MEMORANDUM
TO: Timothy Navarre, Assembly President
Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly
THRU: Dale Bagley, Borough Mayor
Bob Bright, Planning Director
FROM: Bonnie L. Golden, Grants Manager
DATE: October 25, 2001
SUBJECT: Ordinance Accepting Grants and Appropriating $395,000 for the Kenai River Center Riverbank Restoration and Education Project
Project Overview. The project site is along the Kenai River adjacent to the Kenai River Center. The purpose of the project is threefold: to restore and revegetate riparian habitat along 567.23 feet of riverbank, provide safe and habitat-friendly access to this popular fishing spot, and improve educational opportunities for learning about proper riverine and habitat ecology. It is our intent to complete the project by the end of 2002. In order to accomplish this, surveying and soil testing must be done as soon as possible; design work during the winter months; restoration activities during April and May when the water level is low; and access and educational components completed during the 2002 construction season. The entire project, as proposed, is expected to cost $445,000. More detailed information for the project can be found in the attached Project Narrative, Statement of Probable Costs, and Activity Timeline that were submitted with the NOAA grant application.
Funding. For the past several months, I have been working on obtaining funding for this project. Some of those efforts have proved to be successful. To date, I have received notice of grant awards from four different sources, totaling $230,000:
Kenai River Sportfish Association ("KRSA") - $80,000. KRSA has approved the expenditure of $80,000 for our riverbank project. They would prefer that their funds be used for educational purposes, but have not restricted their funding to just that aspect. Also, they would like to see funding for the total project in place before releasing any of their funds.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ("NOAA") Community Based Restoration Program - $75,000. This grant requires a one-to-one match of non-federal dollars. The grant is for $75,000; the ordinance requests a Borough match of $75,000. Funds are to be used primarily for revegetation and stabilization, but can be used for public access. We received the grant agreement packet from NOAA on October 12th, with a request to return the completed forms within 15 days. After explaining our ordinance procedure to NOAA's grant administrator, the deadline was extended provided we submit the paperwork as soon as possible. Therefore, a shortened hearing date of November 20th has been requested.
City of Soldotna - $25,000. The City received a grant from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service in the amount of $1,426,510. That grant provides $25,000 for the Kenai River Center project.
Coastal Impact Assistance Program - $50,000. The Borough has been awarded $208,000 under this program to be used for several projects as listed in KPB Resolution 2001-041. The resolution and grant award includes $50,000 for the Kenai River Center bank restoration project. Appropriation of the $50,000 will be addressed in a separate ordinance accepting and appropriating the CIAP funds.
Subtracting the grant funds ($230,000) from the project total ($445,000) leaves a balance of $215,000 needed to complete the project as proposed. The attached ordinance requests appropriation of these funds from the general fund balance. $75,000 would be used to match the NOAA grant. The additional $140,000 would be used for the remainder of the project.
Other potential funding sources are available. A request has been made to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their assistance as well as to Access Alaska. The Corps has expressed some interest in participating, but has not yet formally responded to our request. We are still waiting to hear from Access Alaska. The State Department of Fish and Game has offered technical assistance and may be able to provide some financial assistance. Further inquiry will be made as to the level of Fish and Game's participation. My search for other possible funding sources continues. Should the Borough be awarded future funding for this project, it is our intent to use these funds to offset the costs contributed by the Borough.
There's the possibility the cost of the project will be reduced during the design and engineering phase. It is our desire to make this popular fishing spot accessible by wheelchair. However, the slope of the land is very steep and may preclude construction of wheelchair access at this point along the river. Wheelchair access will remain a variable until engineering work has been completed.
Timing. The ordinance is being submitted to you at this time for several reasons. One, we would like to have the NOAA grant and matching funds appropriated as soon as possible in order to return their documentation in a timely manner. Two, KRSA funds are not available until the total project is funded. Three, even with a November 20th hearing date, and assuming the ordinance is enacted, grant funds will not be available until mid-December or early January 2002. Our timeline (see attached) indicates architectural and design work to be completed by the end of the year. This would allow us to award contracts for restoration and stabilization work that must be done when the water level in the river is low. Having the funds available now would allow us to begin this work while seeking additional funding sources for the project. Your consideration of the ordinance is appreciated.
/bg
Attachments:
Ordinance
Project Narrative
Statement of Probable Costs
Activity Timeline
cc: John Mohorcich, KRC Coordinator
Walter Robson, Capital Projects Manager