HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-21-2018 ITEM 14- LOWER SAN LUIS OBISPO CREEK WATERSHED MODEL FUNDING Meeting Date: 8/21/2018
FROM: Daryl Grigsby, Public Works Director
Prepared By: Jake Hudson, Transportation Manager
SUBJECT: LOWER SAN LUIS OBISPO CREEK WATERSHED MODEL FUNDING.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the use of $102,000 from the Completed Capital Projects and $8,000 fro m the Prado
Road Interchange Project Account to develop a comprehensive flood model of the San Luis
Obispo Creek corridor from Marsh & Higuera to approximately the Octagon Barn.
DISCUSSION
There is a unique opportunity created by the scope and timing of two critical infrastructure
projects located in the same area. The Prado Road Interchange is entering into its flood analysis
study phase while the Water Resource Reclamation Facility (WRRF) project’s design is
essentially complete and the project is working its way towards construction. A current and in-
depth understanding of the floodplain along the San Luis Obispo Creek corridor is warranted at
this time.
A comprehensive, two-dimensional (“2D") Flood Control model will enable current and future
City projects in the area to mutually benefit from the potential application of flood control
solutions, in tandem with targeted areas for conservation, habitat and stream bank restoration,
and pro -active contemporary stormwater best management practices, to be examined
comprehensively. Currently, individual projects study their own floodplain impacts and
incorporate impact mitigation on a project by project basis. With a common model (similar to
others the City already has such as the Transportation Model) a se t of recommended floodplain
management measures can be developed with greater levels of technical specificity and inform a
more holistic and proactive approach.
As the City moves forward with the Prado Road Interchange and WRRF projects , it is critical to
complete a comprehensive flood study rather than an incremental and fragmented analysis.
Information already developed for the WRRF project and background work done for the
interchange will be used to jumpstart the model development with background infor mation. A
comprehensive flood model, utilizing the same accurate and best practice methodology, will use
existing data from the WRRF project while providing the information necessary to identify the
best overall set of solutions for flood control and advance mitigation planning along a broader
regional area. This will help to coordinate better long-term solutions rather than have an
incremental approach along the corridor so that management of the floodplain can be analyzed
comprehensively and in context with other potential future projects in the corridor.
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Item 14
CONCURRENCES
The City Utilities Department concurs with this recommendation.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Development of this model in and of itself is not considered a project under CEQA. Even if
develop ment of this model was a project under CEQA it would be categorically exempt per
CEQA Guidelines Section 15306, Information Collection. Once completed, this model will
ideally be come the basis for flood analysis in the environmental review for all projects along this
creek corridor.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff is proposing to fund this model development with $102,000 with remaining funds from
completed capital projects and $8,000 from the Prado Road Interchange Account , which is
derived from Transportation Impact Fees. The Prado Road Interchange account has a current
balance of $225,000, sufficient to fund the proportion proposed from this account.
As part of the next financial plan staff will proposed to augment this remaining balance of the
Prado Road Interchange account with Impact Fee Funds, San Luis Ranch Fair Share Mitigation
Funds, SLOCOG Funds, and County Tax Sharing funds per the adopted San Luis Ranch
Development agreement to complete the Interchange Project Engineering, Right -Of-Way, and
Construction.
ALTERNATIVE
Council may choose to not approve the use of these funds for development of this model.
Staff does not recommend this as there is no other funding source at this time and the work
would not move forward. Flood analysis for the WRRF and Prado Road Interchange would
move forward isolated to their respective areas and as a result costly flood control measures
upstream and downstream of these projects could result if a comprehensive, holistic approach is
not taken.
Packet Pg. 442
Item 14