SONOMA
COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL
PRESERVATION
& OPEN SPACE
DISTRICT
747 Mendocino Avenue
Suite 100
Santa Rosa, CA
95401-4850
(707) 524-7360
Fax: (707) 524-7370
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May 10, 2000 Pamela Gibson
City Manager
City of Sonoma
No. I The Plaza
Sonoma, CA 95476-9000
Subject: Request for Matching Funds
Dear Pam:
This is a follow-up to our conversation and
your letter regarding the availability of
District funds for a public hiking trail on the
Mountain Cemetery property. Through the
Competitive Matching Grant Program, cities may
request funding from the District for the
acquisition of open space which has benefits for
both incorporated and unincorporated areas. The
types of projects that qualify under this program
are local open space, public access and community
recreation projects that are included in adopted
plans, consistent with a City's General Plan and
have a resolution of support from the City
Council. Typically, the District's funding is
allocated for acquisition of the property and the
City's match is project implementation (e.g.
restoration and development costs). The City's
match can also be 50 percent of the acquisition
costs.
In the case of the Mountain Cemetary property,
the City already owns the property and therefore
does not need acquisition assistance from the
District. In addition, the property is not
currently designated for parkland or open space
in the City's General Plan. These two factors
would make it unlikely that the District would
provide grant funding for trail construction on
this property. There may be other more
appropriate grants available for trail
construction on city-owned property.
However, the District is interested in working
with the City on protecting significant
properties within its surrounding viewsheds which
are designated as "Priority Greenbelt"
in the District's Draft Acquisition Plan 2000.
Upon adoption of Acquisition Plan 2000, District
staff would be happy to discuss such potential
conservation partnerships with the City.
Sincerely,
Andrea Mackenzie
Andrea Mackenzie
Senior Open Space Planner
cc: Steve Sharpe
Maria Cipriani
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