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Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, recommending the Board consider the following relating to United States Forest Service revenue for Environmental projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin:
1) Retroactively approve and accept Domestic Grant 11-DG-11051900-031 for $2,200,000 from the United States Forest Service;
2) Retroactively ratify the Transportation Director’s signature on Domestic Grant 11-DG-11051900-031;
3) Retroactively approve and ratify staff signatures on Modifications 1 through 5 to Domestic Grant 11-DG-11051900-031, including Modification 4, which increased the original Grant amount of $2,200,000 by $91,260, to the current Grant amount of $2,291,260; and
4) Authorize the Community Development Agency Director to execute any future modifications to Domestic Grant 11-DG-11051900-031 that do not increase the current Grant amount of $2,291,260.
FUNDING: United States Forest Service Grant Funds (100%). (Federal Funding)
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION:
Community Development Agency (CDA), Transportation Division (Transportation), recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Retroactively approve and accept Domestic Grant 11-DG-11051900-031 for $2,200,000 from the United States Forest Service (USFS);
2) Retroactively ratify the Transportation Director’s signature on Domestic Grant 11-DG-11051900-031;
3) Retroactively approve and ratify staff signatures on Modifications 1 through 5 to Domestic Grant 11-DG-11051900-031, including Modification 4, which increased the original Grant amount of $2,200,000 by $91,260, to the current Grant amount of $2,291,260; and
4) Authorize the CDA Director to execute any future modifications to Domestic Grant 11-DG-11051900-031 that do not increase the current Grant amount of $2,291,260.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On May 25, 2011, Transportation staff submitted a grant proposal to the USFS to fund multiple erosion control projects in the Tahoe Basin. The funds were awarded to the County on September 28, 2011 under Domestic Grant 11-DG-11051900-031 (Grant). The Director of Transportation signed this Grant agreement accepting these funds. Subsequently, Transportation staff signed Modifications 1 through 5 to the Grant. Modifications 1 through 5 changed the Grant as follows:
Modification 1: Transferred funds between project phases on the Boulder Mountain Erosion Control Project.
Modification 2: Changed the Grant reporting interval from bi-monthly to quarterly.
Modification 3: Transferred funds between project phases on the Echo View 2 Erosion Control Project.
Modification 4: Transferred funds from Montgomery Estates Area 1 Erosion Control Project and Boulder Mountain Erosion Control Project to Montgomery Estates Area 3 Erosion Control Project. Also accepted $91,260 in additional funding that went to the Lake Tahoe Boulevard Erosion Control Project, which increased the overall Grant amount from $2,200,000 to $2,291,260.
Modification 5: Increased project scope for Meyers Erosion Control Project.
More recently, Transportation has followed the Board Policy requiring the Board formally approve grant agreements and accept funding. Since funding from the subject Grant is still being used on Transportation projects in the Tahoe Basin, Transportation is bringing this item before the Board to request formal Board approval of the Grant and Modifications 1 through 5 and Board ratification of the Transportation Director’s signature on the Grant and staff signatures on Modifications 1 through 5.
During the remaining term of the subject Grant, Transportation anticipates the need to request that the USFS further modify the terms of the Grant, generally related to recipient projects, administrative issues, project schedules, and budgets. Transportation is requesting that the Board delegate authority to the CDA Director to execute these types of modifications. If a future modification proposes to increase the amount of the Grant, Transportation will bring it to the Board for consideration.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose to not approve the Grant funds and not ratify the Transportation Director’s signature on the Grant and/or staff signatures on Modifications 1 through 5. This action may result in Transportation being obligated to return those funds that have already been awarded by the USFS under this Grant and spent on Transportation projects in the Tahoe Basin.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Grant documents. USFS is also involved.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Chief Administrative Office concurs with staff's recommendations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Grant and Modifications 1 through 5 have no impact to Net County Cost. Approval of the Grant and Modifications 1 through 5 will allow Transportation to continue using Grant funds on projects in the Tahoe Basin.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Infrastructure
CONTACT
John Kahling, Deputy Director, Engineering
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division