TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: David Morrison - Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Barb Ruffino - Staff Services Manager
SUBJECT: Wildlife Conservation Commission Budget Recommendation in Support of Grant Requests
RECOMMENDATION
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Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services requests approval of and authorization for the Chair to sign the following grant agreements for the term July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, for a total of $41,125 pursuant to recommendations by the Wildlife Conservation Commission:
1. Agreement No. 230126B for $10,000 with Napa-Solano Audubon Society in support of an Education Coordinator;
2. Agreement No. 230127B for $10,375 with Napa County Resource Conservation District to provide technical assistance related to planting programs supporting western monarch butterfly habitat;
3. Agreement No. 230128B for $10,375 with Napa Wildlife Rescue in support of a Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician/ Education Assistant; and
4. Agreement No. 230129B for $10,375 with Land Trust of Napa County for habitat enhancement for California red-legged frog and removal of invasive goat grass at the Wragg Ridge Preserve.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Napa County Wildlife Conservation Commission (WCC) held a regular meeting on August 15, 2022, to conduct annual grant application review and to develop funding recommendations. The WCC reviewed grant proposals from six organizations that requested a total of $64,726 in funding from the WCC budget. The WCC decided after a 5-3 vote to recommend approval of six (6) grant proposals for a total amount of $50,000. Funding for WCC grants is provided by Department of Fish and Wildlife court fines and settlements, as well as local fines and settlements that are intended for this specific purpose. Napa County General Fund also allocated $50,000 for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 to the WCC budget to support these grant proposals.
Pursuant to the Napa County Purchasing Policy, it is requested the Board execute grant agreements for Napa-Solano Audubon Society, Napa County Resource Conservation District, Napa Wildlife Rescue, and the Land Trust of Napa County. Grant agreements for International Bird Rescue and California Department of Fish & Wildlife qualify for PBES Director approval (each with a total of less than $5,000) and therefore do not require action by the Board.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Budget unit 21200 (Wildlife Conservation) |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Wildlife Conservation Commission grants support wildlife conservation and other related projects, consistent with State guidelines. Funding for grants is provided by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife court fines/settlements, local fines/settlements that are intended for this specific purpose and the General Fund. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
No impacts beyond Fiscal Year 2022-2023 |
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Consequences if not approved: |
The proposed wildlife conservation projects would not be undertaken at this time and grant funds would not be expended until such time as the Wildlife Conservation Commission could consider grant applications again in 2023 and provide recommendations to the Board. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Vibrant and Sustainable Environment |
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposals from the Napa-Solano Audubon (NSA), Napa County Resource Conservation District (RCD), Napa Wildlife Rescue (NWR), Land Trust of Napa County (LTNC), International Bird Rescue (IBR) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are not projects as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The WCC conducts four meetings annually, with one meeting dedicated to conducting an annual grant funding review. On August 15, 2022, the WCC held a regular meeting to conduct their annual grant review and to develop their funding recommendations. The WCC reviewed grant proposals from six (6) organizations requesting a total of $64,726 from the WCC budget. The WCC determined that all proposals were closely aligned with the eligibility criteria and priorities of the WCC, including direct benefit to wildlife and wildlife habitat, as well as education and outreach to youth and adults on conservation of wildlife and their habitat. Due to the WCC’s limited budget of $50,000, the recommendation for awards include full funding for California Department of Fish and Wildlife, International Bird Rescue, and Napa-Solano Audubon, and reduced awards for the remaining three requests (Napa County Resource Conservation District at 74%, Napa Wildlife Rescue at 51%, the Land Trust of Napa County at 90%) so that grants could be recommended to all organizations.
The recommended grants totaling $50,000 would provide for the following projects:
1. $4,376 for California Department of Fish and Wildlife to fund the purchase of an electric motor to facilitate wardens gaining access to shallow ponds in Napa Marsh to enforce compliance checks on waterfowl hunters and to educate the public;
2. $4,500 for International Bird Rescue to fund the rescue and rehabilitation of aquatic birds in Napa County in 2022-2023;
3. $10,000 for Napa-Solano Audubon in support of a part-time Education Coordinator and part-time College Intern;
4. $10,375 for Napa County Resource Conservation District to provide technical assistance for the Monarch Butterfly Habitat project;
5. $10,375 for Napa Wildlife Rescue to support the hiring of a full-time Education Assistant / Wildlife Rehabilitation Technician; and
6. $10,375 to Land Trust of Napa County to hire conservation crews to assist with upland habitat enhancement for California red-legged frog through the creation of habitat piles on the Wragg Ridge Preserve, and to remove invasive goat grass on the Preserve.