TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute a grant agreement, including any necessary documents or subsequent amendments, with the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways, to accept and expend grant funding in an amount not exceed $200,000 for the Surrender and Abandoned Vessel Exchange Program effective through
September 30, 2024; authorize a 10 percent cash or in-kind match requirement of $20,000; and
Increase appropriations in the Tidelands Area Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department by $200,000, offset by grant revenue. (Districts 1,2,3)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested for the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) to accept and expend grant funding from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBAW), for the Surrender and Abandoned Vessel Exchange Program. As part of its commitment to provide clean, safe, and enjoyable recreational boating and beach activities in California, and to preserve and protect the California shoreline, DBAW offers grant funds to cities, counties, districts, and other public and private agencies through various programs. One of these programs is the Surrender and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) grant program, designed to remove, reduce, and prevent abandoned recreational vessels and marine debris.
This program offers reimbursement of up to $200,000 for the grant term, effective through September 30, 2024, for the removal and disposal of abandoned vessels, which pose a substantial hazard to navigation, and for surrendered vessels, which are in danger of being abandoned and have a likelihood of causing environment degradation or becoming a hazard to navigation. The awarded grant monies are for the abatement, removal, storage, and disposal of any hulk, derelict, wreck, or parts of any ship, vessel, or other watercraft deemed unseaworthy. Currently, PRM spends an average of $5,000 to dispose of a single vessel deemed unseaworthy. These grant funds will be beneficial to PRM by offsetting the expenses for vessel disposal and related services. The grant agreement requires a 10 percent match, equal to $20,000, which can be supported with cash or staff time, to supplement the removal and/or storage fees, and other expenses with advance DBW approval.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani on August 31, 2022 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on September 16, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on October 11, 2022, to meet the DBAW grant acceptance requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive a grant award in an amount not to exceed $200,000 from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways, for the Surrender and Abandoned Vessel Exchange Program. An appropriation increase is requested in the amount of $200,000 in the Tidelands Area Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department, offset by grant revenues. The grant agreement requires a 10 percent in-kind match of $20,000, that can be met with cash or in-kind contributions including staff time. The in-kind match is budgeted in the Tidelands Area Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
BRENT DENNIS
DIRECTOR
PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER