restrooms,and some trails at Abalone Cove in addition to the construction of a new Nature Education Center.The City has not yet been notified if this grant has been awarded;however,the improvements proposed in the Nature Education Center grant application should not impact the improvements being proposed in the LWCF grant application. If this grant were awarded,it would aid the City in implementing the plan outlined in the Coast Vision Plan.This grant would also help to fund the improvements proposed in the City's Capital Improvement Plan. FISCAL IMPACT The grant will reimburse up to 50 percent of the project cost.Staff's proposed improvements are estimated to cost approximately $432,650.Therefore,the City's share of this project could be $216,325. Because improvements at Abalone Cove have already been included in the Capital Improvement Plan, based on the assumption that the City would apply for grant funding,a twenty percent matching amount has been included in the City's Five Year Model for this project.The Model includes $20,000 for FY11-12 and $30,000 for FY12-13 for improvements at Abalone Cove. The remaining amount would be $166,325 to meet the grant's 50 percent match requirement.If the grant were awarded,staff would review the Capital Improvement Plan schedule and the status of projects currently budgeted in the Five Year Plan.Several park projects will be reviewed and approved by the City Council within the next year that will not immediately commit all funds required in the present fiscal year.Staff anticipates that once all park projects are reviewed by the Council for final approval,construction will necessarily be scheduled over a few years.The construction schedule for the park projects could allow for allocating some of these funds towards the matching amount for the Abalone Cove Project.Project savings for design and construction of the park projects could also be allocated towards the Abalone Cove project.If the park project savings are not adequate,then another source of funding would need to be identified in order to complete all projects currently planned in the Capital Improvement Plan.Other sources of funding could include future developer fees such as EET/Quimby. Attachments: Resolution No.2010-XX 9-4 RESOLUTION NO.2010-XX A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND ABALONE COVE SHORELINE PARK PROJECT WHEREAS,the Congress under Public Law 88-578 has authorized the establishment of a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant-In-Aid program, providing Matching funds to the State of California and its political subdivisions for acquiring lands and developing Facilities for public outdoor recreation purposes;and WHEREAS,the California Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible for administration of the program in the State,setting up necessary rules and procedures governing Applications by local agencies under the program;and WHEREAS,said adopted procedures established by the State Department of Parks and Recreation require the APPLICANT to certify by resolution the approval of Applications and the availability of eligible Matching funds prior to submission of said Applications to the State;and WHEREAS,the proposed Abalone Cove Shoreline Park Project is consistent with the most recent California Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP);and WHEREAS,the Project must be compatible with the land use plans of those jurisdictions immediately surrounding the Project; NOW,THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES DOES HEREBY: 1.Approves the filing of an Application for Land and Water Conservation Fund assistance;and 2.Agrees to abide by SECTION 6(F)(3)of Public Law 88-578 which states "No property acquired or developed with assistance under this section shall,without the approval of the National Secretary of the Interior,be converted to other than public outdoor recreation uses.The Secretary shall approve such conversion only if he finds it to be in accord with the then existing comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan and only upon such conditions as he deems necessary to assure the substitution of other recreation properties of at least equal fair market value and of reasonably equivalent usefulness and location." 3.Certifies that said agency has Matching funds from eligible source(s)and can finance 100 percent of the Project,which up to half may be reimbursed;and 9-5 4.Certifies that the Project is compatible with the land use plans of those jurisdictions immediately surrounding the Project;and 5.Appoints the City Manager as agent of the APPLICANT to conduct all negotiations and execute and submit all documents,including,but not limited to,Applications, contracts,amendments,payment requests,and compliance with all applicable current state and federal laws which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned Project. PASSED,APPROVED,AND ADOPTED this 19th day of October 2010. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )ss CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES ) I,Carla Morreale,City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,hereby certify that the above Resolution No.201 O-XX was dUly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City Council following a roll call vote: Ayes Noes Absent at a regular meeting held on October 19,2010. City Clerk 9-6