POINT ARENA CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM: IX A
MEETING DATE: 4/26/2022
TITLE
Coastal Commission LCP Local Assistance Grant Program – Sea Level Rise
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Review and Adopt Resolution of Application to Submit Non-Competitive Grant Application for Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Study
ANALYSIS
In early February, the Coastal Commission released a Notice of Funding Availability for a non-competitive grant to be used for projects that are designed to assist local governments in assessing impacts and planning for coastal resilience, including adapting to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise, and which contain an LCP planning component.
The City is currently working on a large LCP amendment project funded by three separate grants (Local Early Action Planning, Regional Early Action Planning, and SB2).
These grants are targeted toward LCP amendments that initiate housing development, and the current amendment seeks to address accessory dwelling units (ADUs), removing impediments to residential development in the Highway Commercial zoning district, and other pro-housing policies.
The recently announced funding is to be used for studying and adapting to sea level rise, which is outside the scope and intent of the City’s current LCP amendment and the grants that are funding it. Likewise, the City’s current LCP amendment and the grants funding will not specifically address Arena Cove (where sea level rise will be most impactful) since there are few housing implications in the Harbor Commercial zoning district.
City staff reached out to Coastal Commission staff to discuss how to take advantage of the new funding without stalling the current LCP amendment process. The City received input that suggested separating the current LCP amendment process from the sea level rise funding request, and to do the necessary scientific studies to propose a targeted amendment to the Community Health and Safety Element of the General Plan. This sort of amendment would be achievable in less time than a more comprehensive amendment to the zoning code or Land Use Element of the General Plan and would meet the requirements of the grant.
With the City facing increased threats to Arena Cove from sea level rise and climate change, there is a need to revise the City’s Community Health and Safety Element (CHSE) of the General Plan. The CHSE addresses the protection of the community from natural risks, has not been updated since 1995, and does not address sea level rise.
Staff proposes to seek funding from the Coastal Commission to develop a Sea Level Rise / Vulnerability Assessment (SLR/VA) for Arena Cove to study potential threats to the Cove and recommend adaptation measures to protect it from the impacts of climate change and sea level rise to inform the update to the Community Health and Safety Element of the City’s LCP.
Once completed, the City would possess a scientific analysis of threats affecting Arena Cove from sea level rise, and potentially from climate change induced changes to Arena Creek (if funding permits), and would have a revised Community Health and Safety Element of the LCP. The study would inform future projects in Arena Cove related to sea level rise adaption and creek restoration. It is staff’s opinion that the SLR/VA would serve as the foundation for future planning efforts in Arena Cove.
FISCAL IMPACT
If awarded, the City would receive $100,000 of funding to procure a qualified firm to provide a SLR/VA, and to amend the Community Health and Safety Element of the LCP.
The grant would also cover staff time associated with managing the project.
ATTACHMENTS
1. California Coastal Commission LCP Local Assistance Grant Program Application
2. Resolution of Application
CITY PLANNER SIGNATURE
_________________________________
Scott Perkins, City Planner
Project Description
The City of Point Arena is a small coastal community in Mendocino County of approximately 450 residents within a 1.2-square mile area. It is home to Point Arena Cove and Pier, and the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands of the California Coastal National Monument. Arena Cove is located where Arena Creek flows into the Pacific, provides access to Arena Cove Pier, and is developed with a public parking lot. A commercial building with visitor-serving uses is in the Cove, with residential and lodging uses along the hillsides above the Cove and Arena Creek.
Arena Cove provides low-cost visitor recreation opportunities and public access to the coast.
The City’s western boundary consists of approximately 1.94 miles of shoreline. The vast majority of the shoreline is characterized by steep bluff faces. Arena Cove and the Arena Creek basin is essentially the only low-lying areas within the City limits.
Sea level rise and climate change are increasingly threatening infrastructure and land uses in Arena Cove. In January 2017, severe winter storms with heavy rain and high winds caused widespread damage throughout Arena Cove. High wave action and elevated water levels of Arena Creek resulted in floodwaters and turbulent flow. Several cracks formed in the three-foot thick concrete buttress that borders and protects the public parking lot.
Powerful wave action combined with floating debris from the Pacific also resulted in damage to the Arena Cove Pier. Nine wooden guide piles on the south side of the pier broke loose and were lost to the sea. One steel guide pile was sheared off several feet below sea level.
FEMA classified the damage as a natural disaster, and the City has been working with FEMA to repair the pier and parking lot. During the numerous public hearings associated with the Arena Cove repair projects, the Point Arena community vocalized the need for further study of sea level rise and climate change and their effects on Arena Cove.
With the City facing increased threats to Arena Cove from sea level rise and climate change, there is a need to revise the City’s Community Health and Safety Element (CHSE) of the General Plan. The CHSE addresses the protection of the community from natural risks. The CHSE has not been updated since 1995 and does not address sea level rise.
Further analysis projecting the extent of sea level rise and analyzing the threats it poses is necessary for the City to adequately revise the CHSE. The City is seeking funding from the Coastal Commission to develop a Sea Level Rise / Vulnerability Assessment (SLR/VA) for Arena Cove to study potential threats to the Cove and recommend adaptation measures to protect it from the impacts of climate change and sea level rise to inform the update to the CHSE of the City’s Local Coastal Program (LCP).
Ultimately, the outcome of the proposed work will help to protect public access, public recreation, and coastal-dependent land uses currently established at Arena Cove by amending the City’s LCP to reflect the current reality of climate change and sea level rise. The resulting report will be integrated in future anticipated projects as the City continues to identify and implement adaptation measures to minimize the threats of climate change and sea level rise to Arena Cove. A completed SLR/VA will be leveraged in future funding requests to implement adaptation measures recommended in the SLR/VA.
Goals/Objectives
- Review the impacts of storms and extreme events, changing shorelines, and trends in relative local sea level on vulnerable natural and built resources and facilities, including public access, commerce, recreation, coastal habitats, and navigability in and around Arena Cove. - Engage with the community and stakeholders to understand the community’s reliance on Arena Cove and determine community priorities for adapting to the effects of sea level rise and climate change.
- Develop a report summarizing the analysis that recommends an amendment to the CHSE to address sea level rise and climate change. The report will also be critical for future land use and restoration considerations within Arena Cove.
- Amend the CHSE by identify or revising goals, policies, and/or programs to address the threats related to sea level rise and climate change.
Key Deliverables / LCP Planning Component
- Arena Cove Sea Level Rise / Vulnerability Assessment (SLR/VA) Report - Amended CHSE of the General Plan
Public Outreach
The City and the selected consultant would work with the local community and stakeholders to better understand existing conditions and priorities to address the impacts of sea level rise and climate change. Specifically, the City would seek to work with the Arena Cove Stewards, a nonprofit team focused on environmental restoration and improving the equilibrium between the community and nature and identify and implement projects in and around Arena Cove.
Coordination with Commission Staff
The City will coordinate with Commission staff regularly throughout the process to ensure that the proposed LCP amendment is consistent with the Coastal Act and Coastal Commission policy.
The City anticipates coordinating with Commission staff in the development of an adequate Scope of Work for the RFP seeking consultant assistance to ensure the project addresses current Commission standards related to sea level rise, and amending the CHSE to include goals, policies, and/or programs that adequately addresses current Commission standards related to sea level rise.
Meets Program Priorities
The proposed project meets all four of the program priorities outlined in Attachment C of the funding notice, as described below:
- The project will produce a technical analysis to assist in the understanding, planning for, and adaptation to sea level rise, including development of a vulnerability assessment. - The study will identify and recommend area-specific sea level rise adaptation approaches. - The work will include focused outreach efforts to increase public awareness and participation in climate change and sea level rise planning activities. - The planning work is focused on Arena Cove, a low-cost visitor recreation site that provides coastal access to a variety of users.
- The work will culminate with update the Point Arena LCP in part to provide for coastal resiliency by adding or revising goals, policies, and/or programs in the General Plan.
Task Descriptions
The following tasks and subtasks are necessary to accomplish the project goals identified above. The approach needed to accomplish these tasks, as well as the roles of partners and stakeholders, is described below.
Task 1. Procure Qualified Consultant
City staff does not have the expertise to conduct an adequate analysis of sea level rise and its impacts on Point Arena. In order to develop a report to adequately make revisions to the City’s CHSE of the General and utilize as a foundation for future potential projects along Point Arena’s shoreline, an outside consultant will need to be procured to perform the work. City staff will be responsible for Task 1.
Subtask 1.1. Develop and release Request for Proposals (RFP) to procure consultant to perform SLR/VA analysis for Arena Cove
The City’s procurement standards require the development of an RFP to solicit firms for this level of work. City staff will develop a scope of work based on industry standards for SLR/VA assessment reports. City staff will coordinate with Commission staff to ensure that the scope of work will produce a report sufficient to meet current Commission standards related to sea level rise. City staff will be responsible for Subtask 1.1, and a completed RFP will be the deliverable.
Subtask 1.2. Review and rank/rate responses to RFP
Once proposals are received, the City will rank/rate respondents based on their qualifications, project understanding, and proposed approach. City staff will be responsible for Subtask 1.2, and a staff report to City Council recommending a firm will be the deliverable.
Subtask 1.3. Select consultant and enter into agreement to perform work Once Council approves a qualified consulting firm to perform the scope of work, the City will enter into an agreement with the consultant to begin Task 2. City staff will be responsible for Subtask 1.3, and an executed contract will be the deliverable.
Task 2. Perform SLR/VA Analysis and Prepare Report
Once procured, the City will work with the selected consulting firm to perform the SLR/VA analysis.
Subtask 2.1 Consultant conducts assessment of impacts of sea level rise The selected consultant will review the impacts of storms and extreme events, changing shorelines, and trends in relative local sea level on vulnerable natural and built resources and facilities, including public access, commerce, recreation, coastal habitats, and navigability. The full breadth of analysis and reporting will be determined during the Subtask 1.1, when the City will develop the scope of work for the RFP with assistance from Commission staff. However, activities performed by the consultant are likely to include:
- Gather/review existing data
- Engage with community stakeholders to gather anecdotal and observational data on changing ocean conditions
- Summarize current scientific guidance for SLR projections over the next 100 - Prepare geo-referenced inventory of coastal infrastructure potentially affected by SLR - Model SLR scenarios in conjunction with other coastal flooding factors, such as Arena Creek - Conduct SLR/VA
- Engage with community and stakeholders to share SLR/VA and determine community priorities for adaptation
- Identify appropriate adaption policies
- Recommend revisions to CHSE of the General Plan
The consultant will be largely responsible for Subtask 2.1, with assistance from City staff where relevant (particularly involving community engagement).
Subtask 2.2 Consultant prepares a report summarizing findings and recommending revisions to CHSE
Following the analysis, the selected consultant will produce a report summarizing the findings and recommending revisions to the CHSE. The consultant will be largely responsible for Subtask
2.2, with assistance from City staff where relevant, and a completed SLR/VA will be the deliverable.
Task 3. Amend CHSE of General Plan
The City of Point Arena maintains Chapter VII of its General Plan, titled the CHSE. The CHSE addresses the protection of the community from unreasonable risks associated with the effects of seismically-induced surface rupture, ground shaking, ground failure, tsunami and seiche, slope stability, flooding, and wildland and urban fires. The CHSE has not been updated since 1995 and does not address sea level rise.
The goal of this project is to amend the CHSE of the General Plan based on the findings of a SLR/VA. The report to be completed in Task 2 will be utilized to complete Task 3. City staff will mainly be responsible for Task 3, with assistance from the consultant where relevant.
Subtask 3.1 Develop redline draft of revised CHSE based on the recommendations of the SLR/VA Report
City staff will review the current CHSE and determine if any existing goals, policies, or programs conflict with the findings of the SLR/VA. City staff will also review the recommendations of the SLR/VA and the results of the community engagement to develop new goals, policies, and/or programs for inclusion in a revised CHSE. City staff will work with Coastal Commission staff to ensure the proposed amendment is consistent with the Coastal Act. City staff will mainly be responsible for Subtask 3.1, with assistance from the consultant where relevant. A staff report for the City Council to review proposed revisions will be the deliverable.
Subtask 3.2 City Council adopts revised CHSE for submission to Coastal Commission At a public hearing, the City Council will review the proposed amendments to the CHSE. The public hearing will provide opportunity for community feedback on the proposed amendments.
The City Council will adopt the revisions to the CHSE and will authorize submission of the proposed CHSE to the Coastal Commission. City staff will mainly be responsible for Subtask 3.2, with assistance from the consultant where relevant. A resolution adopting the proposed revisions will be the deliverable.
Subtask 3.3 City submits revised CHSE to Coastal Commission for adoption City staff will submit the adopted CHSE, with revisions reflecting the SLR/VA, to the Coastal Commission for certification. The project will be subject to further community feedback at the Commission hearing. City staff will participate in the Commission hearing, with assistance from the consultant where relevant.
Subtask 3.4 Coastal Commission adopts revised CHSE
At its public hearing, the Coastal Commission will adopt and certify the revised CHSE. A new, certified CHSE will be the deliverable.
Schedule
Task 1. Procure Qualified Consultant Projected Start/End Dates
1.1. Develop and release Request for
Proposals (RFP) to procure consultant to
perform SLR/VA analysis for Arena Cove
Aug. 1, 2022 / Sep. 1, 2022
1.2. Review and rank/rate responses to RFP Sep. 1, 2022 / Oct. 1, 2022
1.3. Select consultant and enter into
agreement to perform work
Oct. 1, 2022 / Nov. 1, 2022
Outcome/Deliverables:
1a. Request for Proposals released seeking
qualified firms for the project scope.
1b. Staff report to City Council
recommending a consultant firm.
1c. Executed contract between City of Point
Arena and consultant for SLR/VA
analysis
Estimated Completion Date: Sep. 1, 2022
Estimated Completion Date: Oct. 1, 2022
Estimated Completion Date: Nov. 1, 2022
Task 2. Perform SLR/VA Analysis and
Prepare Report Projected Start/End Dates
2.1. Consultant conducts assessment of
impacts of sea level rise
Nov. 1, 2022 / Mar. 1, 2023
2.2. Consultant prepares a report
summarizing findings and
recommending revisions to CHSE
Nov. 1, 2022 / Mar. 1, 2023
Outcome/Deliverables:
2a. Completed SLR/VA report Estimated Completion Date: Mar. 1 ,2023 Task 3. Amend CHSE of General Plan Projected Start/End Dates
3.1. Develop redline draft of revised CHSE
based on the recommendations of
SLR/VA Report
Mar. 1, 2023 / May 1, 2023
3.2. City Council adopts revised CHSE for
submission to Coastal Commission
May 1, 2023 / Jul. 1, 2023
3.3. City submits revised CHSE to Coastal
Commission for adoption
Jul. 1, 2023 / Aug. 1, 2023
3.4. Coastal Commission adopts revised
CHSE
Aug. 1, 2023 / Sep. 1, 2023
Outcome/Deliverables:
3a. Staff report with draft revisions to the
CHSE
Estimated Completion Date: May 1, 2023
3b. Council resolution adopting revised
CHSE
Estimated Completion Date: Jul. 1, 2023
3c. Coastal Commission adoption of revised
CHSE
Estimated Completion Date: Sep. 1, 2023
Benchmark Schedule
Activity Completion Date
Executed contract between City of Point
Arena and consultant for SLR/VA analysis
Nov. 1, 2022
Completed SLR/VA report Mar. 1, 2023
Council resolution adopting revised CHSE Jul. 1, 2023
Coastal Commission adoption of revised
CHSE
Sep. 1, 2023
Budget
Application Budget Information
Funding Request: $100,000 Total Project Cost: $100,000
City of Point Arena CCC Grant Total Match/Other
Funds
Total (LCP Grant
Funds + Match/
Other Funds)
LABOR COSTS
City Staff Labor
Task 1 – Procure Qualified
Consultant $2,000 $0 $2,000
Task 2 – SLR/VA Analysis and
Prepare Report $4,500 $0 $4,500
Task 3 – Amend CHSE of
General Plan $8,000 $0 $8,000
City of Point Arena CCC Grant Total Match/Other
Funds
Total (LCP Grant
Funds + Match/
Other Funds)
Total Labor Costs $14,500 $0 $14,500
DIRECT COSTS
County/City Staff Project Supplies
Community meeting
materials and supplies $500 $0 $500
Total $500 $0 $500
County/City Staff Travel In State
Mileage $0 $0 $0
Hotel, etc. $0 $0 $0
Total $0 $0 $0
Consultants/Partners
Consultant TBD
Task 1 – Procure Qualified
Consultant $0 $0 $0
Task 2 – Perform SLR/VA
Analysis and Prepare Report $77,000 $0 $77,000
Task 3 – Amend CHSE of
General Plan $8,000 $0 $8,000
Consultants Total $85,000 $0 $85,000
Total Direct Costs $85,500 $0 $85,500
OVERHEAD/INDIRECT COSTS
Total County/City Staff
Overhead/Indirect Costs $0 $0 $0
TOTAL PROJECT COST $100,000 $0 $100,000
Supplemental Information
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-13
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POINT ARENA CITY COUNCIL
APPROVING SUBMISSION OF S EAL LEVEL RISE STUDY GRANT FROM THE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION
WHEREAS, the Budget Act of 2021 provides up to $31 million to support the Coastal Commission’s LCP Local Assistance Grant Program which awards grants to local governments to support coastal resiliency and updates to Local Coastal Programs (LCPs); and WHEREAS, the California Coastal Commission, under the authority of the California Coastal Act, may provide financial assistance to support coastal planning and has approved a grant program to provide such financial assistance for LCP planning; and WHEREAS, the goal of the grant program is to develop new or updated LCPs in conformance with the California Coastal Act and to promote coastal resiliency and address the effects of climate change; and
WHEREAS, grant proposals submitted under this grant program must complete Local Coastal Program (LCP) planning work with special emphasis on coastal resiliency and addressing the effects of climate change and sea-level rise; and
WHEREAS, the City of Point Arena has an effectively certified LCP; and WHEREAS, the City of Point Arena desires to pursue a project that would result in the completion and submittal for certification by the California Coastal Commission of an Amendment to the LCP in part; and
WHEREAS, the City of Point Arena commits to and agrees to fully support a planning effort intended to amend a certified LCP pursuant to the provisions of the California Coastal Act, with full public participation and coordination with the Coastal Commission staff.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Point Arena…
1. Directs City of Point Arena staff to submit the grant application package attached hereto as Attachment 1 to the California Coastal Commission to provide financial and planning assistance, under authority of the California Coastal Act, in the amount of $100,000 to fund the project more particularly described in the grant application package.
2. Authorizes the City Manager, of the City of Point Arena to execute, in the name of the City of Point Arena, all necessary applications, contracts and agreements and amendments thereto
to implement and carry out the grant application package attached hereto and any project approved through approval of the grant application
PASSED AND ADOPTED The foregoing Resolution No. 2022-13 was passed and adopted at a Regular meeting of the Point Arena City Council on the 26th day of April, 2022 by the following vote. Motion by _______, Seconded by ________.
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
SCOTT IGNACIO
Mayor
ATTEST:
Paul Andersen
City Clerk