Item 6: Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Grant Application

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ATTACHMENT B Public Works Parks & Open Space Division City of Eugene 1820 Roosevelt Blvd. M Eugene, Oregon 97402 EMORANDUM (541) 682-4800 (541) 682-4882 FAX www.eugene-or.gov Date: September 21, 2007 To: Intergovernmental Relations Committee From: Carolyn Weiss, Parks and Open Space Planning Manager Subject: Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Grant Application for Ridgeline Property Acquisition Source/Purpose: Parks and Open Space staff requests authority to submit a grant application to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB), for funding to acquire additional property along the Ridgeline Trail corridor. This grant will be used to offset the match for City funds that is required for a grant application to the Forest Legacy Program. In August, the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Committee approved the grant application to the Forest Legacy Program for select parcels along the Ridgeline Trail corridor. Up to three parcels will be included in the Forest Legacy application. The same three parcels would be included in the OWEB application. The IGR Committee previously approved our request to submit up to 4 properties to the Forest Legacy Program with the required 25% match minimum, or up to $1,678,750 in matching funds for the Forest Legacy Program. After additional conversations with Forest Legacy Program Staff, we believe our application will be more competitive if we provide a 50% match as opposed to the minimum 25% match. We are therefore proposing that we increase our Forest Legacy match to 50% and offset the extra cost to the City by applying for this OWEB grant. The application deadline is October 15, 2007. Funds Requested: The acquisition costs of the three parcels, totaling 427 acres, are estimated to be $4,415,000. These costs are estimates and will be further refined once appraisals are completed. These costs may also be reduced as a result of partial land donations by participating property owners. Match Required: The Forest Legacy Program requires a match of at least 25% and we are proposing a 50% match (including City and OWEB funds). The 25% match in City funding would come from 2006 Parks and Open Space Bond funds and potentially System Development Charges. The funding proposal for the total anticipated costs of $4,415,000 is as follows: 25% - from the City of Eugene = $1,103,750 25% - from the OWEB grant = $1,103,750 50% - from the Forest Legacy Program = $2,207,500 It should be noted, if the Forest Legacy funding is granted and the OWEB funding is not granted, the City of Eugene would be responsible for the full 50% match for a total of $2,207,500. If Forest Legacy