COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Brett Fulgoni, Director of Public Works
DATE: February 18, 2025
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Signing of the Landowner Concurrence Form for Eat Sweet Farms to Seek Grant Funding Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to Construct Improvements Across City-Owned Prop
Description:
The City Council will consider authorizing a Landowner Concurrence Form to install structural activities across City-owned property.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the signing of the Landowner Concurrence Form for Eat Sweet Farms to seek grant funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to construct improvements across City-owned property.
BACKGROUND:
The City owns parcel 128 -091-008, which contains an access roadway from Prell Road to the City’s water storage reservoirs. This roadway is used for access to critical water infrastructure and also is the alignment for the City’s water supply pipeline to the reservoirs. This roadway bisects two parcels (APN 128 -091-004 and APN 128-091-005) which are operated by Eat Sweet Farms. During severe rain events, drainage from parcel 128-091-005 ha s damaged Prell Road, limiting access as well as potentially compromising water supply for the city. Eat Sweet Farms is proposing a stormwater basin and other improvements to store storm water and safely convey it to the other side of the roadway.
DISCUSSION:
Eat Sweet Farms is applying to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) EQIP program (Environmental Quality Incentives Program). Eat Sweet Farms is applying for a cost share for constructing a concrete surface crossing as well as connecting to an existing culvert under the City road for 2 stormwater to flow from APN 128 -091-005 to APN 128 -091-004. The grant would fund roughly half the cost of the originally estimated bid of around $200,000. The review and notification of successful applicants is to occur in March 2025. In addition to the Landowner Concurrence Form, Eat Sweet Far ms would need an encroachment permit from the City in order to do this work. At that time, Eat Sweet Farms would provide the final engineering design and indicate which contractor is doing the work. These plans would also have to be approved by the USDA-NRCS engineer.
If Eat Sweet Farms is chosen as a successful applicant, work is anticipated to commence in late Summer or early Fall of 2025.
Alternative(s)
The City Council may elect not to sign the Landowner Concurrence Form. In doing so, Eat Sweet Farms would need to find alternative funding sources to construct the improvements across the access roadway.
Fiscal Considerations
The City does not have any fiscal responsibility for these improvements or the grant application. Eat Sweet Farms has not provided any payment to the City to sign the Landowner Concurrence Form. However, when applying for an Encroachment Permit, Eat Sweet Farms wo uld be required to cover the cost of the City Public Works Department’s review and approval of engineering drawings, as well as inspections of any improvements within City-owned property.
Impact to the Community
These improvements are necessary to reduce the impact caused by increased stormwater runoff from farming operations above the roadway to protect the City’s water supply and access to vital infrastructure.
Other Agency Review
If the Resolution is approved, the USDA -NRCS will review the Eat Sweet EQ IP grant application and the Landowner Concurrence form in consideration of funding approval.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Resolution
B. CPA-1257_Landowner Concurrence