JULY 5, 2005 ACCEPT GRANT PLEDGE FROM THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS FOR ACQUISITION OF OPEN SPACE AND APPROVE APPLYING FOR GRANT FUNDS JULY 5, 2005 ACCEPT GRANT PLEDGE FROM THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS FOR ACQUISITION OF OPEN SPACE AND APPROVE APPLYING FOR GRANT FUNDS

TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

FROM: DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

DATE: JULY 5, 2005

SUBJECT: ACCEPT GRANT PLEDGE FROM THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS FOR ACQUISITION OF OPEN SPACE AND APPROVE APPLYING FOR GRANT FUNDS

Staff Coordinator: Lauren Ramezani, Sr. Administrative Analyst

RECOMMENDATION

  1. Adopt Resolution 2005- ___, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES ACCEPTING THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS' PLEDGE OF ITS PER CAPITA FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $220,000 TO THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES TO BE USED FOR PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE IN THE PORTUGUESE BEND AREA
  2. Approve the application for grant funds on behalf of the City of Rolling Hills, at a time determined by the City of Rolling Hills, from the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Bond Act of 2002 (Proposition 40) for Per Capita Grant in the amount of $220,000 toward the acquisition of critical natural lands and wildlife habitat in the Portuguese Bend area and Agua Amarga Canyon for preservation as open space.

BACKGROUND

The California Clean Waster, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002 (Proposition 40), responding to the recreational and open-space needs of a growing population and expanding urban communities, is intended to revive state stewardship of natural resources by investing in neighborhood parks and state parks, clean water protection and coastal beaches and scenic areas.

The City and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy (PV Conservancy) have been working together to acquire property to incorporate into a nature preserve. Negotiations with the owner of properties (Hon Property) that lie largely within the Portuguese Bend area (approximately 424 acres) and within Agua Amarga Canyon (approximately 39 acres) were completed and an agreement has been approved by the City Council on November 2004. The 463 acres will be purchased for the price of

$17,057,000, which is $37,000 per acre. The total purchase price including closing and misc. costs is $17,250,000.

DISCUSSION

On June 27, 2005, the City Council of the City of Rolling Hills (RH) approved pledging their Proposition 40 Per Capita grant in the amount of $220,000 to the City of RPV towards the acquisition of open space. The attached resolution is needed in order for the City to accept RH's pledge, send that to the State for their approval and allow RPV to apply for the pledged grant funds. The City will apply for the funds, on behalf of RH, at some future date as determined by RH. RH's Per Capita pledge of $220,000 will offset the PV Conservancy's $4,000,000 share. The City of RPV's share will remain at $1,000,000 and will not be reduced.

Staff has contacted the Proposition 40 grant manager regarding the pledged amount. If for any reason the acquisition does not finalize, the pledged grant funds can and will be returned to RH for their use for other project(s). At that time, staff will prepare another staff report and resolution returning the pledged funds to RH.

FISCAL IMPACT

If approved, RPV will accept the amount of $220,000 pledged by the City of Rolling Hills from Proposition 40 (2002 Bond Act) per capita grant for the purchase of open space in the Portuguese Bend area. However, these amounts will not reduce the City of RPV's share of the open space acquisition. It will be used as part of the PV Conservancy's share of the project.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dean E. Allison, Director of Public Works

Reviewed by:

Les Evans, City Manager

Attachment: Resolution 2005- ___

RESOLUTION 2005- ____

 

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES ACCEPTING THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS' PLEDGE OF ITS PER CAPITA FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $220,000 TO THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES TO BE USED FOR PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE IN THE PORTUGUESE BEND AREA

WHEREAS, preservation of natural open space on the Palos Verdes Peninsula is a priority for residents of Rolling Hills; and

WHEREAS, the large areas of open space in the Portuguese Bend area of Rancho Palos Verdes represent the last large, contiguous parcels of natural open space remaining on the Palos Verdes Peninsula; and

WHEREAS, the City of Rolling Hills is adjacent to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes; and

WHEREAS, the City of Rolling Hills has pledged its allocation of $220,000 in Per Capita Program Funds under the Safe Neighborhood, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Act of 2002 to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes;

BE IT, THEREFORE, RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES:

That the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes :

  1. Gratefully accepts the pledge of $220,000 from funds allocated to the City of Rolling Hills from the Per Capita Program Funds under the Safe Neighborhood, Clean Water, Clean Air and Coastal Protection Act of 2002 to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes to preserve large areas of open space in the Portuguese Bend area.
  2. This pledge of $220,000 from the City of Rolling Hills, together with the City of Rancho Palos Verdes’ $220,000, will raise the City of Rancho Palos Verdes' Proposition 40 Per Capita grant funds to a total of $440,000.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED THE 5th DAY OF JULY, 2005.

_____________________

MAYOR

ATTEST:

___________________

CITY CLERK

State of California )

County of Los Angeles ) ss

City of Rancho Palos Verdes )

I, CAROLYNN PETRU, City Clerk of The City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the above Resolution No. 2005-___ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on July 5, 2005.

_____________________

CITY CLERK