REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 9, 2023
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application for the County Service Area 20 Joshua Tree Phase II of the Desert View Conservation Area Recreational Trails Project
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of County Service Area 20 Joshua Tree:
1. Authorize the submission of a Wildlife Conservation Board grant application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation requesting an amount not-to-exceed $2,000,000 for the County Service Area 20 Joshua Tree Phase II of the Desert View Conservation Area Recreational Trails Project.
2. Adopt Resolution, as required by the Wildlife Conservation Board, which:
a. Approves the filing of an application for grant funds from the Wildlife Conservation Board for the proposed County Service Area 20 Joshua Tree Phase II of the Desert View Conservation Area Recreational Trails Project.
b. Certifies that County Service Area 20 Joshua Tree will comply with all federal, state and local environmental, public health, and other appropriate laws and regulations applicable to the project and will obtain or will ensure that the other project partners obtain all appropriate permits applicable to the project.
c. Authorizes the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of the Department of Public Works as agents of County Service Area 20 Joshua Tree to conduct all negotiations, and execute and submit all documents, including the application and any other subsequent documents or amendments, that are related to the grant application process and completion of the project, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Works to transmit the application documents and amendments in relation to this grant to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Department of Public Works - Special Districts (Special Districts) is seeking a grant in an amount not-to-exceed $2,000,000 from the State of California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) for the County Service Area 20 (CSA 20) Joshua Tree Phase II of the Desert View Conservation Area (DVCA) Recreational Trails Project (Project). This grant has no required matching component.
If this application is successful, Special Districts will return to the Board of Supervisors (Board) for acceptance of the grant and approval of the related budget adjustments.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The DVCA, which is managed by Special Districts on behalf of CSA 20 Joshua Tree, is comprised of approximately 605 acres of mostly undisturbed habitat located south of State Highway 62 in Joshua Tree. Mountain biking, hiking, and horseback riding are all popular activities within the DVCA.
On December 17, 2019 (Item No. 69), the Board awarded a construction contract for various improvements to the DVCA including development of a designated parking area, restroom, main informational kiosk, and two complimenting trail routes in the natural open space area with signage. These improvements (Phase I) were recently completed and funded through federal and state grants.
Phase II of the DVCA development seeks to make additional improvements as requested by the local community and planned with Special Districts. The improvements include trail directional signage, informational kiosks with covered seating areas, habitat shelters, viewing platforms, discovery interpretive panels, picnic tables, and mileage posts.
Created by legislation in 1947 to administer a capital outlay program for wildlife conservation and related public recreation, the WCB “protects, restores and enhances California’s spectacular natural resources for wildlife and for the public’s use and enjoyment in partnership with conservation groups, government agencies and the people of California”. Since the inception of the WCB, millions of acres of sensitive habitat have been acquired, protected, restored, and enhanced statewide.
Approval of this item will authorize the submission of a grant application to the WCB, requesting an amount not-to-exceed $2,000,000 for the aforementioned DVCA Phase II improvements. The grant application would be submitted to the WCB before their quarterly board meeting scheduled on May 25, 2023.
Approval of this item also adopts a Resolution, as required by the WCB, which authorizes the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Chief Executive Officer, or Director of the Department of Public Works to take certain actions needed in relation to the grant application process. In addition, the Resolution certifies that CSA 20 will comply with all federal, state and local environmental, public health, and other appropriate laws and regulations applicable to the Project and will obtain or will ensure that the other project partners obtain all appropriate permits applicable to the Project.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on April 14, 2023; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on April 20, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on April 24, 2023.