Title
Resolution to Approve Pre-Proposal Participation in 2016 Assistance to Upper Huron River Regional Conservation Partnership Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, to be submitted by Legacy Land Conservancy
Memorandum
The attached Resolution authorizes the City of Ann Arbor to partner with Legacy Land Conservancy, the grant applicant, in the pre-proposal process for a United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service's (USDA NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for funding toward the acquisition of conservation easements in the Upper Huron River Watershed area of Michigan. Legacy Land Conservancy is pursuing proposal grant funding for the project in the amount of $2,000,000.
The first stage of the grant process, requires support letter from Legacy Land Conservancy's partners. The City is being requested to execute a pre-proposal letter of support. The letter would not obligate the City to expend any funds or enter into any agreements at this stage of the process. If Legacy Land Conservancy is invited to submit a full proposal, an additional City Council resolution will be sought to submit a letter that would obligate the City of Ann Arbor to participate in the Partnership with Legacy Land Conservancy.
If Legacy Land Conservancy is ultimately awarded a grant based on its proposal to RCPP, the grant would provide the Greenbelt Program with funding source of support for the purchase of conservation easements; which conservations easement would be presented on a project by project basis to Council for approval in accordance with established City procedures. The City, as a partner, would be obligated to contribute up to $2,000,000 of bonding funds over the five year program period to be matched at 49% by USDA NRCS, leveraging up to $1,960,000 toward the acquisition of conservation easement. The City would commit contributing funds in the amount of $100,000 for...
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