Committee approves one-year extension for Brad Freeman Trail grant amid easement and funding questions

The Supplemental Benefits Fund Steering Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to grant a one-year extension for grant number 3270 to the Feather River Recreation and Park District to complete the Brad Freeman Trail “missing link.”

Staff told the committee the current grant would have expired in February and that staff requested a one-year extension to allow the district to finalize additional funding and easement arrangements. Committee members voted to extend the grant by one year; the roll call was unanimous.

Brian, a representative of the Feather River Recreation and Park District, told the committee the project has long been under development and that the district has support from the Department of Water Resources for a noncompetitive grant application. Brian said some portions of the proposed trail run across private property and that the grant application contains stipulations that would not allow the grant funds to pay for work on private property. “This application has stipulations that do not allow for the project to fund the sections of the project that are on bridal [private] property,” Brian said, describing a funding constraint the district is working to resolve.

Brian said the district currently believes the easements from private property owners are in place for two private parcels but that a third private parcel could present a challenge; staff and the district are exploring options such as re-routing small sections to avoid private property or pursuing acquisition. He added that the district expects the awarded funding to exceed the 2022 estimate once contingencies and additional sources are included, but the precise award remains pending.

During discussion the committee asked about the potential size of funding the district might need if the grant will not cover private-property sections. Brian said that if the total project cost is about $600,000 and the ineligible portion is roughly 10 percent, the district could need on the order of $60,000 from other sources.

Roll-call votes on the extension recorded yes votes from Committee Member Goodson, Committee Member John Stone, Committee Member Fowler and Chairperson Pittman; the motion passed unanimously. No amendments or additional conditions were added at the meeting. The district said it would continue to seek clarifying direction from the grant administrator and hoped to have more information within days.