Agenda Item   

AGENDA STAFF REPORT

 

                                                                                                                        ASR Control  22-000806

 

MEETING DATE:

11/29/22

legal entity taking action:

Board of Supervisors and Orange County Flood Control District

board of supervisors district(s):

5

SUBMITTING Agency/Department:

OC Public Works   (Approved)

Department contact person(s):

Amanda Carr (714) 955-0601 

 

 

Beatrice Musacchia (714) 955-0612

 

 

Subject:  Accept Donation from the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort

 

      ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

Concur

No Legal Objection

Consent Calendar

 

 

3 Votes Board Majority

 

 

 

    Budgeted: No

Current Year Cost: N/A

Annual Cost: N/A

 

 

 

    Staffing Impact:

No

# of Positions:

Sole Source: N/A

    Current Fiscal Year Revenue: $40,100

  Funding Source: See Financial Impact Section

County Audit in last 3 years: No

 

 

    Prior Board Action: N/A

 

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

 

 

Authorize the Director of OC Public Works or designee to accept a monetary donation in the amount of $40,100 from the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort to support the Falconry Program at Salt Creek Channel and Salt Creek Beach Park.

 

 

 

SUMMARY:

 

Acceptance of the monetary gift from the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort will support efforts to deter and minimize the pest bird populations at Salt Creek Channel and Salt Creek Beach Park, and will help improve water quality.

 

 

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

 

Salt Creek Channel (Channel), an Orange County Flood Control District (District) facility, drains portions of the Salt Creek Watershed onto Salt Creek Beach (Beach). The Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort (Donor) is a watershed member located adjacent to the Beach.

 

The pest bird population that congregates on the Beach has been identified as a potential source of bacteria pollutant to Channel and Beach waters. A past pilot program conducted by the County of Orange has shown that falconry-based bird abatement is an effective and sustainable solution to assist in minimizing and deterring the pest bird population. The presence of a tethered falcon or hawk managed by a trained falconer has reduced the number of pest birds gathering at the Beach and resulted in improvements to water quality. The Donor has indicated it would like to support continuation of the falconry program with a monetary donation of $40,100.

 

Pursuant to Government Code Section 25355 and Board of Supervisors (Board) Resolution No. 93-1235, OC Public Works is required to report to the Board for acceptance of donations of money or property in excess of $10,000.

 

Compliance with CEQA: This action is not a project within the meaning of CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and is therefore not subject to CEQA, since it does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The approval of this agenda item does not commit the County to a definite course of action in regard to a project since the approval entails acceptance of a monetary donation in support of the ongoing program that maintains, protects and/or enhances natural resources and the environment and would be exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15307 and 15308. This proposed activity is therefore not subject to CEQA. Any future action connected to this approval that constitutes a project will be reviewed for compliance with CEQA.

 

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

 

Revenue for this donation will be absorbed into the FY 2022-23 Budget for OC Watersheds, Budget Control 034.

 

 

 

STAFFING IMPACT:

 

N/A

 

ATTACHMENT(S):

 

Attachment A - California Government Code Section 25355
Attachment B - Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 93-1235