Cathedral City Page 1 of 3 Printed on 4/6/2023
Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.C
Meeting Date: April 12, 2023
From: John Corella, Director of Engineering/Public Works Title: Ofelia Bringas Memorial Bridge Project (aka Cathedral Canyon Bridge over Whitewater River) Post-Construction Monitoring and Reporting
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve a Design Professional Services Agreement with Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc. to assist the City with the five-year post construction invasive species control, as required in the Streambed Alteration Agreement between the City of Cathedral City and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for the Ofelia Bringas Memorial Bridge Project, in the total amount not to exceed $36,510; and, authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement.
BACKGROUND:
On December 21, 2017, the City and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) entered into the Streambed Alteration Agreement for the Ofelia Bringas Memorial Bridge (aka Cathedral Canyon Bridge over Whitewater River Project). This was due to the CDFW determining the project could have an impact on wildlife resources within the vicinity of the Project site.
In these cases, the CDFW requires a Streambed Alteration Agreement when a project’s activities are determined they may substantially adversely affect existing fish or wildlife resources. Examples of the activities are the diversion or obstruction of the natural flow of any river, stream, or lake; and/or substantially change or use any material from the bed, channel, or bank of any river, stream, or lake. The Streambed Alteration Agreement is a type of permit that includes measures necessary to protect existing fish and wildlife resources.
Under the approved Streambed Alteration Agreement, the City has provided to CDFW the Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) on January 16, 2019, the Project Completion Report on September 29, 2022 and subsequent required annual monitoring reports.
CDFW representatives have reviewed the HMMP and determined the existing baseline
Cathedral City Page 2 of 3 Printed on 4/6/2023
conditions described in the initial report will require more detail regarding:
•The physical conditions at the project site, and
•A plan for control of non-native plants at the project site, and •A criteria for achieving control of the above.
CDFW representatives would like a more quantitative methodology to establish baseline conditions and have recommended that either support documentation is provided or an amendment to the existing HMMP be completed.
DISCUSSION:
To accomplish the reporting required by CDFW, Staff reached out to Terra Nova Research and Planning, Inc. (Terra Nova) to work with CDFW on the required reporting and monitoring. Terra Nova is designated Environmental Consultant on the project that has originally secured all the environmental approvals and permits to proceed with the project.
Terra Nova Planning and Research Inc. and their subconsultant WSP USA Environment (WSP) & Infrastructure, Inc. (WSP USA) provided City Staff with a proposal, including the tasks required to complete the HMMP reporting required to complete the environmental reporting for the project. A copy of the proposal is attached to this Staff Report.
The proposed reporting tasks outlined in the proposal were forwarded to CDFW representatives for review. CDFW representatives have agreed to the approach presented by Terra Nova Planning and Research, the Environmental Consultant working on the project, to establish the new baseline conditions.
For a period of five years subsequent to this project’s completion, the City is required to submit Annual Invasive Species Control Monitoring Reports. The first report is due May 1, 2023, with the additional reports to be completed in 2024, 2025, 2026 and a final Report in 2027. This annual report will include the required photos, documentation of invasive species control, and monitoring activities based on requirements outlined in the HMMP.
City Engineering Staff is requesting the City Council approve a Design Professional Services Agreement with Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc. to assist the City in completing the five-year Post Construction Invasive Species Control reporting, as required in the Streambed Alteration Agreement between the City of Cathedral City and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) for the project, in the total amount not to exceed $36,510, and authorize the City Manager to execute the Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the Agreement with Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc. is for five years and for a total amount not to exceed $36,510 distributed per year as follows.
Year 1 (2023) Update HMMP $3,250 Year 1 (2023)
Annual Monitoring Report $6,250 Year 2 (2024)
Cathedral City Page 3 of 3 Printed on 4/6/2023
Annual Monitoring Report $4,920 Year 3 (2025)
Annual Monitoring Report $4,920 Year 4 (2026)
Annual Monitoring Report $4,920 Year 5 (2027)
Annual Monitoring Report $6,250 Year 1 thru Year 5
Project Management $6,000 Total 5-Year
Monitoring Reporting Contract $36,510
For the first year a total amount of $10,700 will be paid from the FY 2022 - 2023 Engineering Professional and Technical Services account (100-156-8601). The remaining four (4) years of the Agreement, FY 2023-2024 through FY 2026/20277, will be paid from the subsequent FY Professional and Technical Services account.
ATTACHMENTS:
Streambed Agreement
CC Bridge HMMP Post-Construction Agreement 3.14.23
Design Professional Agreement - Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc.