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Community Development Services, Planning and Building Department, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the Cooperative Agreement in the Amount of $40,000 per year with the Bureau of Land Management to fund and support the Preserve Manager ($25,000) and management activities ($15,000) at the Pine Hill Preserve during the 2018-2023 Federal Fiscal Years.
FUNDING: Rare Plant Mitigation Fees. (100% - Local)
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Services, Planning and Building Department, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the five year Cooperative Agreement (Agreement) with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to fund and support the Preserve Manager and management activities at the Pine Hill Preserve during the 2018 2023 Federal Fiscal Years, pursuant to the County Ecological Preserve Ordinance.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The County Ecological Preserve Ordinance authorizes the collection of mitigation fees from new development to fund the acquisition and maintenance of rare plant habitat. The County has been working cooperatively with State and Federal agencies and others to protect the eight species of rare plants located in the Pine Hill (Cameron Park/Rescue) area of El Dorado County.
The County currently provides $25,000 in annual support to the BLM Pine Hill Preserve Manager (BLM Manager) through an expiring three year Cooperative Agreement, approved by the Board on July 21, 2015 (Item 20). The $25,000 to BLM (Legistar 15-0754) is specifically limited to the Pine Hill Preserve Manager position. The Preserve Manager works out of the Mother Lode Field Office in El Dorado Hills to manage the Preserve and coordinate management, monitoring, and research activities between the County, EID, US Fish and Wildlife (USFWS), California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), and BLM. The BLM can only use the $25,000 for the Preserve Manager position and administrative costs. The proposed Agreement will allow for an additional contribution of $15,000 to support management activities, including but not limited to fencing, signage and trash removal.
The BLM Manager has conducted vegetation and management activities over the past years that has proven very successful in protecting existing residences from wild land fire, yet also providing improved habitat for the rare plants.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel (has approved the Agreement) and BLM.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board approve the item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost resulting from the proposed action. Funding for the recommended Agreement is included in the adopted Fiscal Year 2018-19 Rare Plant Preserve Endowment Fund budget and will be provided by mitigation fees collected for the purpose of maintaining rare plant habitat.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on two (2) original copies of the Agreement with BLM.
2) The Clerk of the Board will return one (1) fully executed original of the Agreement to the Community Development Services, Administration and Finance Division, Contracts and Procurement Unit, for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Roger Trout, Director
Community Development Services, Planning and Building Department