Title
Parks, a division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 199-2024 205-2024 to accept grant funds in the amount of $78,152 for a Rubicon Trail Safety and Education project from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grants and Cooperative Agreement Program, for the Fiscal Year 2024-25 (G24) grant cycle;
2) Approve and authorize the Parks Manager to sign agreement G24-03-06-S01 for Safety & Education in the amount of $78,152 with a County match requirement of $31,188, for a total of $109,340;
3) Authorize the Parks Manager to approve and execute any amendments that do not change the dollar amount of said agreement, contingent on approval from County Counsel; and
4) Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign a funding agreement, consistent with the County's standard form and upon the approval of County Counsel, authorizing the payment of the $24,000 of State Parks Grant Funding to Arts & Culture El Dorado for Rubicon bandana design and 6,000 bandanas.
FUNDING: State of California Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grants and Cooperative Agreement Program Funding (72%), Sacramento Municipal Utility District Funds or Off-Highway Vehicle Fees and In-Kind Materials (28%)
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grant and Cooperative Agreement Program of the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, provides financial assistance to public entities and other qualified entities to help with the management of off-highway recreation. The Program supports planning, acquisition, development, maintenance, administration, operation, enforcement, restoration, and conservation of trails, trailheads, and other facilities associated with the use of off-highway motor vehicles.
With this funding the County can meet the obligation of the US Forest Service Public Road easement and the Saturated Soils Water Quality Protection Plan approved by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Safety and Education
This grant will provide funding for related education and safety activities to promote El Dorado County's "4S - Sanitation, Spills, Sedimentation, and Safety” educational program on the Rubicon Trail. Project activities include, but are not limited to, staffing the Loon Lake kiosk, producing a bandana and other educational materials, and providing outreach and education at the County Fair and other events.
The Rubicon bandana is an ongoing successful campaign that provides educational messaging and a multipurpose tool, designed around one of the "4S" themes, to aid in keeping the trail clean. Arts and Culture El Dorado, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes, connects, and empowers the arts throughout El Dorado County, has agreed to take on the bandana project on behalf of the County in order to connect with an appropriate artist and provide bandanas for the education program. Using the standard funding agreement form, staff will prepare and execute an agreement for this portion of the program.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to decline the grant funding; however, the Rubicon Trail program relies heavily on this funding for the promotion of safety and proper use of the trail. The County is under the conditions of the US Forest Service Public Road easement and the Saturated Soils Water Quality Protection Plan approved by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding for Rubicon Trail Safety and Education Grant in the amount of $78,152 from the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Grant and Cooperative Agreement Program, with matching funds in the amount of $31,188 from El Dorado-Sacramento Municipal Utility District Cooperation Agreement Fund (SMUD Funds) or Off Highway Vehicle Fees (Green Sticker Funds), and In-Kind Materials for a project total of $109,340.
The required matching funds come from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District Cooperation Agreement Funds (SMUD Funds), which are available to fund projects or services related to the Upper American River Project, including in the Rubicon River Basin, and State Off-Highway Vehicle License Fees (Green Sticker Funds), which are collected by the California Department of Motor Vehicles and allocated to cities and counties to provide and operate trails and other facilities for the use of off-highway motor vehicles.
These projects are already budgeted in the FY 2024-25 Budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on two (2) original Resolutions.
2) Clerk of the Board will forward one (1) original Resolution to the Chief Administrative Office Parks Division, Attention: Zachary Perras.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Zachary Perras, Parks Manager
Jennifer Franich, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer