As reported in the June issue, Orinda Union School District (OUSD) has been offered a $1.5M grant for the Wagner Ranch Nature Area from the State of California, but some terms of the funding were questioned by OUSD staff, threatening the acceptance of the grant.
At the June 10 OUSD Board of Trustees meeting, Superintendent Aida Glimme announced the city has offered to receive the state grant as a third-party steward until the negotiations are complete between OUSD and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan’s office.
Since the state is in a deficit budget year, all commitments become “Use it or lose it.” Given her commitment to the educational nature area, Bauer-Kahan acted swiftly to move the money to the City of Orinda.
Mayor Darlene Gee confirmed the plan, however, she cautioned the city would only be the stewards and OUSD and the Assemblymember’s office still have to converge on the terms and conditions of the grant.
The issue was discussed at the June 18 city council meeting where it passed unanimously.
Rebecca Dahlberg and Katharine Barrett, FONA Co-Presidents issued the following statement:
“The $1.5M grant secured (in Fall 2023) by Assemblyperson Rebecca Bauer-Kahan for the Nature Area was in jeopardy of returning to the state coffers mid-June because OUSD trustees had not yet voted to accept the grant.
“With this critical mid-June deadline looming, the Orinda City Council generously stepped up to the plate as a non-partisan assistant. We are grateful to Mayor Gee and the councilmembers for agreeing to be a placeholder for the grant, while OUSD and Assemblyperson Bauer-Kahan’s team sort out the details of the grant agreement.
“Without the city council’s intervention, the funds would have disappeared back into the state coffers, an opportunity forever lost. Now, there is hope that an agreement will be reached, and the funds made available to remove the hazards in the 18-acre Nature Area, so that it can be fully reopened, and the student programs, including summer camps and community festivals, restarted.
“There is enough money in the grant to remove all the (2023 winter storm) hazards, as well as install much-needed restrooms, and still have funds leftover for ongoing maintenance for many years to come.”
