July 19, 2022
Public Works
DATE: July 19, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Joe Leach, PE, Director of Public Works
Patrick Phelan, Infrastructure Administrator
Subject:
Resolution Accepting and Appropriating the Urban Flood
Protection Grant Award
FINANCIAL IMPACT: This project is fully funded by a grant award of $1,598,844, which includes $30,000 for City staff time.
The City will be required to maintain the improvements
for 25 years. Account string: 40322931-400708
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the grant application on July 6, 2021
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
On September 7, 2021, the California Natural Resources
Agency awarded the City of Richmond $1,598,844 for the
Flood Risk Reduction in the Rheem Creek Watershed
project. The funds must be accepted and appropriated in order to execute contracts and begin the project.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a Resolution Accepting and Appropriating the
Urban Flood Protection Grant Award of $1,598,844 for
the Flood Risk Reduction in the Rheem Creek Watershed
Project – Public Works Department (Joe Leach/Patrick
Phelan 510-307-8111).
DISCUSSION:
AGENDA
REPORT
July 19, 2022
For over 20 years, the Fairmede neighborhood of Richmond and adjacent unincorporated Rollingwood neighborhood have suffered from flooding related to overflows from Rheem Creek. In 2019, American Rivers obtained a $274,515 planning and design grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy for the “Community- Based Ecological Solutions in Rheem Creek Watershed” project. In this project, American Rivers collaborated with the City, the Watershed Project, Restoration Design Group, and other local partners to complete technical studies and prepare community- supported plans to solve flooding issues along Rheem Creek. That project is nearing completion, and its deliverables include a topographic survey, 65% designs, a maintenance & monitoring plan, and permits submitted to the appropriate regulatory agencies. Project partners also did extensive community outreach to survey residents about their experience of the flooding and what they would like to see in the construction project. Due to Covid-19 closures, some of the in-person outreach was replaced with the creation of a “storybook” to visualize the history and future of the creek. This planning and design project made the City well prepared to seek implementation grants.
In June of 2020 the City, along with the above-mentioned partners, submitted an application to the Urban Flood Protection Grant Program requesting $1.6 million for final design and project implementation for a restoration project. Construction of the proposed restoration project will reduce flooding by removing invasive species and excessive sediment, grading a geomorphically stable channel, and planting native riparian vegetation to improve creek habitat. On July 6, 2021, the Richmond City Council passed and adopted Resolution No. 83-21, approving the application for grant funds. On September 7, 2021, the California Natural Resources Agency awarded the City $1,598,844 for the Flood Risk Reduction in the Rheem Creek Watershed Project.
On April 19, 2022, the City received a fully executed Grant Agreement number UF8814- 0 for the project. Now the City Council must authorize the City Manager, or designee, to accept and appropriate the funds.
The project will restore 0.5 miles of Rheem Creek to address creek overflows and flooding. It includes removal of invasive species, excessive sediment, grading a geomorphically stable channel and planting native riparian vegetation to improve creek habitat. Grant-funded elements include permitting; design and technical consultation; mobilization, demolition, and site preparation; plant establishment; removal of invasive species and excessive sediment; re-grading of the creek channel for geomorphic stability; reparation of two storm drains; and the installation of mulch, live stakes, broadcast seed, trees, fencing, gates, and signage. Permitting and final design will begin immediately; construction is planned for May to October of 2023, and project close out is required by March 2024.
July 19, 2022
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Grant Application
Attachment 3 – Resolution 83-21
Attachment 4 – Grant Award Letter
Attachment 5 – Fully Executed Grant Agreement