Resolution 14-072 Grant Agreement with USFWS for Reconstruction of a Section of the Beluga Slough Trail

CITY OF HOMER

HOMER, ALASKA

                                                                                                                                       City Manager/

Public Works Director

RESOLUTION 14-072

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF A SECTION OF THE BELUGA SLOUGH TRAIL.

               WHEREAS, The Homer City Council accepted a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to reconstruct large sections of the Beluga Slough Trail (Grant Agreement No. 70181AG029) and construction is now complete; and

               WHEREAS, One section of the trail that needs replacement was excluded from the project due in large part to a lack of available funding; and

               WHEREAS, Mayor Wythe and several Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission members have expressed disappointment that this section of the trail was not replaced because it is in disrepair and represents a safety hazard, especially in the winter; and

               WHEREAS, The City Engineer has provided USFWS with a cost estimate of $110,000 to replace the remaining section of trail; and

               WHEREAS, The USFWS recently informed the City that it had identified unspent funds in a program budget that could be used for this purpose and inquired whether the City was interested in accepting the money and assuming responsibility for project management; and

               WHEREAS, The City administration has proposed accepting the grant and providing an “in-kind” local match consisting of design, permitting, and project management; and

               WHEREAS; USFWS has indicated that the funds must be obligated by June 30, 2014 or they will no longer be available for this project; and

               WHEREAS, It is necessary for the City Council to authorize the City Manager to sign a grant agreement in advance in order to obligate the funds because an ordinance accepting the grant and appropriating the funds could not be adopted until July 28, 2014; and

               WHEREAS, An ordinance accepting the grant and appropriating the funds is scheduled for introduction at the June 23rd council meeting, concurrent with this resolution.

               NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Homer City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager to sign a grant agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for reconstruction of a portion of the Beluga Slough Trail.

               PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this _____ day of _____, 2014.

CITY OF HOMER

                                                                                          _______________________
                                                                                          MARY E. WYTHE, MAYOR

ATTEST:

____________________________
JO JOHNSON, MMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: N/A