HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgreement A-21-192 with YSRCDC.pdf Agreement No. 21-192
YOSEMITE SEQUOIA
RESOURCE CONSERVATION& DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU)
Between
Yosemite/Sequoia Resource Conservation and Development Council
and
Sponsor Organizations
This is a memorandum of understanding by and between Yosemite/Sequoia Resource
Conservation and Development Council, hereinafter referred to as "YSRCDC," and the sponsor
organizations hereinafter referred to as "Sponsor Organizations"that make up the Council and
that choose to participate in this memorandum of understanding. YSRCDC and Sponsor
Organizations are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the "parties" or individually as a
"party." This MOU shall be effective for five (5) consecutive years following the final signatory
date and full execution of the MOU. This memorandum is in no way a legally enforceable
contract between YSRCDC and Sponsor Organizations.
I. BACKGROUND
YSRCDC is a regional 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on conservation and economic
development in the southern Sierra Nevada. The YSRCDC service area includes the rural and
foothill communities of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa and Tulare counties. YSRCDC is comprised
of up to 26 Sponsor Organizations, including counties, Resource Conservation Districts (RCDs),
Fire Safe Councils (FSCs), local tribes (federally and/or non-federally recognized), and
economic and tourism organizations. YSRCDC recently executed a Master Stewardship
Agreement("the MSA") with the Sierra National Forest to increase forest restoration,
stewardship, and economic opportunities. YSRCDC has also recently developed several
partnership opportunities through grant funded programs. YSRCDC and its Sponsor
Organizations share a common vision for conservation and economic development in the
southern Sierra Nevada. This MOU provides opportunities for collaboration that will leverage
resources, including but not limited to the MSA, to achieve common landscape scale restoration
goals, mutual interests, and other pursuits of YSRCDC and Sponsor Organizations.
II. PURPOSE
The purpose of this MOU is to clearly identify the roles and responsibilities of signatories as they
relate to ongoing partnership and cooperation between YSRCDC and its Sponsor Organizations,
and to establish agreement for future cooperation.
This MOU is intended to:
• Establish a foundation to enhance our partnership and coordination in the region.
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• Increase opportunities and capacity in the southern Sierra Nevada that align with mutual
organizational goals.
• Increase cooperation and resource sharing among our Sponsor Organizations.
• Develop and facilitate regional collaborative processes.
• Align with other agreements (e.g., the MSA) and local/regional cooperative efforts.
• Maintain relationships for a common purpose to meet the needs of a diverse community
of stakeholders.
III. STATEMENT OF MUTUAL BENEFIT AND INTEREST
YSRCDC's mission is to promote the quality and aesthetic values of our cultural, environmental,
and recreational resources by improving the quality of life through diverse sustainable economic
development. In addition to YSRCDC's Sponsor Organizations, YSRCDC also frequently
partners and cooperates with other local, regional, and state agencies including CALFIRE and
the USDA Forest Service.
YSRCDC and the Sierra National Forest have an executed 5-year MSA. The MSA is a strategic
resource that enhances the opportunity for both entities to seek funding and develop projects that
benefit the landscape and the various resources that it provides. The MSA can garner new and
additional support from and for partners, including but not limited to the timber industry, federal
and non-federal entities, tribal entities, and YSRCDC's Sponsor Organizations and volunteers.
Mission accomplishment for both entities will be furthered by the restoration, conservation, and
management of natural resources across the landscape.
The projects developed under the MSA are for the protection, enhancement, and restoration of
watershed ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada and the unlocking of economic opportunities in our
service area. These projects could incorporate a suite of ecosystem management activities
including,but not limited to: reducing fire risks and hazards by removing and thinning hazardous
fuels; hazard tree mitigation and timber stand improvement for forest health; vegetation
management to enhance resilience to fire, drought, insects, and disease; habitat restoration
including vegetation thinning, slashing, hand piling, and cultural and/or prescribed burning;
meadow, stream, riparian and aspen restoration and protection; water quantity and quality
enhancement including project elements which support scientific research; cultural site
restoration and protection; removal and utilization of forest byproducts; noxious weed
abatement/control; road maintenance, reconstruction, and/or removal; and improvement of
recreational opportunities (e.g. trails and campgrounds).
YSRCDC is continually seeking other mutually beneficial partnership and agreement
opportunities. YSRCDC also has several agreements and initiatives with grant-associated
funding to benefit Sponsor Organizations, including but not limited to:
• Madera Projects—Southern Sierra All-Lands Restoration and Recovery Program
This grant includes LIDAR acquisition and analysis from Mariposa to Fresno counties in
the SRA/FRA interface area. Many of the Sponsor Organizations are partners or
beneficiaries of this LIDAR analysis.
• WIP Capacity Program (RFFCP)
YSRCDC is the Southern Subregion project lead and will be providing capacity building
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support over the life of the grant. Support opportunities include but are not limited to
grant writing, partnership development, financial management assistance, meeting
facilitation/coordination, and others.
• American Forests Technical Assistance
American Forests and YSRCDC have an executed MOU to provide technical assistance
to YSRCDC partners and sponsors during project development. YSRCDC and American
Forests are also cooperating on several initiatives,both grant funded and programmatic,
which can increase the capacity of Sponsor Organizations.
In consideration of these partnerships, and the potential to develop new opportunities through
these agreements, this MOU will act as a framework for partnership and future supplemental
project agreements (SPAS)under the MSA with Sierra National Forest. Other future YSRCDC
agreements or programs not listed in this MOU at the time of execution will also be
opportunistically available to Sponsor Organizations.
IV. SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENTS
A. Supplemental agreements may be entered into pursuant to this MOU, which will detail
any agreed-upon work undertaken to achieve the purposes of this MOU. Such work may
consist o£
a. YSRCDC providing fiscal sponsorship services, such as financial administration,
grant administration, and project management to Sponsor Organizations.
b. Sponsor Organizations providing technical or project-based assistance in
implementing YSRCDC's projects, such as managing a local project, or providing
technical assistance on a program or planning process.
c. Resource sharing between organizations, to be mutually determined based on
discussed needs and opportunities.
B. Master Stewardship Agreement(MSA) with Sierra National Forest (and others, if
developed)
a. All projects conceived under the MSA will undergo a collaborative process to
determine specific restoration goals, objectives, and priorities between YSRCDC,
Sponsor Organizations, and the USDA Forest Service. The collaborative process
will ensure that the benefits of undertaking restoration activities are mutually
beneficial to all parties as well as being beneficial to a wide diversity of interests
involved in collaboration.
b. YSRCDC, Sponsor Organizations, and the USDA Forest Service share an interest
in improving the ecosystem condition and function of the landscape. A healthy
landscape provides a variety of benefits beyond the needs of a single species, and
therefore benefits all parties.
V. YSRCDC EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
UNDER THIS MOU
A. Provide leadership for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of work undertaken
pursuant to this MOU, and/or pursuant to any supplemental agreements.
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B. Develop an annual summary of program accomplishments prior to the end of each
calendar year.
C. May enter into supplemental agreements or support Sponsor Organization's specific
project agreements to accomplish agreed-upon work undertaken pursuant to this MOU
and the MSA.
D. Shall designate a representative to participate in appropriate Sponsor Organization
meetings to discuss and identify objectives, activities, and opportunities that meet the
purposes of this MOU.
E. May provide contributed funds for projects where mutually agreed upon by the
signatories.
F. Support Sponsor Organization's grant applications by writing or reviewing the
applications or submitting Letters of Support on behalf of Sponsor Organizations.
G. Refer partners or cooperators to Sponsor Organizations as opportunities align with
specific activities and pursuits of Sponsor Organizations, such as potential project or
program opportunities.
H. Provide cross-training opportunities to Sponsor Organizations as resources become
available.
I. Other activities which mutually benefit YSRCDC and Sponsor Organizations, as
mutually determined and agreed upon by YSRCDC and Sponsor Organizations.
VI. SPONSOR ORGANIZATION EXPECTATIONS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THIS MOU
A. Provide leadership for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of work undertaken
pursuant to this MOU, and/or pursuant to any supplemental agreements.
B. Co-develop with YSRCDC an annual summary of program accomplishments undertaken
by this MOU,prior to the end of each calendar year or as otherwise mutually agreed upon
by both parties.
C. Work with YSRCDC to develop supplemental agreements to accomplish agreed-upon
work undertaken pursuant to this MOU and/or the MSA.
D. Designate a representative to participate in quarterly YSRCDC meetings to discuss and
identify objectives, activities, and opportunities to meet the purposes of this MOU.
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E. May provide contributed funds for projects where mutually agreed upon by the
signatories.
F. Support YSRCDC's grant applications by writing or reviewing the applications or
submitting Letters of Support on behalf of YSRCDC.
G. Refer partners or cooperators to YSRCDC as opportunities align with specific activities
and pursuits of YSRCDC, such as potential project or program opportunities.
H. Provide cross-training opportunities to YSRCDC as resources become available.
I. Other activities which mutually benefit Sponsor Organizations and YSRCDC, as
mutually determined and agreed upon by Sponsor Organizations and YSRCDC.
VII. IT IS MUTUALLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED BY AND
BETWEEN THE SIGNATORIES THAT:
A. This regional MOU provides a framework for development of supplemental agreements
at local levels to accomplish natural resources conservation and stewardship activities.
B. Assistance to be provided by YSRCDC to Sponsor Organizations or vice versa will be set
forth in supplemental written agreements that specify the terms and conditions of such
assistance when appropriate. These agreements will be signed by the designated
representatives authorized by YSRCDC and Sponsor Organizations, respectively.
C. This MOU in no way restricts either YSRCDC or Sponsor Organizations from
participating with other public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals.
D. This MOU will be governed in consideration of Federally Recognized Indian Tribes
regarding sovereign nation status and Indian Self-Determination and YSRCDC's status as
a non-profit organization.
E. Nothing in this MOU shall be construed as obligating either party to expend, contract for,
or otherwise commit to the future expenditure of money.
F. This MOU may be revised as necessary by the issuance of a written amendment.
YSRCDC must be given at least 60 days advanced notice to place the proposed revisal on
a quarterly council meeting agenda, at which point the amendment must then be
consented to, signed, and dated by a majority of signatories at a regular YSRCDC
quarterly council meeting.
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G. Signatories may terminate their participation under this MOU by providing 60 days
written notice to the other party. Unless terminated by written notice, this MOU will
remain in force for a period of 5 years but may be extended via a written amendment
consented to, signed, and dated by a majority of signatories at a regular YSRCDC
quarterly council meeting.
H. Signatories shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, creed, sex, age, physical
handicap, or national origin in the selection of participants for any work undertaken
pursuant to this MOU or any agreements supplemental hereto.
I. Signatories affirm that the person executing this MOU on their behalf has been duly
authorized to enter into this MOU.
VIII. FUNDING
This MOU does not include the reimbursement of funds among the signatories, but specific
project agreements and supplemental agreements entered into under this MOU may include
reimbursement of funds.
IX. EFFECTIVE DATE AND SIGNATURE
This MOU shall be effective upon the signature of YSRCDC and consecutive signature(s) of
Sponsor Organizations' authorized officials. This MOU may be executed in any number of
counterparts by Sponsor Organizations, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. It shall be in force from January 1,
2021 to January 1, 2026
A. YSRCDC and Sponsor Organizations indicate agreement with this MOU by their
signatures. Additional Sponsor Organization signatories can be added at a regular
YSRCDC quarterly council meeting.
Signatory information, signatures, and dates
Organization: Yosemite/Sequoia Resource Conservation and Development Council
Address: Signature:
P.O. Box 415
North Fork, CA 93643
Phone Number: (559)-877-8663 NaiW-
Thomas Wheeler
Primary Contact: Rubie Teffeteller, Title: President
Project/Program Manager
Email: rteffeteller@ysrcandd.org; Date:
info@ysrcandd.org '
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ATTEST:
BERNICE E. SEIDEL
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
CountA of Fresno,Atate of California
By
Deputy
Organization: County of Fresno
Address Signature:
2281 Tulare Street, Room 301
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone Number: Name:
559-600-5000 Steve Brandau
Primary Contact: Title: Chairman of the Board of Supervisors
Bret Rush of the County of Fresno
Email: Date:
Districts@FresnoCountyCA.gov l g o217�
Organization:
Add ress Signature:
Phone Number: Name:
Primary Contact: Title:
Email: Date:
Organization:
Address Signature:
Phone Number: Name:
Primary Contact: Title:
Email: Date:
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Organization:
Address Signature:
Phone Number: Name:
Primary Contact: Title:
Email: Date:
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