Title
Approval of Puget Sound Marine and Nearshore Grant Application
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Move to authorize staff to apply for a Puget Sound Marine and Nearshore Grant from the WA Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources for programmatic approach to removing and minimizing shoreline armoring in Budd Inlet.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to authorize staff to apply for a Puget Sound Marine and Nearshore Grant from the WA Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources for programmatic approach to removing and minimizing shoreline armoring in Budd Inlet.
Report
Issue:
Should the City apply for a $200,000 Puget Sound Marine and Nearshore Grant for removing and minimizing shoreline armoring in Budd Inlet?
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Associate Planner, Community Planning and Development, 360.753.8046
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Associate Planner, Community Planning and Development (CPD)
Background and Analysis:
This grant opportunity is provided by the Puget Sound Marine and Nearshore Grant Program, which is jointly administered by the Washington Departments of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and Natural Resources (DNR). The program is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency to implement priorities of the Puget Sound Action Agenda to protect and restore Puget Sound habitat and ecosystem function. The purpose of this Request for Grant Proposals (attached) is to initiate new or expand existing programs that provide incentives to Puget Sound shoreline residential landowners to voluntarily remove armoring, forgo armoring, build new homes further back from the shoreline than required, and/or use soft shore alternatives.
Through a coordinated, interdepartmental approach between CPD and Public Works, City staff is recommending the City apply for $200,000 in grant funds to establish the programmatic goals, objectives, and framework to implement the social market research findings and recommendations developed by DFW and DNR to reduce residential marine shoreline armoring.
The project proposal would include the following elements, all aimed at developing and establishing a sustainable, long-term approach to shoreline restoration:
· Conduct an assessment of existing codes, processes, and partnerships that enable, deter, or restrict the preservation or installation of shoreline armoring;
· Establish agreed upon roles and responsibilities for City staff, partner agencies, and community partners in shoreline restoration projects;
· Conduct a feasibility study of City of Olympia residential properties on Budd Inlet to identify the current shoreline conditions;
· Use the feasibility assessment and the social marketing findings to develop an implementation strategy for removing or limiting shoreline armoring;
· Establish a framework for tracking, measuring, and reporting on the status of shoreline restoration activities.
The project proposal would include hiring two separate consultants or consulting firms to work with the City in developing the proposal elements. One consulting firm would focus on establishing the programmatic framework, while the other would provide the technical expertise to complete the feasibility study.
No match is required to apply for the grant; however, the City will need to demonstrate the capacity to maintain the program once established. Staff believes this is feasible because we are already partnering with the several other governmental, educational, and non-profit organizations to provide technical assistance and education incentives in other restoration focus areas, such as the installation of riparian vegetation or the management of steep slopes.
Reducing shoreline armoring is also a vital tool for implementing the City of Olympia Draft Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Restoration Plan (Plan). Currently under review by the Department of Ecology (DOE) as a component of the SMP update, the Restoration Plan is a relatively new requirement under DOE's guidelines.
If successful, the City will be notified the first week of September of having received the grant, and the project implementation period will be from November 1, 2014 to August 31, 2016.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Shoreline armoring issues would be of particular interest to neighborhoods along Budd Inlet.
Options:
1. Authorize staff to apply for a Puget Sound Marine and Nearshore Grant from the WA Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources.
2. Do not authorize staff to apply for a Puget Sound Marine and Nearshore Grant from the WA Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources.
Financial Impact:
The grant would be for $200,000. There is no local match required for the grant; however, the City will need to demonstrate the capacity to maintain the program once established.