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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11 DLCD TA Grant App for Natural ResourcesAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 9/20/2021 Meeting Type: Regular Meeting Staff Contact/Dept.: Monica Sather/DPW Staff Phone No: 541-736-1038 Estimated Time: 5 Minutes SPRINGFIELD Council Goals: Provide Financially CITY COUNCIL Responsible and Innovative Government Services ITEM TITLE: DLCD GRANT APPLICATION FOR NATURAL RESOURCE INVENTORIES AND PROTECTIONS ACTION Approve/Not Approve the following resolution: REQUESTED: A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A GRANT APPLICATION SEEKING PLANNING ASSISTANCE FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF LAND CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT TO UPDATE THE SPRINGFIELD NATURAL RESOURCES STUDY AND ADOPT WATER QUALITY LIMITED WATERCOURSES FOR SPRINGFIELD'S URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY EXPANSION AREAS ISSUE The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) is STATEMENT: accepting grant applications for its 2021-23 Technical Assistance (TA) Grant Program to help Oregon communities with significant planning projects. This Program provides an opportunity to fund the work remaining to update the Springfield Natural Resources Study and to apply Springfield's existing stormwater policies to the Water Quality Limited Watercourses (WQLWs) in the areas where the urban growth boundary (UGB) recently expanded. A resolution by Council expressing support for the Grant application fulfills an application requirement. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution DISCUSSION/ One project on the comprehensive planning work program is to determine FINANCIAL appropriate protections for wetlands, riparian corridors, and other natural resources IMPACT: located in the areas brought into Springfield's UGB upon acknowledgement by the State in 2019. This project will result in an update to the Springfield Natural Resources Study, apply stormwater protections, and will provide a framework for where future development may be best sited in the UGB expansion areas. This project began in 2020 with a TA Grant award from DLCD during the 2019-21 Grant cycle. Additional work will complete wetland and riparian evaluations and will expand the project scope to assess wildlife habitat and bring the City's current protections for WQLWs to the UGB expansion areas. TA Grant funding can provide the financial boost needed to undertake this continued effort. Grant funds would pay for staffing from the Lane Council of Governments and consultant services. The City is prepared to match the award with in-kind staff time and has budgeted stormwater funds for the project. Funds will also go toward focused outreach to diverse populations in alignment with DLCD's new requirement for TA applications. This Grant cycle's application requirements remain largely the same, with the exception of the new equity element and reprioritized project topics. TA Grants are merit -based, and many types of projects are eligible for funding. CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, OREGON RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A GRANT APPLICATION SEEKING PLANNING ASSISTANCE FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF LAND CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT TO UPDATE THE SPRINGFIELD NATURAL RESOURCES STUDY AND ADOPT WATER QUALITY LIMITED WATERCOURSES FOR SPRINGFIELD'S URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY EXPANSION AREAS WHEREAS, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) offers planning assistance through its Technical Assistance Grant Program for the 2021-2023 biennium; WHEREAS, Technical Assistance Grants are competitive, merit -based grants that support completion of significant local planning projects, including updates to comprehensive plans and implementing regulations for land use topics related to housing, growth management, economic development, natural resources, emergency resilience, and infrastructure; WHEREAS, LCDC acknowledged Springfield's urban growth boundary (UGB) expansion in March 2019; WHEREAS, such acknowledgement enabled the City to begin addressing priority actions on its planning work program for establishing an appropriate development framework in Springfield's UGB expansion areas; WHEREAS, the UGB expansion areas are planned for sites that offer opportunities for job creation and contain public assets such as parks, utilities, and natural resources; WHEREAS, accurate information is necessary to define the development framework for employment and public lands and to provide certainty to development in a way that also makes wise use of green infrastructure for a clean, safe, and healthy community; WHEREAS, identifying the locations and values of Springfield's natural resources helps accomplish these objectives; WHEREAS, identifying and protecting Springfield's natural resources within its UGB expansion areas involves an update to the Springfield Natural Resources for wetlands, riparian corridors, and wildlife and involves applying protections to Water Quality Limited Watercourses; and, WHEREAS, planning assistance from DLCD could, in part, provide Technical Assistance Grant funding necessary to update the Springfield Natural Resources Study and incorporate Water Quality Limited Watercourses into Springfield's UGB expansion areas; WHEREAS, financial match contributions by Technical Assistance Grant applicants is a discretionary element of the Technical Assistance Grant application; and, WHEREAS, the funds approved for this work in the City's Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Budget are available to support the project, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD: Section 1: The City Council supports continuing to define appropriate protections for {00020039:1} Attachment 1, Page 1 of 2 wetlands, riparian corridors, and wildlife as part of updating the Springfield Natural Resources Study pursuant to Oregon Statewide Planning Goal 5 and supports work needed to apply protections for Springfield's Water Quality Limited Watercourses in its UGB expansion areas. Section 2: The Development and Public Works Community Development Division Director or designee is authorized to apply for DLCD Technical Assistance Grant funds to help fund the work described in Section 1. Section 3: The City is able to participate financially toward the project as reflected in the adopted FY22 Budget. Section 4: This Resolution will take effect upon adoption by the Council. ADOPTED by the Common Council of the City of Springfield this 20th day of September 2021, by a vote of for and against. ATTEST: City Recorder {00020039:1} Attachment 1, Page 2 of 2