Title
Consider and take action on a resolution authorizing two applications for grant funding from the Texas General Land Office (GLO) Coastal Management Program (Director of Budget & Project Management)
Background:
Approval of this resolution will authorize the City of League City (COLC) Project Management staff to apply for grants from the Texas General Land Office (GLO) to improve the coastal prairie area of the Dr. Ned and Fay Dudney Clear Creek Nature Center (Nature Center) and to assist in development of Clear Creek kayak launches to be associated with the Highway 270 Boat Ramp and the Nature Center as well as at the end of Kansas Avenue.
The grant application process involves several steps:
1) Project Registration by June 10, 2019;
2) a Pre-Proposal application must be submitted by June 12, 2019;
3) in August the GLO will invite entities to submit a final, detailed application;
4) the final, detailed application is due by October 2, 2019, if a project is chosen for further consideration;
5) a review of applications in December 2019;
6) Commissioner of the General Land Office decision in January or February of 2020;
7) GLO submits projects to NOAA, the Federal funding agency for the CMP, in April 2020;
8) GLO receives approval in October 2020;
9) Agreements with local sponsors will follow the GLO approval by NOAA.
Staff is requesting permission to pursue all the steps required to receive grant funding for the COLC.
Funding provided will allow COLC to carry out the following:
Restoration of the Coastal Prairie: The Management Plan for the Nature Center, written and approved by City Council in 2016, calls for the coastal prairie to be managed to eliminate the Chinese Tallow forest that has infested the Coastal Prairie area of the Nature Center. Currently, a project is planned for 11 acres of coastal prairie to be funded as part of the 36” water line that will be bored under the park. The current plan is for the 11 acres of tallow trees to be either mulched in place with a hydro axe or similar implement or cut and removed from the site. If the mulch-in-place alternative is selected then the mulch will be allowed to decompose over several years. An alternative is to completely remove some or all of the vegetation from the site which would result in a quicker restoration of the coastal prairie but could add additional costs. Part of the management of the site following either of the alternative operations will be to spray herbicides to eliminate emergent growth of the tallow trees or carry out prescribed burns or both and reseed with native grasses and wild flowers to restore the coastal prairie. The CMP grant project is being sought to fund a portion of the steps following the mechanical tree removal.
The COLC will request a 60:40 matching grant of $200,000 from the CMP. Therefore, the COLC would be required to fund the project with either in-kind services or matching funds of $133,334 or 40% of the project cost. At this time, it is uncertain if in-kind services can be identified to offset the match level required. As a result, it is planned for matching funds equal to the required match to be provided by the city via Park Dedication fees.
Kayak Launch Design and Construction: Staff and the city’s consultant, Burditt Consultants, are currently considering a new location for the kayak launch planned for the Highway 270 Boat Ramp and included in the pending grant application before Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The optional location that fits better with the Nature Center Management Plan would place the kayak launch west of Highway 270 near the southward end of the turn-around that provides access to the boat ramp and allows for traffic to turn around under the Clear Creek Bridge. The launch location would be into a small bay area off Clear Creek. The remote location may require additional funding beyond the amount available from the TPWD grant. The CMP grant funding could make up that difference of $94,600. In addition, a new kayak launch and parking at the end of Kansas Avenue will be included in the grant application for a cost of $238,734. The total funding required is $333,334 for parking, trail access to the launch, and the handicapped accessible launch itself. The state will fund 60% or $200,000 with $133,334 required from the COLC for 40% of the project cost.
Attachments:
1. Data Sheet
2. Proposed Resolution
3. Exhibit A1 - Nature Center App
4. Exhibit A2 - Kayak Launch App
5. Map of the Nature Center showing the coastal prairie area to be restored
6. Maps of the Kansas Avenue kayak launch location and the new launch location in the Nature Center.
FUNDING
{X} Funds in the amount of $193,333 are available from 4B for the Kayak Launch site and Park Dedication Fees for the Coastal Prairie.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
{x} NOT APPLICABLE