PREPARED BY: AMANDA BOOTH DATE OF MEETING: 10/16/17
SUBJECT:
TITLE
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO TO: (1) ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE THE CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY (CNRA) GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $689,222; (2) ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE THE STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1.3 MILLION FOR THE WILDCAT CREEK RESTORATION AND GREENWAY TRAIL; (3) APPROPRIATE $2,502 FROM THE GENERAL FUND DESIGNATED RESERVES - PARKS; (4) REALLOCATE $100,000 FROM THE WILDCAT CREEK-PLAZA SAN PABLO PROJECT (WCC-PSP) TO THE WILDCAT CREEK RESTORATION AND GREENWAY TRAIL PROJECT (WCC-TRL); (5) AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO THE ABOVE MENTIONED GRANT AGREEMENTS; AND (6) AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH RESTORATION DESIGN GROUP (RDG) FOR WILDCAT CREEK RESTORATION AND GREENWAY TRAIL DESIGN, CEQA AND PERMITTING CONSULTING SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $352,166 WITH A 15% CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL AUTHORIZATION OF $404,991
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
Infrastructure - Public Works (Division 3000) - 6.2.19 Wildcat Creek Restoration Evaluation behind Plaza San Pablo is an adopted policy item under the FY 2015-17 City Council Priority Workplan, effective October 1, 2016.
CEQA Compliance Statement
The proposed project completed CEQA review in 2013 and it was determined to be categorically exempt in accordance with Sections 15304 and 15333 of the CEQA Guidelines, on the basis that this project involves minor alterations to land and small habitat restoration. However, since 2013 there have been some minor changes to CEQA; therefore, as part of the work, the project will review the current CEQA findings to ensure that it is still compliance with the previous CEQA determination and that there have been no significant changes in circumstances requiring additional CEQA review.
BACKGROUND
Project Information
The Wildcat Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail project will restore 2,200 linear feet of Wildcat Creek and include a 2,100 linear foot greenway-trail with a Class I bike/pedestrian path, landscaping and pedestrian amenities.
Currently that section of Wildcat Creek is severely altered with banks that are near vertical, lack floodplain access, and maintain a locked-in meander pattern. In addition, there are numerous examples of failing concrete slabs and rock gabions that were used to protect creek banks against erosion. In many areas, obscured sightlines leave the creek vulnerable to illegal dumping. Moreover, invasive plant species such as ivy, blackberry, and eucalyptus dominate both banks.
The proposed project will address several creek issues:
• Establish an active channel width‐to‐depth ratio to help transport sediment effectively throughout the reach without excessive sediment deposition.
• Develop in-stream habitat/complexity to increase the creek’s viable fish habitat.
• Develop a floodplain bench/terrace to allow the channel to accommodate larger flow volumes (reducing downstream flood risks) within creek banks.
• Change the slope of the right bank from 1:1 (vertical: horizontal) slope to a 2:1 slope. This grading will greatly stabilize the right bank, which is overly steep in many areas.
• Establish new vegetation of over 2,000 native riparian trees and shrubs to further reduce bank erosion while providing terrestrial and avian habitat.
On February 6, 2017 the City Council approved a grant application to the State Coastal Conservancy for the Wildcat Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Project (Resolution 2017-018). On September 19, 2016 the City Council approved a grant application to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) for the Wildcat Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Project (Resolution 2016-277). On September 28, 2017 the State Coastal Conservancy approved the requested $1.3 million and on August 28, 2017 CNRA provided a letter of award for $689,222 for the Wildcat Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Project.
The estimated cost of the Project is $3.5 million and city staff have submitted multiple grant applications to various grant sources to ensure this project is fully funded. The table below provides information about the variously secured funding sources for this project.
|
Grant Agency |
Allocated Funding |
San Pablo Match |
Total |
Grant Approval Date |
|
Measure J: Pedestrian, Bicycle & Trail Facilities and Transportation for Livable Communities |
$1,280,000 |
$143,512 |
$1,423,512 |
7/28/2017 |
|
State Coastal Conservancy |
$1,300,000 |
$ - |
$1,300,000 |
9/28/2017 |
|
California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) |
$689,222 |
$137,522 |
$826,744 |
8/28/217 |
|
Total |
$3,269,222 |
$281,034 |
$3,550,256 |
|
At this time, staff is seeking Council approval to accept and appropriate the State Coastal Conservancy Grant of $1.3 million dollars and the CNRA grant of $689,222. The City of San Pablo match for the CNRA grant is as follows:
• $35,020 in staff time managing and approving the project
• $100,000 appropriated in the FY 15/16 CIP Budget under the category Creeks and Storm Drains for the Wildcat Creek-Plaza San Pablo project (WCC-PSP) would be reallocated to the Wildcat Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail project (WCC-TRL)
• $2,502 - is needed for appropriation from GFDR - Parks
Staff will return to Council in FY 2018/19 to accept and appropriate the Measure J Pedestrian, Bicycle & Trail Facilities funding when funding from CCTA becomes available.
To ensure that this project meets all of the grant timelines, as grant awards were being prepared, staff issued a Request for Proposals for Wildcat Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Design and Permitting consulting services (August 17, 2017). A consultant team lead by Restoration Design Group (RDG) presented the best overall proposal and are recommended for selection for the requested services.
This City Council item is also requesting authorization to enter into an agreement with RDG and the various sub-consultants. The term of the agreement will be until completion of the project, which is expected to be December 2018. Staff is requesting authorization for the City Manager to enter into an agreement with RDG for the above services for the amount of $352,166 with a 15% contingency for a total authorization of $404,991.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact of this item is to appropriate a total of $2,091,724 to the Wildcat Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail (WCC-TRL) as shown in the table below.
|
Transaction |
Fund Name |
Account Code |
Task Code |
Amount |
|
Accept |
CNRA- California Urban Rivers Grant Program |
320-3202-33403 |
WCC-TRL |
$689,222 |
|
Accept |
State Coastal Conservancy Prop 1 Grant |
320-3202-33403 |
WCC-TRL |
$1,300,000 |
|
Total Revenues |
$1,989,222 |
|
|
|
Appropriate |
CNRA River Parkway Grant |
320-3202-43600 |
WCC-TRL |
$689,222 |
|
Appropriate |
State Coastal Conservancy Prop 1 Grant |
320-3202-43600 |
WCC-TRL |
$1,300,000 |
|
Appropriate |
General Fund Designated Reserve - Parks |
320-3202-43600 |
WCC-TRL |
$2,502 |
|
Total Appropriation |
$1,991,724 |
|
|
|
Reallocate Funds |
|
Reallocate to new Task |
FY 15/16 CIP GF Creeks and Storm Drains WCC-PSP |
320-3200-43600 |
WCC-TRL |
$100,000 |
|
|
|
Total Funds |
$2,091,724 |
The contract amount is $352,166 with an available 15 percent contingency amount of $52,825, for a total authorization of $404,991. Funding of the Wildcat Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Design and Permitting consulting services will be provided from 320-3202-43600-WCC-TRL.
ATTACHMENTS
• Contract with Restoration Design Group
• CNRA Award Letter
• State Coastal Conservancy Award Letter