To: Board of Supervisors
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Authorization to Submit a Coastal Commission Local Coastal Program (LCP) Grant Application to fund Regional Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors adopts the attached resolution that:
1. Directs Humboldt County Planning and Building staff to submit the grant application package attached hereto as Attachment 1 to the California Coastal Commission to provide financial and planning assistance, under authority of the California Coastal Act, in the amount of $1.4 million to fund Regional Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning more particularly described in the grant application package; and
2. Authorizes the Director of the Planning and Building Department of the County of Humboldt to execute, in the name of the County of Humboldt, all necessary applications, contracts and agreements and amendments thereto to implement and carry out the grant application package attached hereto and any project approved through approval of the grant application.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund contribution to Advance Planning (Budget Unit 1100-282), Local Coast Plan Local Assistance Grant
DISCUSSION:
This item authorizes the Planning and Building Department Director to seek funding to implement a Humboldt Bay regional sea level rise planning effort to facilitate regional coordination and cooperation in developing and implementing sea level rise adaptation policies and strategies. The county has been involved for some time developing a strategy for a regional approach to sea level rise around Humboldt Bay.
The funding would come the California Coastal Commission’s program supporting local government coastal resiliency efforts pursuant to the California Coastal Act. The grant program is intended to aid local governments assess impacts and develop plans for coastal resiliency, including adapting to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise.
Applications for this grant funding were due on Sept. 16, 2022. Projects awarded grant funding will need to be completed by June 30, 2026.
If awarded, this would be the fifth LCP grant the Planning and Building Department has received. The first was in 2013 and was focused on attaining certification for three areas of deferred certification, and on addressing vacant and underutilized Industrial/Coastal-Dependent (MC) lands in the Humboldt Bay Area Plan (HBAP), resulting in adoption of the Interim Use LCP amendment. The next round of funding received was in 2014 with a focus on updating the HBAP with emphasis on sea level rise, tsunami safety planning, and additional updates to the Industrial/Coastal-Dependent land use mapping and policies. The third LCP grant was awarded in 2017 to continue with sea level rise planning efforts, this time focused on communities particularly at risk from sea level rise impacts (King Salmon, Fields Landing, and Fairhaven/Finntown). In 2019, Planning & Building was rewarded a fourth LCP grant to conduct a Humboldt Bay Sea Level Rise Regional Planning Feasibility Study which the county is in the process of completing this year. The next natural step would be to implement the feasibility study findings by creating a regional sea level rise strategy.
The project that is the subject of this fifth LCP grant application intends to build on findings from the fourth LCP grant to develop a regional sea level rise adaptation strategy for the Humboldt Bay region. The lands surrounding Humboldt Bay that could be impacted by 1 meter or more of sea level rise includes a mix of uses including agricultural land, critical utility and transportation infrastructure, cultural resources, sensitive wetlands, and habitats, and is the primary urban and employment center for the county.
These assets are located in multiple hydrologic units and in multiple federal, state and local jurisdictions with regulatory authority over either development and/or implementation of sea level rise policies and strategies. Developing a regional strategy needs the participation of Humboldt County, City of Eureka, City of Arcata, Wiyot Tribe, property owners, Caltrans, Humboldt Community Services District, PG&E and Coastal Commission. A regional sea level rise strategy would be the best approach to addressing sea level rise around Humboldt Bay. For this reason, outcomes of this project will be incorporated into the applicable parts of the Humboldt County, City of Eureka, and City of Arcata Local Coastal Programs (LCPs) and other planning mechanisms.
In addition to the development of a regional strategy, this proposed project is intended to address thousands of acres of diked former tidelands around Humboldt Bay that are currently at-risk from tidal inundation if the shorelines in 24 hydrologic sub-units are breached or overtopped. There is only a small window of opportunity to adapt these diked shoreline structures to future conditions. With 2.0 feet of sea level rise (SLR), approximately 11.4 miles (28%) of the 41 miles of diked shoreline are vulnerable to being overtopped by the mean monthly maximum tide, and the high projection for relative sea level rise on Humboldt Bay for 2030 is 0.9 feet, which means the annual maximum, or “King Tides” could begin to overtop these vulnerable dikes in this decade.
This report is intended to ensure that your Board understands the proposed use of the grant funds being applied for, and to provide for the following authorizations: 1) authority to submit the proposal, 2) authority to enter in a grant agreement with the California Coastal Commission of the grant is awarded, and 3) designation of the county’s authorized representative. The attached resolution (Attachment 1) provides these authorizations, including designation of the Planning and Building Department Director as the county’s authorized representative for matters pertaining to the grant.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
If awarded to the county, the $1.4 million grant program will be used to move forward with adoption and implementation of a regional sea level rise adaptation strategy as described earlier in this staff report.
The attached LCP grant has a total payable of $1,400,000 for the period of Jan. 1, 2023 - Dec. 31, 2026.
Expenditure appropriations related to the attached grant will either fund one new limited duration Planner and/or allow a consultant to be hired through Dec. 31, 2026. Related appropriation was not included in the approved Fiscal Year 2022-23 budget for the Advance Planning Unit (Budget Unit 1100282). However, if awarded, the department will return with a supplemental budget showing revenues and expenditures for the attached LCP grant for FY 2022-23 as follows:
Revenues: 1100282-601 $466,666.67
Expenditures: 1100282-601
1100 (Salaries and Employee Benefits) $146,020.06
1400 (Extra Help) $3,979.94
2117 (Office Expense) $416.67
2118 (Professional & Special Services) $301,666.67
2125 (Transportation & Travel) $125.00
3280 (Administrative Overhead) $14,458.33
TOTAL $466,666.67
The LCP grant allows overhead/administrative/cost allocation charges up to 10%. The Planning and Building Department is allocating $14,458.33 or 10% of the grant award to overhead/administrative/cost allocation charges. The overhead/administrative/cost allocation amount was determined by claiming the 10% de minimis which will cover 100% of the estimated administrative overhead costs for this grant.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by seeking outside funding sources to benefit Humboldt County needs, creating opportunities for improved safety and health, protecting vulnerable populations, and facilitating public/private partnership to solve problems.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Coastal Commission, Cities of Arcata and Eureka, Cal Poly Humboldt
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could choose to not apply for these funds. This is not recommended as grant funds
available for local coastal planning are highly competitive and there may only be limited
opportunities to resubmit in the future.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Resolution authorizing grant submittal and authorizing Planning and Building Director to execute grant related documents
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: None
Meeting of: None
File No.: None