Item 6: Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Grant Application

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funding is not granted, but the OWEB funding is, we would need to determine if other matching funds could be sought to purchase the parcels, or withdraw our request to OWEB. Description: In August, the IGR Committee approved the grant application to the Forest Legacy Program for select parcels along the Ridgeline Trail corridor. At that time, there were four potential properties being considered for inclusion in that application. Since that time, we have reduced the number of properties to three, to keep the matching fund amounts within a manageable level. The same parcels included in our application to the Forest Legacy Program would be included in this application to OWEB. The intention of this grant application is to reduce the amount of funding required by the City as matching funds. By leveraging federal, state, and local resources, we can maximize the amount of matching funds provided which will strengthen our overall applications. The criteria for funding under the Forest Legacy Program and OWEB require that property owners are willing sellers, and the parcel is acquired at the appraised value of the property. The criteria does not rd allow the possibility to bridge the gap between appraised value and a higher asking price through a 3 party. Pending ongoing negotiations with property owners, the following parcels are proposed for acquisition through the Forest Legacy/ OWEB Grant programs: Gaudia Property, 40 acres, outside UGB, approximately $500,000. ? Meisen Property, 193 acres, outside UGB, valued at approximately $2,500,000. (the property owner ? has agreed to a 25% donation which brings the cash needed down to $1,875,000) Gonyea Property, 194 acres, outside the UGB, with a cost of approximately $2,040,000. ? Time Period: If awarded, funding would become available in April 2008. Continuation Plan: The acquisition of these three properties is part of a larger, ongoing acquisition program to expand the Ridgeline Trail system. Operational expenses are anticipated to be minimal until the trail system is developed. Relation to City Priorities: The expansion of the Ridgeline Trail system and acquisition of these properties are supported by the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2006, and the 2006 Parks and Open Space Bond Measure. Relation to Other Jurisdictions: Expansion of the Ridgeline Trail system is supported in the regional planning document Rivers to Ridges which was endorsed by the City of Eugene, City of Springfield, Willamalane Parks and Recreation District, and Lane County. All three potential property acquisitions are under Lane County jurisdiction.