To: Board of Supervisors
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Departmental
SUBJECT:
title
Allocation of Water Quality Improvement Grant Funds from the Friends of the Eel River Mitigation and Remediation Grant Fund and Supplemental Budget in FY 2023/2024 (4/5 Vote Required)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive and consider the staff report and grant applications (Attachment 1), and accept public comment; and
2. Approve the attached supplemental budget for budget unit 1100-282-910, Friends of the Eel River Budget, for $543,034 and 1200-325, Public Works Road Maintenance for $287,008 (Attachment 2) (4/5 vote required); and
3. Approve the recommended slate of grant applications from the Mitigation and Remediation Fund Awards by approving the attached Resolution (Attachment 3); and
4. Authorize the Director of the Planning and Building Department to execute the grant agreements after review and approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Mitigation and Remediation Fund 3929
DISCUSSION:
The Board of Supervisors is being asked to review and approve the recommended grant awards from the Friends of the Eel River Mitigation and Remediation Grant Fund (Fund).
The Fund was established in 2019 through a settlement agreement between Friends of the Eel River (FOER) and the county. The settlement dictated the fund shall be used to fund sediment reduction programs associated with roads serving cannabis cultivation sites located in impacted and refuge watersheds. At least 80% of funds are to be used for physical road improvements. Properties in the abatement process are not eligible for funding.
The Program Guidelines approved by the Board prioritizes grants to cannabis cultivators and road maintenance associations based upon water quality benefits according to the following criteria:
1) Highest priority will be given to projects with one or more stream crossin...
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