HomeMy WebLinkAboutC32480 Funding Sea and Desert Interpretive AssociationCITY OF PALM DESERT
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Sea and Desert Interpretive Association (SDIA) Request for Funding
SUBMITTED BY: John M. Wohlmuth, City Manager
DATE: June 14, 2012
CONTENTS: SDIA Request Letter
Recommendation
By Minute Motion,
(1) Consider funding the Sea and Desert Interpretive Association's request to
match the California State Parks Foundation effort to keep the Salton Sea
State Recreation Area open after June 2012 in the amount of $10,000;
(2) Allocate $10,000 from the General Fund Community Contingency to fund the
contribution.
Background
The State of California is closing certain State Parks as a part of State budget cuts. The
Salton Sea State Recreation Area is one of the State parks identified for closure. The
Sea and Desert Interpretive Association (SDIA) is raising funds to match a California
State Parks Foundation fund to keep the Salton Sea State Recreation Area open for the
more than 120,000 annual visitors.
It is uncertain whether SDIA will obtain enough funds to stop the Salton Sea State
Recreation Area from closing. Council may wish to direct staff to prepare an agreement.
The agreement should have the City's donation returned if adequate funds are not
collected to open the Salton Sea State Recreation Area.
Staff Report
Sea and Desert Interpretive Association (SDIA) Request for Funding
June 14, 2012
Page 2 of 2
Fiscal Analysis
The $10,000 donation to SDIA would be allocated from the General Fund Community
Contingency. Council started the fiscal year with $500,000 in this reserve account and
has authorized a previous $10,000 expenditure, leaving $490,000 in this reserve account.
Approval of this request will leave $480,000 in the General Fund Community Contingency
Reserve Account.
Submitted By:
John M. Wohlmuth, City Manager Fraul Gibson, Finance Director
r
CITY COUNCIL ON
APPROVED DENTED
RECEIVED OTHER._,_
ABSTAIN: _. V �- i
VERIFIED BY:
Original on File with City , el -Ws Office
* Approved the contribution of $10,000, subject
to the recipient's successful negotiation
of its agreement with the State Parks
Foundation. 5-0
Stanley, Jane
From: Carl Grear [carlgrear@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2012 10:49 AM
To: CityhallMail
Subject: Jean M. Benson -Council Member
Sea and Desert Interpretive Association
100-225 State Park Road
North Shore, CA 92254
760-393-3810
www.seaanddesert.org
Jean M. Benson -Council Member,
The Sea and Desert Interpretative Association is appealing to the members of the city council to
consider matching the $15,000 received from the California State Parks Foundation in its continuing
effort to raise the necessary funds to keep the Salton Sea State Recreation Area from closing on June
30, 2012.
For the past nine months a group of volunteers have been working to find a way to keep the Salton Sea
State Recreation Area open. The closure of this State Park will mean the more than 120,000 annual
visitors who come to learn about and enjoy the Salton Sea will no longer be able to do so. Visitors are
able to learn that the Salton Sea is indeed salty, beautiful but not polluted. These visitors make a
significant contribution to our valley -wide economy.
The Board of Directors of the Sea and Desert Interpretive Association (SDIA) with the help of volunteers
has put together a proposal that would be acceptable to the State of California to get the park off the
state's closure list. SDIA is working to raise public awareness of what the closing of the park will mean to
the future of the area and the Salton Sea. They are working to stave off a closure that will open the park
and its facilities to vandalism and squatters. Even with the scaled down operation that is being proposed,
$190,000 is needed by June to meet this goal. Contacts with federal, state and local decision makers
have generated some interest but nothing in the way of real help leading to a signed agreement.
Board members meet frequently to concentrate efforts on preserving the park and ultimately the sea.
This ongoing process is accomplished by meeting with local and state representatives, businesses,
agencies and stakeholders in the Salton Sea to garner financial support to save this all important
"window to the Sea". They realize that the plight of the Salton Sea and the recreation are are linked. The
park is the only place where people can access the Sea directly to enjoy camping, hiking, kayaking and
boating, bird watching, fishing and other activities. The educational and interpretive program that the
park offers keeps the Sea and its future in the public eye. Without the park, it will be all too easy for
decision -makers to forget the importance of California's largest lake and wildlife area. Most are not
aware of the negative impacts the loss would create.
The SDIA would very much appreciate your considering this proposal on behalf of your city and thank
you in advance for your assistance. Please contact SDIA President Bill Meister directly at 760-393-3690.
Cordially,
Carl Grear, Director
Sea and Desert Interpretive Association
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