DATE: September 23, 2008
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Allocation of District Two Community Project Funds

SUMMARY:
Overview
Several organizations in East County have demonstrated a need for improvements in their communities and have shown that they are prepared to work together with other jurisdictions and community members to provide these opportunities. This action will provide funds to several organizations to improve our East County communities.

Recommendations:
VICE CHAIRWOMAN DIANNE JACOB:
Find that the allocations to the Grossmont Union High School District and the Earth Discovery Institute are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301.

Allocate $350,000 from the District Two Community Projects Budget (org 15655) to the Grossmont Union High School District for assistance with installing synthetic turf on the football field at Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley.

Allocate $300,000 from the District Two Community Projects Budget (org 15655) to the Grossmont Union High School District for assistance with installing synthetic turf on the football field at Mt. Miguel High School in Spring Valley.

Include the $650,000 allocated in recommendations 2 and 3 in the amendment to the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement between the County and the Grossmont Union High School District that is the subject of a separate action on today’s agenda.

Allocate $7,000 from the District Two Community Projects Budget (org 15655) to the Earth Discovery Institute for the installation of an interpretive entrance station at the Crestridge Ecological Reserve.

Authorize the Chief Financial Officer to execute a grant agreement with the organizations above establishing the terms for receipt of the funds and to make minor amendments to the agreements that are consistent with the general purpose of the grant but do not increase the grant.

Find that these grant awards have a public purpose.

Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impacts of these recommendations are $657,000. The funding source is FY 08-09 District Two Community Project Funds. This action will result in the addition of no new staff years and no future costs.

BACKGROUND:
Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley is finally replacing its dirt football field with a brand new state of the art synthetic turf field. Today’s allocation of $350,000 from the District Two Community Projects Fund to Grossmont Union High School District will assist with the costs of new synthetic turf on the football field at Monte Vista High School.

Mt. Miguel High School’s football field was in equally as bad of shape and had become an injury zone to the players. Mt. Miguel High School worked overtime to secure funding for a new field, even securing a grant from the NFL. Today’s allocation of $300,000 from the District Two Community Projects Fund to Grossmont Union High School District will assist with the costs of new synthetic turf on the football field at Mt. Miguel High School.

The Crestridge Ecological Reserve (CER) is a 3,000 acre wildlife reserve stretching between the communities of Crest, Harbison Canyon, El Cajon and Flynn Springs. At its most commonly used entrance at the west end of Horsemill Road in the Crest community, the Earth Discovery Institute is looking to install an information station which will include information to visitors regarding the public use and history of Crestridge, describe Crestridge in the Regional Ecological context, and provide information about other opportunities available such as education, community and volunteer activities. Today’s allocation of $7,000 from District Two Community Projects Fund to the Earth Discovery Institute will assist with the installation of the station.

Respectfully submitted,

 

DIANNE JACOB
Vice Chairwoman