Committee recommends retroactive Sharp Park grant to protect San Francisco garter snake

The Government Audit & Oversight Committee on July 1 recommended that the Board retroactively approve a $200,500 California Department of Parks and Recreation Habitat Conservation Fund grant awarded to the Recreation and Park Department to restore habitat for the endangered San Francisco garter snake at Sharp Park.

Ms. Moran (Recreation & Park Department) said the grant supports a multi‑year restoration project and explained that work must be timed to avoid breeding and foraging seasons to prevent accidental take of the species. She asked the Board to retroactively approve the contract so the department can proceed with implementing the project and filing a deed restriction on the relevant San Mateo County parcel for the grant performance period through 2039.

There were no public callers and the committee voted 3–0 to recommend the grant contract to the full Board.