City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MAY 16, 2023 FROM: PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY WARD: 1
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CLEAN CALIFORNIA LOCAL GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE ST. FRANCIS FALLS/CARLSON PARK RENOVATION PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,062,500, AND APPROVE THE USE OF MATCHING FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $437,500 ISSUE:
Authorize the submission of an application for the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) Clean California Local Grant Program for the St. Francis Falls/Carlson Park Renovation Project in the amount of $3,062,500 and approve the use of matching funds in the amount of $437,500.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Authorize the submission of a grant application to the CalTrans Clean California Local Grant Program for the St. Francis Falls/Carlson Park Renovation Project; Approve the use of matching grant funds in the amount of $437,500 from the Regional Park Development Fund; and With at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of the grant award, and an equal amount appropriated in the Grants & Restricted Programs Fund, St. Francis Falls/Carlson Park Renovation Project and record an appropriation in the amount of $437,500 in the Regional Park Development Fund, St. Francis Falls/Carlson Park Renovation Project.
Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all necessary documents, including but not limited to applications, payment requests, agreements and amendments necessary to secure grant funds and implement the approved grant project, including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
On May 21, 2019, City Council adopted Resolution # R23466 approving the filing of a grant application for funding from the California State Coastal Conservancy for community outreach, master planning and environmental compliance work for the River-side Gateway Project Suite, which includes the Carlson Park and St. Francis Falls project site. The City was awarded the California State Coastal Conservancy funds and entered into a grant agreement on December 26, 2019, for $1,960,000.
The Carlson Park and St. Francis Falls Project is part of the Riverside Gateway Project Suite. The Riverside Gateway Project Suite is funded by a grant from the California Coastal Conservancy, and the scope of work includes community outreach, park master planning, and environmental compliance work. Construction funding is needed to implement the improvements proposed in these park master plans. Although the Park has received previous funding, additional improvements are needed to bring the site to its full potential as a recreational space.
DISCUSSION:
The Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) is a statewide program administered by CalTrans created to beautify and clean-up local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, transit centers, and other public spaces. The St. Francis Falls/Carlson Park project that will be submitted for the Clean California Grant will include: design and construction of minor modifications to the existing dog park at Carlson Park; trailhead improvements serving Mt. Rubidoux and the Santa Ana River Trail; reconfiguration of the parking lot drive aisle to accommodate a community plaza; and re-imagining renovations and repairs to the St. Francis Falls water feature, which is a component of City Historic Landmark #14 constructed in 1931.
Landscaping, lighting, art features and other related support amenities will encourage positive uses and help draw the community to the Santa Ana River and Mt. Rubidoux, increasing community health and well-being. Trail amenities and reconfiguration of vehicular and pedestrian circulation will provide better accessibility to the Santa Ana River Trail and Mt. Rubidoux trail systems. Trees will be planted to provide shade and to sequester carbon for greenhouse gas reductions. Historically serving as a gateway to Riverside and overlooking the Santa Ana River, the project will capitalize on the prime opportunity to provide interpretive panels describing Riverside’s cultural and natural history.
A pre-award authorizing resolution is not required for this grant program. However, if the project is selected for award of grant funds, staff will return to City Council to request the authorizing resolution.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
This item contributes to the Envision Riverside 2025 City Council Strategic Priority 1 – Arts, Culture and Recreation, Goal 1.3, to improve parks, recreational amenities, open space, and trail development, and fulfill critical lifecycle and facility maintenance needs, Priority 2 – Community Well-being, Goal 2.3 – Strengthen neighborhood identities and improve community health and the physical environment through amenities and programs that foster an increased sense of community and enhanced feelings of pride and belonging citywide, and Priority 5 – High Performing Government, Goal 5.3 - Enhance communication and collaboration with community members to improve transparency, build public trust, and encourage shared decision-making.
This item aligns with the following Cross-Cutting Threads:
Community Trust: The planning process has been built upon community engagement to earn community trust and ensure that the project reflects the public’s interests and needs.
Equity: Multiple opportunities and modes for community input using multiple tools and platforms in English and Spanish for advertising the opportunities were used to engage a broad spectrum of Riverside’s diverse population. These outreach and engagement efforts were advertised using social media posts, e-blasts, newspaper ads, a press release, postcards/flyers, and signs posted at the project sites.
Fiscal Responsibility: The project will primarily be grant funded and does not require use of the City’s General Fund for design or construction.
Innovation: This project is responding to the community’s changing recreational, social, and health and wellness needs by providing additional trail support amenities as requested during outreach for the 2020 Parks, Recreation and Community Services Master Plan and Trails Master Plan preparation. The project will support use of active transportation modes along the Santa Ana River trail.
Sustainability and Resiliency: The project increases park and recreational resources to meet the needs of the present community, without compromising the needs of the future by finding solutions that help Riverside adapt to climate change and resource depletion through actions such as reducing/eliminating the need for domestic water in the renovated St. Francis Falls water feature, planting more trees, using native and low-water landscaping, implementing on-site storm water infiltration, and supporting active transportation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total estimated fiscal impact of the grant award is $3,500,000, which includes the City match portion of $437,500. Upon Council approval and grant award, an increase in revenues in the amount of the grant award, and an equal amount appropriated into the Grants & Restricted Programs Fund, Parks and Recreation Administration, St. Francis Falls/Carlson Park Renovation Project revenue account 9410300-334300 and expenditure account 9410300-440220; for the City match portion, an appropriation in the amount of $437,500 will be recorded to the Regional Park Development Fund, St. Francis Falls/Carlson Park Renovation Project expenditure account 9410354-440305. The park is already improved and being maintained. Maintenance costs are anticipated to increase by approximately $5,000 annually from implementation of this project. These additional maintenance funds will be requested in a future budget request.
Prepared by: Pamela M. Galera, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager and Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachment: St. Francis Falls/Carlson Park Draft Master Plan St. Francis Falls/Carlson Park Renovations ● Page 3