HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/04/2005, C4 - AUTHORIZATION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT SUPPORT FROM THE CALIFORNIA RIVER PARKWAYS GRANT PROGRAM FOR council 10 1 A-1
acenaa Report «®N�
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Wendy George,Assistant City Administrative Officent
Prepared By: Neil Havlik,Natural Resources Manager
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION OF APPLICATION FOR GRANT SUPPORT FROM
THE CALIFORNIA RIVER PARKWAYS GRANT PROGRAM FOR
FLOOD MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS ALONG SAN LUIS
OBISPO CREEK AT THE ELKS LODGE
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing application to the California River Parkways Grant program for
grant funds in amount of $500,000 in support of a flood management project along San Luis
Obispo Creek at the Elks Lodge on Elks Lane,in the City of San Luis Obispo.
DISCUSSION
In 2004 the City Council approved the Waterway Management Plan (WMP) for the City. This
document outlines a variety of activities that may be undertaken by the City on its own, or in
conjunction with Zone 9, which are designed to ameliorate the effects of stormflows and flooding
on San Luis Obispo Creek and adjacent, flood-prone areas within the City. Among the areas
identified for flood protection improvements was the reach of San Luis Obispo Creek between
Madonna Road and Elks Lane. In this area the Waterway Management Plan called for the
installation of a flood bypass or flood terrace, to essentially expand the cross-sectional area of the
creek available for the conveyance of storm flows. Such improvements were identified in several
areas of San Luis Obispo Creek, and were patterned after the successful project of this type
undertaken near the City's Wastewater Reclamation Facility some fifteen or twenty years ago. The
effect of having this feature in the landscape has been to create a large area which (1) facilitates the
freer movement of stormflows in that area, (2) provides a wide (over 100 feet) riparian corridor,
parts of which are maintained as grassland by annual mowing, and(3) serves to provide protection
to the sensitive "low-flow" channel, which is a perennial stream which contains, among other
things, a healthy population of the threatened southern steelhead.
This concept will be carried over to the Elks Lodge property. The existing creek area will be
widened by excavating the eastern bank to create a wider channel about two to three feet above the
existing channel, providing a sloped bank to that new channel, and planting the slope with native
riparian vegetation. (The original concept of a flood bypass would have required more land and
could actually have impacted the Elks Lodge building itself,whereas a flood terrace would not.)
Preliminary engineering work on this and other such sites was done as part of the development of
the WMP, and a preliminary cost estimate of$500,000 was calculated for the project. This project
g/havlik/councilagenda/elks lodge project gran app
Council Agenda Report-Authorization of Application for Grant Funds
Page 2
will be of the same concept identified in the WW,but will be on a reduced scale. We will only be
working in the vicii it of the Elks Club, and we will not be developing the full section for the creek
recommended. This is due to the limited funding available from this grant. The estimated cost for
the whole project is several million dollars. The impact of this small widening has not been studied
and may be of limited benefit to the overall widening project on its own; however, it would
improve water quality by reducing silt losses to the creek from the vertical banks at that location. In
the long term, it would contribute to achieving the overall goal for the larger stretch of the creek,to
provide a flood terrace.
The Elks Club is anxious to have this work undertaken, and has offered to donate the necessary
right of way along the creek for the project. The value of this donation can be claimed as a match
to the grant application. As proposed,the project would not affect the low-flow channel of San Luis
Obispo Creek but as noted above would provide protection against continued bank erosion which
occurs at the Elks Lodge site, and ultimately would improve water quality by reducing silt losses to
the creek at that location. The project will also include revegetation of the newly created channel
with appropriate native species, and will provide a walkway/service access along the top of the
bank.. Such public amenities are a requirement of the grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
If successful, this grant will have a beneficial fiscal effect by providing outside funding support for
an identified City enhancement project. Minor costs of obtaining permits can be absorbed within
the existing Natural Resource Protection Program budget. There will be some ongoing costs of
vegetation maintenance, etc., however, these would be funded out of Zone 9 monies and are not
expected to be significant.. Funding for the capital project would be from Proposition 50,passed by
the voters in 2002.
CONCURRENCES
The Public Works Department supports this effort as an implementation measure for the City's
Waterway Management Plan.
ALTERNATIVE
The Council could decide to not authorize the application, This is. not recommended, as the
application itself does not constitute a commitment on the part of the City.
Attachments:
1. Resolution
2. Location Map
3. Grant Summary
ATTACHMENT 1
Resolution No:
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE
CALIFORNIA RIVER PARKWAYS GRANT PROGRAM UNDER THE WATER
SECURITY,CLEAN DRINKING WATER,COASTAL AND BEACH PROTECTION ACT
OF 2002 (Proposition 50)
WHEREAS,the Legislature and Governor of the State of California have provided
Funds for the program shown above;and
WHEREAS,the Resources Agency has been delegated the responsibility for the
administration of this grant program, establishing necessary, procedures; and
WHEREAS, said procedures established by the State Resources Agency require a
resolution certifying the approval of application(s)by the Applicant's governing board before
submission of said application(s) to the State; and
WHEREAS, the City, if selected, will enter into an agreement with the State of
California to carry out the Project
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San
Luis Obispo hereby:
1. Approves the filing of an application for the project known as Elks Lodge Flood
Management Improvements;
2. Certifies that the City understands the assurances and certification'in the application, and
3. Certifies that the City or title holder will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the
Projects)consistent with the land tenure requirements; or will secure the resources to do
so, and
4. Certifies that.it will comply with the provisions of Section 1771.8 of the State Labor Code
regarding payment of prevailing wages on Projects awarded Proposition 50 Funds, and
5. If applicable, certifies that the Project will comply with any laws and regulations including,
but not limited to, legal requirements for building codes, health and safety codes; disabled
access laws, and, that prior to commencement of c_onstruction;all applicable permits will
have been obtained, and
6. Appoints the City Administrative Officer, or designee, as agent to conduct all negotiations,
execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to applications, agreements,
payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the
aforementioned Project.
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Resol_utionNo. hTTA CHWINT I
Page 2
On motion of - ---__ ___ seconded by and on the
following roll call vote:
AYES`
NOES.
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was passed and adopted this 4th day of October.2005.
David F.Romero, Mayor
ATTEST:
Audrey Hooper,City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Jon _ _ .Lowell,City Attorney
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ATTACHMENT 2
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LOCATION MAP
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
ELKS LODGE FLOOD MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
1" = 2000'APPROX.
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I. INTRODUCTION ATTACHMENT 3
• California voters passed the Water Security, Clean Drinking Water,.Coastal and Beach
Protection Act of 2002 (Proposition 50) on November 5, 2002. It added to the
California Water Code, Section 79541, authorizing the Legislature to appropriate $100
million for the Acquisition, Restoration, protection and Development of River Parkways.
• Chapter 240, Statutes of 2003, imposed specific requirements on Proposition 50
implementing departments.
• Chapter 230, Statutes of 2004, created the California River Parkways Program
(Program) within the Office of the Secretary for Resources (see Appendix A). These
guidelines establish the process that will be used to solicit applications, evaluate
proposals and award grants under this competitive program.
Note: Capitalized words in the document have specific meanings—see Appendix P.
Eligible Applicants
Grant Funds will be awarded to Public Agencies and Nonprofit Organizations,
Statutory Requirements
River Parkway Projects must meet at least two of the following five statutory conditions:
1. Recreation : Provide Compatible Recreational Opportunities including trails for strolling,
hiking, bicycling and equestrian uses along rivers and streams.
2. Habitat:- Protect, improve, or Restore Riverine or Riparian Habitat, including benefits to
wildlife habitat and water quality.
3. Flood Management - Maintain or Restore the open-space character of lands along
rivers and streams so that they are compatible with periodic flooding as part of a flood
management plan or project.
4. Conversion to River Parkways - Convert existing developed riverfront land into uses
consistent with River Parkways.
5. Conservation and-Interpretive Enhancement - Provide facilities to support or interpret
river or stream Restoration or other conservation activities.
Other statutory requirements:
• Projects must provide Public Access or be a component of a Larger Parkway Plan that
provides Public Access.
• Projects must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Division
13 (commencing with Section 21000).
• Real property must be acquired from a willing seller.
• Projects must comply with Labor Code Section 1771.8 regarding the labor
compliance program and prevailing wages.
• Additional requirements must be met if the Project is located in the CALFED solution
area, or the San Gabriel or Los Angeles River watersheds (see Appendix D).
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Priority will be given to River Parkway Projects that are implemented pursuant to approved
Watershed Plans and include water quality and watershed protection benefits as required by
Water Code (WC) 79541..
Application Timeframe
The application is due 90 days from the date the Guidelines are released. The Solicitation
Notice is posted at: http:/hMW resources.ca.gov/bt)nd_s_prop5Or yetparkway.htmi.
Applications must'be received at the Office of the Secretary by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October
18, 2005. Hand delivered applications will be accepted no later than 4:00 p.m. of the deadline
workday.
Contact Infofmation
Direct all inquires, correspondence and grant applications to:
California River Parkways Grant Program
The Resources Agency
Attn: Bonds and Grants Unit
1416.Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone: (916) 65.4-9923
FAX: (916) 653-8102
Email: rp5O@resources.ca.gov
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