Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: December 5, 2023
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: Daisy perez, deputy city manager
PREPARED BY: edgar rosales, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE analyst SUBJECT: union Pacific Trail Phase TWO RECONSIDERATION
SUMMARY
City Council considered Union Pacific Park trail options on August 15, 2023 and voted 3 - 2 to direct staff to reapproach the California Natural Resources Agency to consider reallocating the Phase Two project grant funding to another project. Council Member Zahra requested, supported by Council Member Charles, to bring this item back for City Council consideration.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Reaffirm City Council direction from August 15, 2023 and direct City Manager to reapproach the State of California Natural Resources Agency and continue to explore an alternate project for the grant.
OR
2. Direct City Manager to move forward with the Union Pacific Trail Phase Two project, as recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission, and appropriate $330,000 from Park Dwelling (Fund 39) fund balance to Project 54260 Union Pacific Trail Phase Two Project in Capital Projects Fund (Fund 74).
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
The City Manager’s office has discussed moving the funds to the Union Pacific Park. While this met certain conditions of the grant, there were concerns in several areas:
There were not enough trees to create the same environmental benefit. The trees needed to be placed along a trail or in an area that showed pedestrian benefit. Also wanted a trail component to remain as the connectivity components of the grant were a major component of the original application.
Concerns that the City match would be potentially higher and that the City may not have the funds secured.
Wanted to see the Community support.
The Park did meet the geographical/demographic requirements of the grant which included income and socioeconomic factors, including allocated in a low-income disadvantaged community.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Public Safety
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Parks and Recreation Department received a $1.78 million grant to construct a non-motorized trail and class-one bikeway with landscaping. The City’s match requirement totals approximately $330,000, available in the Park Dwelling fund balance (Fund 39). Option 2 would not require additional funding other than the match requirement. The following outlines fiscal implications by option Option 1: Fiscal impact would depend on alternate project and matching funds requirement, which staff would request from City Council at a future date. Terminating the current grant agreement would have no fiscal impact.
Option 2: $330,000 appropriation from available Park Dwelling fund balance to the Union Pacific Trail Phase Two Project in Capital Projects Fund (Fund 74).
DISCUSSION
City Council / Redevelopment Agency approved a plan for the Union Pacific Right-of-Way Trail and Park Project and application for grant funding from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation on September 7, 1999. The plan included a class-one bikeway, recreational trail, one-acre neighborhood park and parking lot. The Union Pacific Right-of-Way property begins just south of the Transportation Center and extends 0.8 miles west to Independence Park between Truslow and Walnut. The project provides a safe alternate route from the Transportation Center to the Richman Park and Independence Park neighborhoods. The City completed the first phase of the bikeway and trail project which extends 0.5 miles from the Transportation Center to Highland Avenue in 2006.
Phase Two includes design and construction of the portion of the trail from Highland Avenue to Independence Park. The proposed project would transform an existing 50-foot to 80-foot wide, blighted corridor into a greenbelt trail providing alternate transportation modes and linking the Transportation Center and several parks, including Independence Park at its terminus. This project aligns with the Hunt Branch Library to the west, providing potential linkages to create a regional trail connecting multiple cities. The estimated cost of the project totals $2.1 million.
The Parks and Recreation Department received a $1.78 million grant from the Urban Greening Program through the California Natural Resources Agency to fund the Union Pacific Trail Project Phase Two in 2020. City Council adopted a resolution for the grant application and funding on August 18, 2020. The State announced the $1.78 million grant award to the City in April 2021 and the parties signed the grant agreement in May 2022. The grant covers the following project elements: irrigation, electrical, lighting, trail excavation and grading, pedestrian trail, class-one bike lane and landscaping throughout trail, including planting 176 trees.
City Council directed to staff to research alternative options for the trail on November 2, 2021, including a design with a multi-modal element for Union Pacific Trail Phase Two. Staff explored multiple options, including shifting grant funds to another location or project in the City. The California Natural Resources Agency indicated that transferring grant funds to an alternate location or project would have to meet several different criteria, which may prove challenging.
Phase Two of the trail has two segments – Highland Avenue to Richman Avenue and Richman Avenue to Independence Park - for a total 0.3 miles. Both segments are in an industrial zone with a MP – Manufacturing Park land-use designation. The segment of the project from Highland Avenue to Richman Avenue borders private properties to the north and south with various manufacturing uses. The segment from Richman Avenue to Independence Park borders manufacturing and railroad properties.
Staff held a community meeting on June 29, 2023 to present both Union Pacific Trail Phase Two project options. Staff mailed a meeting invitation to properties surrounding the project area with a link to an online survey. Staff also posted information for the online survey at Union Pacific Park. 57 participants completed the survey with approximately 58% of survey respondents supporting Option 1.
Staff presented both design options to the Parks and Recreation Commission on July 10, 2023. The commission voted 5 – 0 – 2 to recommend City Council approve a conceptual plan. The Urban Green Grant and Park Dwelling Funds fully fund Option 1. City Council voted 3 – 2 to direct staff to either terminate the grant agreement with the California Natural Resources Agency or reapproach the Agency to consider reallocating grant funding to another project on August 15, 2023,.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Union Pacific Trail Phase Two Design
Attachment 2 – Urban Greening Grant Agreement
cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt
Union Pacific Trail Phase Two Design
December 5, 2023 – Page 2