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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />MARCH 21, 2011 <br />TITLE: <br />AGREEMENT WITH BACK TO NATIVES <br />RESTORATION TO ESTABLISH A NATIVE <br />PLANT NURSERY AT THE SANTIAGO <br />PARK NURSERY SITE <br />CITY MANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />? As Recommended <br />? As Amended <br />? Ordinance on 1s` Reading <br />? Ordinance on 2nd Reading <br />? Implementing Resolution <br />? Set Public Hearing For <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />Authorize the City Manager and Clerk of the Council to execute the attached agreement with Back <br />to Natives Restoration to establish a Native Plant Nursery at the Santiago Park Nursery, subject to <br />non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Back to Natives Restoration (BTN), is a California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation (501 c 3). <br />BTN is dedicated to the restoration and conservation of Orange County and California wild lands, <br />through education and restoration programs featuring native plants and biodiversity as a <br />centralizing theme. Back to Natives Restoration was first introduced to the City of Santa Ana <br />Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency (PRCSA) last year by Park Santiago <br />community members in the hopes of establishing a relationship with the non-profit to further <br />develop the agency's goal of maintaining high quality native landscapes. <br />The agreement for BTN to transform the Santiago Park nursery into a native plant nursery will <br />support restoration activities in Santiago Park and throughout the City. BTN will identify and target <br />native plants for propagation and install and manage a native plant nursery at the Santiago Park <br />Nursery where targeted species can be grown. BTN will also work with PRCSA to plan and <br />implement facility improvements at the Nursery that will maximize the use of the site for the <br />successful propagation of native plant species. BTN will provide the City with plant materials <br />grown at the Native Plant Nursery to be used for restoration, education and volunteer projects. <br />Through this partnership with PRCSA, Back to Natives hopes to increase public understanding <br />and appreciation of our quickly diminishing resources and to inspire the community to use <br />resources wisely and respectfully. Back to Natives will provide this service free of charge in <br />exchange for the use of the Santiago Park Nursery area. This proposed partnership was <br />presented and discussed at the February 23, 2011 Board of Recreation and Parks meeting and <br />members remarked that this partnership is both creative and positive for the community. <br />25F-1