City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2023-00888 9/5/2023 Consent Item 5.
Wildlife Conservation Board Grant Application Access Trail at Sutter’s Landing Regional Park File ID: 2023-00888
Location: District 4, Represented by Councilmember Katie Valenzuela Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution approving the submission of grant application to the Wildlife Conservation Board’s (WCB) Grant Program.
Contact: Dana Repan, Senior Planner, Park Planning and Development Services, (916) 808-2762; [email protected], Youth, Parks & Community Enrichment Department; Jason Wiesemann, Park Planning and Development Manager, (916) 808-7634, [email protected].
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Site Plan Map
3-Resolution
4-Letter of Support Sacramento County Parks and Recreation Additional Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: In an area near the 28th & B Street Skate Park, the City of Sacramento (City) is planning to construct a restroom/ concession building that will include paddleboard and kayak rentals. Sutter’s Landing Beach is anticipated to be the launch site for people utilizing these rentals; however, the current access is informal and not accessible. If awarded, the grant will fund the planning, permitting, and construction drawings for an ADA accessible trail project which will establish a formalized accessible path of travel and potential boat launch that allows users to easily reach the beach, as described below.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) was created by statute in 1947 to conserve California’s wildlife resources and provide suitable public recreation. WCB funds acquisition, restoration, and public access projects throughout the State. WCB also strives to support
File ID: 2023-00888 9/5/2023 Consent Item 5.
projects with long-term durability, to fund projects that provide a benefit to disadvantaged communities, and to implement projects throughout the state including development of new partnerships.
WCB has been delegated the authority under the Fish and Game Code section 1350(c) to award grants to local government agencies for the WCB General Grant and set up necessary procedures governing the application. Procedures governing the application as established by the WCB requires the applicant to submit applications in two phases, a Pre-application and Full Application. WCB staff have selected the City’s pre-application to move forward and has invited the City to submit the Full Application. Successful applicants will enter into a contract with the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Conservation Board to complete the grant scope project. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the project will commence upon execution of grant award.
A successful grant application would fund the planning, permitting, and construction drawings for an ADA accessible trail project which, once constructed, will establish a formalized accessible path of travel between the existing Two Rivers Trail and Sutter’s Landing Regional Park. The design will explore options including an accessible path of travel over the levee and non-motorized boat launch at the water’s edge. The path of travel and boat launch ramp would be located to minimize impacts to large trees and sensitive riparian vegetation. Additionally, a segment of non-prioritized social trails will be identified and restored with native vegetation, consistent with the American River Parkway Natural Resources Management Plan.
Policy Considerations: Funding for these projects would enhance recreational opportunities, increase accessibility to river edge, restore natural resources, and increase conservation efforts. This is consistent with the City’s General Plan goals in the areas of Land Use, Recreation, and Environmental Resources, and the draft 2040 General Plan. The project is also consistent with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Bikeway Master Plan, and draft Parks Plan 2040.
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
Environmental Considerations: This report concerns fiscal activities that do not constitute a "project" as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378(b).
Environmental review of the projects will occur before construction is authorized.
Sustainability: The project has been reviewed for consistency with the goals, policies, and targets of the City’s Sustainability Master Plan (SMP), the Parks and Recreation Sustainability Plan, the 2035 General Plan, the draft 2040 General Plan, and the draft Parks Plan 2040. The project will advance the goals, policies, and targets of these plans by improving the health of residents through access to a diverse mix of wellness and recreation activities.
File ID: 2023-00888 9/5/2023 Consent Item 5.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: The recommended project meets all grant criteria based on the following criteria:
· Meets the grant goals to restore natural resources, adapt to climate change/reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop recreational opportunities, enhance water retention and conservation, provide workforce education and training, and increase accessibility.
Financial Considerations: The proposed grant applications would provide for State funds for the planned project. No matching funds are required. If awarded the grant, improvements to Sutter’s Landing Regional Park access trail may be supplemented through existing funding sources for the regional park. If these revenues are not sufficient to meet all needs of the project that has been awarded grant funding, then projects will be postponed, reduced in scope, or cancelled. If awarded, the Youth, Parks & Community Enrichment department will bring back a report to Council to establish a Capital Improvement Project and funding in the project.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable; no goods or services are being purchased with this action. The City’s LBE requirements will be applied to the construction project if local business preferences are allowed under the State grant agreement.
Sutter’s Landing Regional Park
Site Plan and River Access
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
Approving the Application for Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) General Grant for the Sutter’s Landing Regional Park Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Access Trail Grant Project
BACKGROUND
A. The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has been delegated the authority under the Fish and Game Code section 1350(c) to award grants to local government agencies for the WCB General Grant and set up necessary procedures governing the application.
B. Procedures governing the application as established by the WCB requires the applicant to submit applications in two phases, a Pre-application and Full Application. WCB staff have selected the City of Sacramento’s (City) pre- application to move forward and has invited the City to submit the Full Application. Successful applicants will enter a contract with the State of California, Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Conservation Board to complete the grant scope project.
C. The City is planning to construct a restroom/concession building that will include paddleboard and kayak rentals. Sutter’s Landing Beach is anticipated to be the launch site for people utilizing these rentals; however, the current access is informal and not accessible. If awarded, the grant would fund the planning, permitting, and construction drawings for an ADA accessible trail project which, once constructed, will establish a formalized accessible path of travel between the existing Two Rivers Trail and Sutter’s Landing Regional Park.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Approves the filing of grant application for the Sutter’s Landing Regional Park Access Trail Grant Project.
Section 2. The City certifies that it has or will have available, prior to commencement of any work on the projects included in the grant application, sufficient funds to complete the project.
Section 3. The City certifies that it has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the General Requirements contained in the contract shown in the General Grant Guidelines.
Section 4. The City Council delegates authority to the City Manager, or his designee, to conduct all negotiations, sign and submit all grant documents, including, but not limited to, applications, agreements, amendments, and payment requests with the State, which may be necessary for the completion of the Grant Scope.
Section 5. The City certifies that it agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and guidelines related to acceptance of grant funds.
Section 6. The City will consider promoting inclusion per Public Resources Code §80001(b)(8) (A)-(G).
Ann Edwards
County Executive
County of Sacramento
Dave Defanti
Deputy County Executive
Community Services Agency
Regional Parks
Liz Bellas - Director
June 14, 2023
Lower American River Conservancy Committee
715 P Street, 17th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Attn: Cara Allen
RE: City of Sacramento Sutter’s Landing Regional Park ADA River Access Trail Project Application
Dear Ms. Allen:
The City of Sacramento (City) is pursuing funding from the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) for the Sutter’s Landing Regional Park ADA River Access Trail Project (Project). This area is governed by the Woodlake Area Plan in the American River Parkway Plan (ARPP). The Woodlake Area Plan provides passive recreational opportunities for residents in the City, and the purpose of the Project is to improve public access to the American River Parkway in the Woodlake Area by enhancing approximately 300 feet of unimproved social path, consistent with the Protected Area Land Use Designation, and Access for Persons with Disabilities per the ARPP.
The current social trails through the area are unimproved, narrow paths that do not adhere to federal accessibility requirements.
The City has discussed the Project with Sacramento County Regional Parks (Regional Parks). This Project proposes to enhance a priority segment of the area’s social path to support improved community access to outdoor recreation and natural areas, formalizing the trail and designating their use for walking and carting recreational equipment to and from the River. This project will be a designated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible trail that will branch off the formal Two Rivers Trail. Additionally a segment of non-prioritized social trails will be identified and restored with native vegetation, consistent with Natural Resources Management Plan (NRMP).
Regional Parks is committed to working with the City on the planning and future implementation of the improvements. Regional Parks will provide the Project Consistency Analysis for both the (ARPP) and NRMP and will complete an Area Plan Map Amendment for the ARPP once construction is complete.
We are looking forward to continuing to work with the City on the Project.
Cordially,
Liz Bellas
Director