Nature in Neighborhood Restoration Grant Program Funding (fwd)

[Jim Labbe]

FYI. If you have been a recipient of NIN Restoration Grant funding or have
witnessed the benefits of this grant program in our region, I urge you to
contact your Metro Councilor and support continued funding for the
program.

See Audubon's letter below and attached.

Jim
__________________________
Jim Labbe
Urban Conservationist
Audubon Society of Portland
5151 N.W. Cornell
Portland, OR 97210
(503)292-6855 x. 112

Help raise $ for Portland Audubon and pledge me for Birdathon 2009!

http://audubonportland.dojiggy.com/pledge/index.cfm?mid=LABBE

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:00:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jim Labbe <jla...@urbanfauna.org>
To: brag...@metro.dst.or.us, burkh...@metro.dst.or.us,
coll...@metro.dst.or.us, harri...@metro.dst.or.us,
host...@metro.dst.or.us, libe...@metro.dst.or.us, pa...@metro.dst.or.us
Cc: Wet...@oregonmetro.gov, jor...@metro.dst.or.us, desm...@metro.dst.or.us,
Stacey Triplett <Trip...@metro.dst.or.us>,
JIll Fuglister <ji...@clfuture.org>, ma...@clfuture.org,
Ron Carley <r...@clfuture.org>, Mike Houck <mike...@urbangreenspaces.org>
Subject: Nature in Neighborhood Restoration Grant Program Funding

Metro Council
600 NE Grand
Portland, OR 97232-2736

April 24, 2009

Dear Metro Council,

Recently it came to our attention that the Metro Council might consider
cutting funding for the Nature in Neighborhood Restoration Grant Program.
We urge the Council to continue to fund the grant program for two reasons.

First, in adopting Title 13 in 2005 the Metro Council committed to
voluntary and non-regulatory tools a key component of implementation.
Since then, NIN Restoration Grants have been a primary source of seed
funding to implement the restoration objectives of Title 13 including the
performance targets for enhancing native vegetation along the region's
streams and wetlands by 2015. Sustained funding for the Restoration Grant
program is critical if Metro is going to honor its commitment to implement
Title 13 as an essential part of the 2040 vision.

Second, the restoration program provides an important source of
non-capital restoration funding to complement the Nature in Neighborhoods
Capital Grants program approved by the voters in 2006. For example, we are
currently working with neighbors of Wilkes East neighborhood to expand and
enhance the Nadaka Nature Park located 1/2 mile from Rockwood Town Center
and the Blue Line MAX. Restoration Grant program funding is seeding
community interest in the stewardship of this neighborhood nature park and
building momentum for the larger effort to expand and enhance the park as
a viable NIN Capital Grant proposal. In neighborhoods with little existing
civic capacity, the Restoration Grant Program is a catalyst developing
viable natural area restoration and enhancement projects.

We urge the Council to sustain its commitment to the NIN Restoration Grant
Program in the coming budget year.

Sincerely,

Jim Labbe
Urban Conservationist
Audubon Society of Portland

Bob Sallinger
Conservation Director
Audubon Society of Portland