2014/04/23 Council Agenda Packet

14 Local Program Compliance The county and city law enforcement programs that have agreed to the terms in WAC 352-65 must maintain their eligibility to receive state VRF to apply for this grant. Agencies that did not perform at least 130 hours of patrol in 2013 did not meet the minimum number of on-water law enforcement hours to comply with the WAC. Not having met the minimum hours, the grant goals were not met and the agencies are not eligible to apply. Agencies that did not report local expenditures on the annual Vessel Registration Fee Expenditure Report due November, 2013 are not eligible to apply for the grant. We know that the economic downturn has stretched resources and challenged local agencies. This has also impacted State Parks and reduced the federal dollars available this year. Less grant dollars means we will direct them where they can be used most effectively by programs that have demonstrated a commitment to the requirements and grant goals. Funding Availability State Parks is awarding $700,000 in grants for calendar year 2014. We expect some level of federal funding will continue in future years. Funding Allocation The attached spreadsheet has the amount your agency is eligible to apply for. $500,000 has been allocated equally to eligible approved programs. The remaining $200,000 is being allocated on each program's percent of completed written vessel inspections. Due Date Applications must be submitted electronically by email to sherri.sweeney@parks.wa.aov by 5 PM, Friday, March 7, 2014. The original signed version must be received and date stamped by State Parks no later than Monday,March 10,2014. Signed applications are mailed to: Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission ATTN: Boating Program/Sherri Sweeney 1111 Israel Road SW; PO Box 42650 Olympia, WA 98504-2650 Match Requirement No cash match is required for the grant. However, as a condition of being approved to receive vessel registration fees (VRF), your agency is already obligated to conduct regular marine patrols during the peak recreational boating period (specified in WAC 352-65-040(5)(a)(ii)) using local funds and state VRF. State Parks has determined this is the period from the Memorial Day weekend to the Labor Day weekend and has determined the specific number of on-water law enforcement hours required for patrol. It is our policy that this is the minimum amount of patrol hours required during the peak boating period, based on an 8 hour work day for each Saturday, Sunday, and 8 hours each holiday. In 2014 this total is 264 hours from May 24 to September 1. Vessel Inspections The US Coast Guard and State Parks believe that written vessel inspections are a key tool for preventing accidents, encouraging compliance with safe boating laws, and educating the boating public. State Parks wants to see the total number of inspections increased to enhance safety on Washington's waterways. 2 73