Agmt03 Fawcett, Buzz - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

I I , '- Edward Everett January 22,2004 Page 4 intergovernmental cooperation and other considerations must be addressed if the interface between a national wildlife refuge and an urban city can succeed. In these days of shrinking availability offederal and state dollars, we must address funding project improvements by approaching habitat improvement in a way that will attract funding. To do this our approach has to be positive, inclusive and active. What is being suggested here could be a model for the nation in active municipal conservation. A local government sponsoring habitat improvements within its borders is both "acting locally" and "thinking globally" by partnering to achieve its goals. From every Redwood City policy maker I have sensed the desire to initiate, organize and support "active conservation and education" for the future of these endangered species. The City Council must act to resolve itself on a plan for proceeding and resolve itself on defining a goal on the record. This should include trail location at Bair Island, access restrictions and policing, project utilization for education, conservation and recreation within the limits described herein. Other interested units of government sharing interest in this area must be solicited to speak, in a likewise manner, so that the general benefit of conservation and protection of endangered species can be shared throughout the region. These declarations must be presented to the federal decision-makers and conjoined with the best interests of the species. Once permanently retained I intend to return to Redwood City to advance the estimate of costs, to evaluate the ecological impacts with stakeholders, appraise alternative methods to achieve our goals and develop consensus. I will draft a resolution for Council's consideration as discussed above and submit it to you for your consideration. I will also work with regional and national federal policy-makers and staff to ensure that a secure and pragmatic solution to resolving the difficult interface between public access and species protection is resolved. This is rightly so in this most urban and municipal of national wildlife refuges. While we are resolving our efforts with our federal partners, we will organize the elements of active conservation necessary to secure those gains. I will participate in the memorialization of all resolutions and agreements related to implementation of our plan in the manner best applied to the circumstances and based on our decision. Timeframes and milestones are dictated by events and we must engage federal administrative and congressional resources in the very near future. Appropriations requests must be discussed with federal staff as soon as possible before the committee of jurisdiction begins hearings on next year's appropriations bills. Budget requests for the following fiscal years are even now being discussed at OMB. Losing valuable time does [41603-o0o1/DA040160.064] 01/22104