Item 30 - Resolution for Grant for Santiago Park Trail and Habitat Restoration

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Public Works Agency www.santa-ana.org/public-works Item # 30 City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 Staff Report July 18, 2023 TOPIC: Resolution for Grant for Santiago Park Trail and Habitat Restoration AGENDA TITLE Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the Submittal of a Grant Application to the State of California, Habitat Conservation Fund for Santiago Park Trail and Habitat Restoration (Non -General Fund) RECOMMENDED ACTION Adopt a resolution authorizing the submittal of a grant application to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation to request construction funding through the Habitat Conservation Fund for Santiago Park Trail and Habitat restoration. DISCUSSION The State of California, Department of Parks & Recreation, Office of Grants & Local Services (OGALS) administers grant programs that provide funding for state, local, and nonprofit organization projects. Since 1964, more than 7,700 parks throughout California have been created or improved through OGALS. With this current cycle, the Habitat Conservation Fund (HCF) will be allocating $6.6 million in grants to develop nature interpretation projects to welcome urban residents into park and wildlife areas through the provision and development of wildlife corridors and trails. In February 2023, the City of Santa Ana was awarded a $400,000 grant by the State of California Coastal Conservancy to begin the design of the Santiago Park Trail and Habitat Restoration Project, a 2.84-acre area on the eastern end of the park, along the south edge of Santiago Creek. The project will provide a decomposed granite recreational trail that will connect four access points leading into the park, a new pedestrian bridge across the creek connecting the trail to the Nature Center on the north side, re-establishment of native riparian habitat, new irrigation system, site lighting, drinking fountain, benches, and interpretive signage. The Park Services Division of the Public Works Agency intends to submit an application requesting construction funding for this project through the State HCF, as a means to bring the project to fruition.