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the establishment of a habitat conservation area, etc. which are supported by Pleasanton in its own general plan and other decisions made by Council and Alameda County. There are opportunities in federal funding available for a number of programs that could benefit Alameda County, but without adequate staff, the agencies could not access the funding that could assist us in our long-term objectives. A letter to our Congressional delegation is requested asking for $250,000 to be allocated in the federal budget for allow them to carry on the work they are doing. Ms. Dennis wanted Council to have an opportunity to support the work these agencies are doing. She referred to information received at the Fairgrounds regarding work on the equestrian areas, watershed protection, etc. They are doing some wonderful things and she wanted them to assist as much as possible with the implementation of the agricultural enterprise plan. Ron Barben, 3485 Edinburgh Drive, Livermore, explained that resource conservation districts are authorized by state law and there are over a hundred such districts in California and over 3,000 nationwide. They all have the same charge to develop and implement a locally led resource conservation program. The partner in this endeavor is the United States Depm:hnent of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It is a federal depa~hnent that receives federal funding. The problem here, because of budget cuts over the last several decades, the funding for personnel in Alameda County has gone down drastically. There is an oppommity to implement several federal programs. They have been working with the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the County of Alameda to utilize mitigation money for implementation of conservation practices on private property. In other words, if they implement a conservation program on private property, they will share costs with the property owner. That requires technical assistance from USDA. USDA is on a par with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Corps of Engineers, and other federal agencies with rules and regulations regarding the permitting of development. The Natural Resources Conservation Service is not a regulatory agency, only a technical assistance agency. The conservation programs need science- based technology to stand up to the rigors of the permitting process imposed by the other agencies. He asked Council to support the efforts to increase funding for the local NRCS office. Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher has been asked to write a letter of support and she had done so. He asked Council to support her and the NRCS in its efforts to increase its technical assistance to the private landowners. It was moved by Ms. Dennis, seconded by Ms. Ayala, to authorize sending a letter of support for the request for federal funding. The roll call vote was as follows: AYES: Councilmembers - Ayah, Campbell, Dennis, Michelotti, and Mayor Pico NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None 7. MATTERS INITIATED BY COUNCIL Mayor Pico inquired if Council would support sending a letter to the Department of Energy requesting it to not reduce the funding for the groundwater clean up at the Lawrence Pleasanton City Council 15 05/15/01 Minutes