HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-4 - Authorizing the Filing of an Application for Grant Funding from the California Coastal Commission Whale Tail Grants Program to Support the Fostering Interest in Nature ProgramRESOLUTION NO. 2026-4
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING
THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR GRANT
FUNDING FROM THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL
COMMISSION WHALE TAIL GRANTS PROGRAM TO
SUPPORT THE FOSTERING INTEREST IN NATURE
PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the California Coastal Commission ("Commission") is a state
regulatory and planning agency that operates under the 1976 Coastal Act to manage the
conservation and development of coastal resources in California;
WHEREAS, the Commission approved the coastal development of the Lido
House Hotel on the Balboa Peninsula in 2015 and required in -lieu mitigation fees from
the project ("Funds") to support an outdoor educational program with overnight
accommodations and recreational opportunities for youth from Title I schools, as defined
in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act;
WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach ("City"), through its Recreation and Senior
Services Department, created Fostering interest in Nature ("FiiN"), an educational camp
program in the vicinity of the Upper Newport Bay for fifth grade students from Title I
schools in Orange County;
WHEREAS, the City and the Commission entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding in 2016, authorizing the City to use the Funds in their entirety to administer
the FiiN program;
WHEREAS, the City hosted its inaugural season of FiiN in 2019 and through
partnerships with Newport Bay Conservancy and the Newport Dunes, has hosted over
2,000 students to date;
WHEREAS, the on -going need to expand program activities and opportunities to
accommodate more students requires additional funding to enhance the program and the
overall experience for each student;
WHEREAS, the Commission, through its Whale Tail Grants program, provides
grant funding to nonprofit organizations and qualifying public agencies of up to $50,000
per applicant for projects that connect people to the California Coast and its watersheds
through education, stewardship, and outdoor experiences;
Resolution No. 2026-4
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, the City desires to apply for the Whale Tail Grants program funding
to further support efforts to enhance the City's FiiN program;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Newport Beach resolves as
follows:
Section 1: The City Council does hereby authorize the Director of Recreation
and Senior Services, or designee, to apply for funding in an amount up to $50,000 from
the Whale Tail Grants program and to execute all necessary contract and/or grant
documents and take any other necessary actions to secure such grant funds. If awarded,
the grant funds will be used by the City to fund the Fostering interest in Nature program.
Section 2: The recitals provided in this resolution are true and correct and are
incorporated into the operative part of this resolution.
Section 3: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this
resolution is, for any reason, held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not
affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this resolution. The City
Council hereby declares that it would have passed this resolution, and each section,
subsection, sentence, clause or phrase hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or
more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
Section 4: The City Council finds the adoption of this resolution is not subject to
the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the
activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the
environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378)
of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3,
because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or
indirectly.
Resolution No. 2026-4
Page 3 of 3
Section 5: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the
City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting the resolution.
ADOPTED this 27th day of January, 2026.
Lauren Kleiman
Mayor
ATTEST:
Lena Shumway
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
ff�—
A ron C. Harp
STATE OF CALIFORNIA }
COUNTY OF ORANGE } ss.
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH }
I, Lena Shumway, City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California, do hereby certify
that the whole number of members of the City Council is seven; the foregoing Resolution No. 2026-4 was
duly adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting held on the 27t" day of January, 2026, by
the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Mayor Lauren Kleiman, Mayor Pro Tern Noah Blom, Councilmember Michelle Barto,
Councilmember Robyn Grant, Councilmember Joe Stapleton, Councilmember Sara J.
Weber, Councilmember Erik Weigand
NAYS: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the official seal of said
City this 28th day of January, 2026.
Lena Shumway
City Clerk
City of Newport Beach, California