Agenda Item: 7
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: December 10, 2024
SUBJECT: VIA PRINCESSA PARK, PROJECT P3033 - GRANT FUND
AGREEMENT, LICENSE AGREEMENT, EASEMENTS, AND
ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION CREDITS
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Shannon Pickett
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Fund Transfer Agreement and any associated addendums with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District for Measure W Safe, Clean Water Program funding, subject to City Attorney approval.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the License Agreement with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the Via Princessa Park pedestrian and vehicle undercrossing, subject to final modifications and City Attorney approval.
3. Authorize the purchase of 0.83 acres of mitigation credits from Land Veritas Corporation in the amount of $404,000 and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Agreement for Sale of Credits, subject to City Attorney approval.
4. Authorize the City Manager or designee to grant easements to the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District of Los Angeles County for sewer alignment and access.
5. Authorize the City Manager or designee to accept the quitclaim easement from Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District of Los Angeles County to the City of Santa Clarita on property owned by the City of Santa Clarita, Assessor’s Parcel Number 2836-002-922.
6. Approve and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a transfer of the City of Santa Clarita’s easement on Assessor’s Parcel Number 2836-001-035, to the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District.
7. Approve and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a no-fee bill of sale to transfer ownership to the Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District of approximately 22 feet of an existing City-owned sewer, located on property owned by the City of Santa Clarita, Assessor’s Parcel Number 2836-002-922.
8. Authorize the City Manager or designee to accept a grant of easement from Cordova Associates, Assessor Parcel Number 2836-001-035, for the City of Santa Clarita-owned sanitary sewer, appurtenant structures, and ingress and egress purposes.
9. Authorize the City Manager or designee to accept on behalf of the public an offer of dedication and grant of easement for maintenance access purposes on Assessor Parcel Numbers 2836-002-046 and 2836-001-034.
10. Authorize an expenditure in an amount of $76,529.25 to purchase the maintenance access easement on Assessor Parcel Number 2836-002-046.
11. Appropriate one-time funds in the amount of $435,000 from the Measure W Safe, Clean Water Fund (Fund 271) to Via Princessa Park, Project P3033, expenditure account P3033271-516101 and decrease expenditure account P3033259-516101 to the Miscellaneous Grant Fund (Fund 259) by $435,000.
12. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clarita (City) owns approximately 33 acres of property along the south bank of the Santa Clara River, east of Whites Canyon Road and north of Via Princessa, as shown on the attached Location Map. In 2008, this site was incorporated into the City’s overall Park Master Plan as a potential future park location within the community. The current demand within the City for field use, tournaments, and special events exceeds the available multipurpose field space. Additionally, in 2015, the site was identified in the Enhanced Watershed Management Program (EWMP) Implementation Plan as a desirable location for a regional treatment facility to help meet the City’s infiltration requirements.
On November 23, 2021, the City Council awarded a design contract for the Via Princessa Park Master Plan and Access Studies. The Via Princessa Park Master Plan was completed, and includes the addition of four full-sized multipurpose fields, four pickle ball courts, the installation of sports field lighting, a playground and natural play area, an infiltration facility, a restroom building, landscaping and irrigation, and 33 additional parking spaces. The Via Princessa Park Master Plan also includes a grade-separated railroad undercrossing for pedestrian and vehicle access from the existing parking lot to the proposed park location. Subsequent to the completion of the Via Princessa Park Master Plan, the City Council approved a contract extension for design of the Via Princessa Park project on October 11, 2022.
The overall scope of the project accommodates the City’s anticipated future recreational needs, is consistent with the stormwater infiltration requirements outlined in the Upper Santa Clara River
EWMP, and supports the Building and Creating Community theme of the City’s five-year strategic plan, Santa Clarita 2025.
Measure W Safe, Clean Water Program Fund Transfer Agreement
In 2018, Los Angeles County voters approved Measure W, a special parcel tax funding the Safe, Clean Water Program (SCWP). This program provides local, dedicated funding for stormwater and urban runoff programs and projects to increase local water supply, improve water quality, and provide community enhancements while supporting compliance with federal clean water mandates. In 2023, the Stormwater Investment Plan (SIP) for the Santa Clara River was developed by the Santa Clara River Watershed Area Steering Committee (WASC) and approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Included in the SIP was a request for $20,079,768 in funds that can be applied for construction of a regional infiltration best management practices system in the Via Princessa Park project that will treat trash, bacteria, and copper in the runoff, preventing these pollutants from entering the Santa Clara River.
In order to obtain the funding from the SIP for Via Princessa Park, a Fund Transfer Agreement must be executed by the City and Los Angeles County Flood Control District. The Measure W Safe, Clean Water Program Fund Transfer Agreement is available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority License Agreement
To provide pedestrian and vehicle access to the park, the project proposes to construct a railroad undercrossing. The undercrossing will be located within Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (LACMTA) right of way and requires a license agreement to be executed in order for the City to operate and maintain the facility. The initial term of this agreement will be for a minimum of 45 years and will automatically renew on an annual basis thereafter.
The LACMTA License Agreement is anticipated to be approved by the LACMTA Board of Director at its meeting in January 2025 and is available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
Environmental Mitigation
The Via Princessa Park project proposes to construct a culvert extension within Honby Channel, bank lining along Honby Channel and the Santa Clara River, a culvert underneath the existing railroad, and fill a small tributary from within the park to the Santa Clara River. The proposed improvements will permanently impact a total of 0.55 acres of California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) jurisdictional stream. The City coordinated with CDFW, the Army Corps of Engineers, and Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board and agreed to a 0.83-acre mitigation requirement to compensate for the permanent impacts to CDFW's jurisdictional area.
This mitigation requirement can be satisfied through the purchase of mitigation banking credits from the Peterson Ranch Mitigation Bank, which has been approved by the agencies as satisfactory compensatory mitigation.
The purchase of mitigation banking credits will preserve in perpetuity an amount of habitat to offset the habitat impacted by the Via Princessa Park project. The mitigation bank sponsor, Land Veritas Corporation, will be responsible for the ongoing expenses and maintenance of the credit sold. Under the Clean Water Act and California’s mitigation banking regulations, the bank sponsor is legally responsible for establishing and operating a mitigation bank, and is the entity with authority to sell the credits.
Staff recommends the City Council approve the purchase of 0.83 acres of mitigation banking credits from the Land Veritas Corporation, and authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute the Agreement for Sale of Credits. The Peterson Ranch Mitigation Bank Estimate and Agreement for Sale of Credits are available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District Easements
The Santa Clarita Valley Sanitation District of Los Angeles County’s (District) Soledad Trunk Sewer Section 4 Project (Project) is currently in construction. The purpose of the Project is to improve approximately 2,200 feet of sewer pipe to accommodate current flow and future growth in the City of Santa Clarita. The project passes through City-owned property, Via Princessa Park, across the Santa Clara River, and terminates at the intersection of Soledad Canyon Road and Hidaway Avenue, as shown on the attached District Map.
On August 23, 2022, City Council previously approved a temporary construction easement to allow for the construction of new sewer lines and to grant easements to ensure the District has perpetual rights for maintenance purposes on City property. A bill of sale to transfer ownership of approximately 650 feet of an existing City-owned sewer located on Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APN) 2836-002-922, 2836-002-046, 2836-001-034, and 2836-001-035 was also approved. The location of these parcels are also shown on the attached District Map.
During construction, the District encountered conditions that required a realignment of the new sewer line. The new alignment fell within the existing temporary construction easement previously approved; requiring a change in permanent easements than those previously approved by City Council.
A previously granted easement on City-owned property APN 2836-002-922 will be vacated by the District (GDE24-00001). The two new permanent easements proposed are for the new sewer alignment and access on APN 2836-002-922 (EAS24-00019 & EAS24-00020). A no-fee bill of sale will transfer ownership of an additional 22-foot sewer segment from the City to the District for the District’s sewer connection purposes (AGT24-00002). In order for the District to access the sewer granted in the bill of sale, an easement transfer from the City to the District is needed on APN 2836-001-035 (GDE24-00002). Additionally, acceptance of an easement from Cordova Associates, Limited on APN 2836-001-035 is required for City sewer, appurtenant structures, and ingress and egress purposes (EAS24-00021). The easements, deeds, and agreements are shown on the attached Sanitation District Exhibit A, and the documents are available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
Dedication and Grant of Easement for Maintenance Access
To accommodate the final bank lining location, the City is required to obtain an easement for maintenance access and flood control purposes for maintenance of the proposed bank lining from two adjacent property owners. Cordova Associates, Limited, property owner of APN 2836-001- 034, has offered to dedicate an easement for maintenance access at the northeasterly corner of the project, as shown in orange on the attached Location Map. The City has agreed to provide fencing improvements between the park and Cordova Associates' property. The Cordova Dedication and Grant of Easement is available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
Additionally, an easement on APN 2836-002-046 is also required, shown in red on the attached Location Map. The City prepared a Letter of Intent to purchase the easement for maintenance access and flood control purposes, which was reviewed and accepted by the property owner. The City and the property owner have reached a mutually acceptable purchase price of $76,529.25 for the permanent easement. The purchase price was based on the recent purchase of acquired easements by the Sanitation District on the property. The Curran Dedication and Grant of Easement is available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
Budget Appropriation
The requested budget appropriation will provide Measure W funds to complete the design phase of the project and transition Proposition 1 grant funds to the future construction phase of the project.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended actions, adequate funds will be available in expenditure accounts P3033259-516101 (Miscellaneous Grants Fund), P3033271-516101 (Measure W Fund), and P3033431-516101 (Site Improvement Fee Fund) to support the recommended mitigation credits purchase and associated project costs.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
District Map
Sanitation District Exhibit A
Measure W Safe, Clean Water Program Fund Transfer Agreement (available in the City Clerk’s Reading File)
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority License Agreement (available in the City Clerk’s Reading File)
Peterson Ranch Mitigation Bank Estimate (available in the City Clerk’s Reading File)
Agreement for Sale of Credits (available in the City Clerk’s Reading File) District Easements (available in the City Clerk’s Reading File) Cordova Dedication and Grant of Easement (available in the City Clerk’s Reading File) Curran Dedication and Grant of Easement (available in the City Clerk’s Reading File)