Fremont City Council Meeting: 05/02/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 4741) DOC ID: 4741
Updated: 4/26/2023 3:40 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 1
SABERCAT TRAIL AND IRVINGTONIAN FOSSIL MUSEUM PROJECTS - Receive Progress Report on Sabercat Trail and Irvingtonian Museum Projects; Approve the Recreation Commission Recommendations to Sabercat Historical Park; Authorize the City Manager to Execute Service Agreements to Continue Development of the Sabercat Trail and Irvingtonian Fossil Museum Projects (PWC8977); and Make Findings of CEQA Compliance
Contact Persons:
Name: Jeanne Suyeishi Hans Larsen
Title: Senior Civil Engineer Public Works Director
Div/Dept: Public Works Public Works
Phone: 510-494-4728 510-494-4722
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to facilitate the planning and development of the Sabercat Trail Extension and Irvingtonian Fossil Museum projects and to provide a project progress report. Additional project planning and design funding has been provided through two State grants. This report recommends approval of Recreation Commission recommendations, consultant amendments and agreements for final design and museum planning.
BACKGROUND: The Sabercat Trail Extension Project is identified in the City’s General Plan and the City’s master plans for trails, bicycling, and pedestrians. The purpose of the Sabercat Trail Extension Project is to provide an enhanced recreational path and an option to better connect the Mission San Jose and Irvington communities by walking and bicycling.
Notable destinations along the expanded trail corridor include the future Irvington BART Station and Ohlone College. The scope of the Sabercat Trail Extension Project would extend the existing Sabercat Trail (from within the Sabercat Historical Park) to Osgood Road via the new bridge over Interstate 680.
In 2019, the City of Fremont obtained a funding grant for the project from the State California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) in the amount of $5,586,000. The funding grant was facilitated by former State Senator Wieckowski as part of the State’s 2019 budget process. The scope of the project grant included preparation of environmental clearance and design of the new trail section. The City Council approved the grant funding agreement on October 1, 2019. On February 15, 2022, the City Council approved the completed environmental clearance for the project (the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program).
At the February 7, 2023 City Council meeting, City Council accepted additional State funding grants in the amount of $12 million for the Sabercat Trail Extension Project with $6 million from the State General Fund appropriated to the Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS), and another $6 million appropriated to the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Office of Local Assistance.
Council Staff Report (ID # 4741) Meeting of May 2, 2023 Updated: 4/26/2023 3:40 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 2
The additional State grants would fund the Irvingtonian Fossil Museum planning efforts, final design consultant costs for the Sabercat Existing Trail Upgrades in Sabercat Historical Park, right of way acquisition for the Sabercat Trail Extension project, and additional final design consultant costs for the Sabercat Trail Extension. The allocated State funds also include partial funding for project construction, which will be used to help leverage additional construction funding from other sources.
Further information about the project is featured on the City’s MyFremont community engagement platform (see weblink below).
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The following section provides a summary of project coordination with the Recreation Commission and a description of recommended actions to continue developing the Sabercat Trail Extension and Irvingtonian Fossil Museum projects.
Recreation Commission Coordination
Staff presented the Sabercat Historical Park Trail Extension and Interpretive Are a project to the Recreation Commission on June 1, 2022.
The Sabercat Trail Extension Project consists of a trail connection between the proposed I - 680 bike and pedestrian bridge and the existing west end paved section of trail in Sabercat Historical Park. This will add approximately 1000 linear feet of new hardscape pathway in the park. The trail extension will also include a modest Interpretive Area along this section of the trail. The concrete trail’s proposed color and patterning will be integrated to match with the proposed bridge’s treatment and interpretive elements will be included in the trail paving design.
The proposed location and alignment of hardscape trail takes advantage of the hilltop edge which looks north over I-680 into Fremont and onward to the Bay. The project’s unique views and natural setting provide an opportunity for an Interpretive Area linked to the pathway that will tell the rich and historic story of the Irvingtonian fossils found near this area and is the reason for the creation and existence of Sabercat Historical Park.
The Interpretive Area acts as a natural stop for pedestrian or bicyclists travelling east from the proposed bridge, or west through the existing park. It will serve as an opportune rest stop and a small area to gather for school field trips or outdoor learning. Set slightly into the rising site elevation, the Interpretive Area will be comprised of low seating walls creating tiered amphitheater-like seating, that will help to preserve and promote views while mitigating against car noises from I-680. The Interpretive Area will also be partially covered with a metal shade structure to provide some relief from the sun. The proposed concrete paved surfacing reduces long term maintenance cost and will match park standards. The concrete paving will have an integral color to match the bridge and the environment. Other finishes will include stamped footprint patterns to reflect existing wildlife and ancient wildlife, as found during the digs of the 1950’s and involving the “boy paleontologists.”
The existing 1.4 mile of walkway within the Sabercat Historical Park is a combination of paved concrete, asphalt and dirt pathways of a mostly 10-foot-wide width. As part of the Sabercat Trail Extension Project, the pathway within Sabercat Historical Park will be Council Staff Report (ID # 4741) Meeting of May 2, 2023 Updated: 4/26/2023 3:40 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 3
widened to have a combined paved pathway and shoulder width of 14’, consistent with the Trails Strategy Plan.
The Recreation Commission recommended that City Council approve a new trail width of 14’ in Sabercat Historical Park consistent with the Community Connection Trail guideline of the Trail Strategy Plan and adopt the Site Master Plan for the Sabercat Trail Extension and Interpretive Area within Sabercat Historical Park.
Upgrading the Existing Sabercat Trail
The existing trail in Sabercat Historical Park narrows down to seven feet in some sections and has an asphalt surface that is cracked and settling. There are steep slopes above and below the trail, and areas where erosion is evident. Staff is proposing to upgrade the existing trail condition and width to be suitable for increased bicycle/pedestrian use expected from the trail extension. There are areas where retaining walls will be needed to widen the trail as well as stabilize the steep slopes. Also, measures are planned to control the speed of bicycle travel in the corridor to maintain a safe and pleasant experience for all trail users.
Mark Thomas and Company was selected to facilitate the Concept Planning for the Sabercat Existing Trail Upgrade project in Sabercat Historical Park. This phase of the project is complete, and staff is moving forward with Mark Thomas performing the Environmental Clearance and Final Design milestones for the Sabercat Existing Trail Upgrade project in the amount of $805,000. This work is being done as a task order under the On-Call Civil Design and Project Management Master Service Agreement with Mark Thomas and Company which was approved by the City Council on January 12, 2021.
Continuing Design for the Sabercat Trail Extension and Planning for the Irvingtonian Fossil Museum
The consulting firm of TY Lin International (TY Lin) was selected to facilitate the Concept Planning and Community Outreach, Environmental Clearance, and Final Design milestones for the Sabercat Trail Extension project. The City Council approved a contract with TY Lin on January 14, 2020, and several amendments were executed to remove the Blacow Road Extension over BART/UPRR from final design, add the Independent Design Check (IDC) of the I-680 bridge structure, and increase the consultant’s compensation.
At this time, Staff proposes that TY Lin complete the following additional tasks:
environmental clearance for the Irvingtonian Fossil Museum; environmental clearance for the transfer of the Caltrans land, needed for the Irvingtonian Fossil Museum, to the California Natural Resources Agency; right of way engineering for the trail extension near Osgood Road; design the relocation of two sign structures along SB I-680 (overhead guide sign and express lane toll signs) that will be obstructed by the I-680 bridge; perform additional tree surveys in Sabercat Historical Park; and provide additional services to support grant applications to seek construction funding for the Sabercat Trail Extension Project. Staff is recommending approval of Amendment No. 4 with TY Lin in the amount of $487,000, which will bring the total contract amount to $5,923,566.
Council Staff Report (ID # 4741) Meeting of May 2, 2023 Updated: 4/26/2023 3:40 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 4
Scientific Content Plan for the Irvingtonion Fossil Museum
Planning for the Irvingtonian Fossil Museum Project is underway to create a world-class facility that educates and celebrates the natural history of the Irvingtonian period, dating back 1.9 million years when sabercats roamed the land. The museum will house fossil collections held by UC Berkeley and the Fremont-based Math Science Nucleus and is envisioned to be an educational resource for natural sciences, similar to the Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles.
The museum will feature:
• A 40,000 square-foot museum building is planned on a State-owned property overlooking the I-680 freeway and the original paleontological dig site where fossils were first discovered.
• The museum is located along an extension of the Sabercat trail with connections to Sabercat Historical Park, along with Ohlone College to the east, and the future Irvington BART Station, and East Bay Greenway Trail to the west. • Vehicle access to the museum is provided from a driveway along Osgood Road and includes parking for school buses, persons with disabilities, and the general public.
Math Science Nucleus (MSN) has been selected to work in partnership with the University of California Museum of Paleontology (located at UC Berkeley) to prepare a museum concept plan for the Irvingtonian Fossil Museum. The work efforts include: creating an advisory committee for museum planning; assisting with a geologic and paleontological report that collects and compiles all documents on record; and preparing an Irvingtonian Fossil Museum Concept Plan that highlights the area’s scientific and historic significance, visions and benefits, identifying partnerships, exhibits and materials for museum display and implementation scenarios and strategies. This document will identify the scientific content that will be the foundation for museum-based exhibits and programs, and it will be used to promote state and national interest in the museum and its funding. Staff recommends approval of an agreement with MSN in the amount of $220,000.
FISCAL IMPACT: The funding for this project, consisting of $5.586 million from a CNRA grant, $6 million from an OGALS grant, and an additional $6 million from a Caltrans grant, has been appropriated and budgeted into PWC8977. Based on the contract amounts and project costs, there are sufficient funds budgeted for this project to cover the recommended agreements and associated contingency, and to cover City staff time for project management.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because they are an administrative fiscal activity and not projects pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
As a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance, the City Council on February 15, 2022 adopted the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Sabercat Trail Extension Project in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15074, with implementation of the adopted mitigation measures, there is no substantial evidence that the project as mitigated will have a significant effect on the environment; and that the Mitigated Negative Declaration reflects the independent judgment and analysis of the City of Fremont.
Council Staff Report (ID # 4741) Meeting of May 2, 2023 Updated: 4/26/2023 3:40 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 5
WEBLINK: www.my.fremont.gov/sabercat
ATTACHMENTS:
• Site Master Plan from the June 1, 2022, Recreation Commission Presentation
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the following actions related to the Sabercat Trail Extension Project and the Irvingtonian Fossil Museum Project:
1. Find the action is exempt from envir onmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) and (5). As a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance, the City Council has adopted the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Saber cat Trail Extension Project in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15074.
2. Approve the Recreation Commission Recommendation to approve a new trail width of 14’ in Sabercat Historical Park to be consistent with the Community Connector Trail guideline of the Trail Strategy Plan.
3. Approve the Recreation Commission Recommendation to adopt the Site Master Plan for the Trail Extension and Interpretive Area within Sabercat Historical Park to be constructed as a part of the Sabercat Trail Extension project.
4. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute Amendment No. 4 to the Design Professional Services Agreement with T.Y. Lin International in an amount not to exceed $487,000 for engineering services for the Sabercat Trail Extension project (PWC8977).
5. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a Services Agreement with Math Science Nucleus in an amount not to exceed $220,000 for preparation of a Concept Plan of Scientific Content for the Irvingtonian Fossil Museum project (PWC8977).