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<br />ATTACHMENT A <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Public Works <br /> <br /> <br />Parks & Open Space Division <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />City of Eugene <br /> 1820 Roosevelt Blvd. <br />M <br /> Eugene, Oregon 97402 <br />EMORANDUM <br /> (541) 682-4800 <br /> (541) 682-4882 FAX <br /> www.ci.eugene.or.us <br /> <br />Date: <br /> August 15, 2007 <br /> <br />To: <br /> Intergovernmental Relations Committee <br /> <br />From: <br /> Carolyn Weiss, Parks and Open Space Planning Manager <br /> <br />Subject: <br /> Forest Legacy Grant Application <br /> <br /> <br />Source/Purpose: <br />Public Works staff requests authority to submit a grant application to the Oregon <br />Department of Forestry (ODF) for funding from the United States Forest Service, Forest Legacy Program. <br />nd <br />The request is for the 2 phase of funding in an ongoing acquisition program for the Ridgeline Trail <br />corridor. The first phase was awarded funding in FY 2007 for purchase of the 24-acre Evans parcel. The <br />current request is a continuation of phase one and would provide funding support for the acquisition of <br />three additional properties along the Ridgeline Trail corridor. Additional phases of this project are <br />anticipated for the future. <br /> <br />While there has been no official announcement of the application deadline as was promised by ODF, City <br />th <br />staff learned by visiting the ODF website on August 7 that the application deadline is September 1, <br /> <br />2007. <br /> <br />Funds Requested: <br /> The acquisition costs of all three parcels, totaling 313 acres, that are included in this <br />application are estimated to total $4,675,000. The Forest Legacy funding request is for 75% of the total <br />costs, or $3,506,250. These costs are estimates and will be further refined once appraisals are completed. <br />These costs may also be reduced as a result of partial land donations by participating property owners. <br /> <br />Match Required: <br />Based on a 25% minimum matching requirement, City funds in the amount of <br />$1,168,750 will be required. These dollars will come from 2006 Parks and Open Space Bond funds. <br /> <br />Description: <br />The Intergovernmental Relations Committee supported the two previous Forest Legacy <br />applications and also supported lobbying efforts to amend state law to allow the State of Oregon to fully <br />participate in the Forest Legacy Program by allowing Forest Legacy funds to be used beyond the UGB. <br />Participating in this round of Forest Legacy funding is particularly important as the City of Eugene is well <br />positioned for a successful application. Contributing factors include: <br /> The City was successful in its advocacy to revise state law regarding what lands qualify for Forest <br />? <br />Legacy funding. In prior years, only lands located inside an urban growth boundary were eligible for <br />grant funds. This law has been revised, thanks to the lobbying efforts of the City of Eugene and other <br />jurisdictions and organizations, to include lands outside the UGB such as Eugene’s Ridgeline Trail <br />corridor. <br /> Eugene is currently identified as the top priority area for land conservation based on the ODF <br />? <br />Assessment of Need. <br /> Eugene was successful in its 2005 Forest Legacy Application which resulted in the purchase of the <br />? <br />24-acre Evans Parcel in west Eugene. This parcel is a key acquisition for the Ridgeline Trail corridor <br />as it connects city-owned Wild Iris Ridge to the West Eugene Wetlands. <br /> <br /> <br />