Agenda Item #12.6
For Council Meeting of: August 23, 2022
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CLAIRE MYERS, STORM WATER AND CREEKS MANAGER
SANTA ROSA WATER
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES URBAN STREAMS RESTORATION PROGRAM FOR THE LOWER COLGAN CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT – PHASE 3 AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by Santa Rosa Water that the Council, by resolution: 1) approve a grant application to the Department of Water Resources Urban Stream Restoration Program for design, construction, and education and outreach for the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project – Phase 3; 2) authorize the Santa Rosa Water Director (Director) to submit a grant application; 3) authorize the Director to accept the grant and execute the Grant Agreement and amendments thereto, and all other agreements or documents necessary for the completion of the project, subject to approval by the City Attorney; and 4) authorize the Chief Financial Officer to increase appropriations by the approved grant award.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The approved resolution will authorize Santa Rosa Water, with its project partner Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation (The Laguna Foundation), to apply for the Department of Water Resources (DWR) Urban Stream Restoration Program (USRP) grant and, if awarded, execute required documents to provide funding for design, construction, and education and outreach for the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project – Phase 3 (Project). The Project is consistent with City Council Goal 5, Build and Maintain Sustainable Infrastructure, by enhancing habitat, water quality, and flood capacity along a reach of Colgan Creek, as well as enabling bicycle and pedestrian movement in southwest Santa Rosa.
BACKGROUND
The City has a history of successful partnership with DWR, including on both prior phases of the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project. The City received $550,000 in USRP funding in 2013 for Phase 1, and $941,224 in USRP funding in 2016 for Phase 2.
In this funding cycle DWR has $15,000,000 available for USRP projects. Applications are due on a rolling monthly basis, and funding is awarded quarterly until funds are depleted. Applications submitted by August 31, 2022 will be eligible for funding in the October 2022 grant allocation.
On August 27, 2013, the Council adopted an update to the Santa Rosa Citywide Creek Master Plan which authorized staff to seek funds for implementation of the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project. The Master Plan includes a detailed conceptual restoration plan for Lower Colgan Creek.
The Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project is a three-phased project stretching along 1.3 miles of the creek in southwest Santa Rosa. The three phases are restoring the creek from a trapezoidal flood control channel to a healthier seasonal creek that includes riffles, pools, instream habitat structures, and native plantings; a bicycle and pedestrian pathway; and increasing the flood capacity of the channel to carry the 100-year flood. Phase 1 near Elsie Allen High School was constructed in 2014. Phase 2 is located between Victoria Drive and Boron Avenue, and construction was completed in May of 2022. Phase 3 project limits are from Boron Avenue downstream to Dutton Meadow.
The USRP requires that projects include a local community group as a partner. The Laguna Foundation partnered with the City on Phase 2 of the project to grow, plant, and maintain native plantings. The Laguna Foundation is uniquely qualified to partner to implement Phase 3 of the project by growing and installing native plantings and providing community education and outreach.
With construction of Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project Phases 1 and 2 complete, Santa Rosa Water staff have begun working on the final design of Restoration Phase 3, as well as land acquisition required to complete the Project.
Project design, construction, and education and outreach is estimated to cost approximately $6,380,000. A separate grant request for $1,500,000 has been submitted to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District for property acquisition and is pending funding. Additional project planning, including submission of a Mitigated Negative Declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), acquisition of parcel number 043-122-017, and 50% design plans have already been funded and completed.
The City is seeking up to $6,380,000 in USRP funding to complete design, construct the Project, and provide education and outreach to the public during construction.
The Project likely qualifies for exemption from the 20% match requirement because it serves a Disadvantaged Community (DAC) based on the DWR DAC Mapping Tool at the Census Block Group level (Census Tract 1532.02, Block Group 1; ACS: 2016-2020 data). As such, no matching fund requirement is expected. However, if it is determined by DWR that the project does not adequately meet the DAC exemption and matching funds are required, the City’s 20% share ($1,276,000) would need to come from local grants and/or storm water enterprise funds.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On November 19, 2002, the City Council, by Resolutions No. 25474 and 25475 adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration under CEQA and adopted the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project, and authorized staff to pursue acquisition of land needed to implement the entire project.
On December 2, 2008, the City Council, by Resolution No. 27267, amended the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project.
On September 21, 2010, the City Council, by Resolution No. 27736, adopted an updated Mitigative Negative Declaration under CEQA and authorized final design of the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration and Neighborhood Park Project.
On May 6, 2014, the City Council, by Resolution No. 28475, authorized submittal of a grant application for partial funding of the Lower Colgan Creek Project – Phase 1 to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District for $995,360.
On February 24, 2015, the City Council, by Resolution No. 28606, authorized submittal of a grant application for partial funding of the Project to the California Department of Water Resources’ Urban Streams Restoration Program for $941,224.
On September 22, 2015, the City Council, by Resolution No. 28693, authorized submittal of a grant application for partial funding of the Project to the California Resources Agency’s River Parkways Program for $494,903.
On April 19, 2016, the City Council, by Resolution No. 28769, authorized submittal of a grant application for partial funding of the Project to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District for $617,710.
On June 23, 2022, the City Council, by Resolution No. RES-2022-127, authorized submittal of a grant application for land acquisition required for the Project to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District for $1,500,000.
ANALYSIS
The Project is consistent with DWR’s USRP Guidelines and the City has previously worked with DWR to fund a portion of Phases 1 and 2 under two previous grant awards.
If successful, this grant application would secure the funding necessary to complete project design, and once all land required for construction is acquired, construct the Project, and do outreach and education to the public regarding the Project.
A Council resolution is required for an application to be deemed complete.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund. If the grant application is awarded funding, then the grant would reduce the Storm Water Enterprise funds needed to construct the Project.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The Council approved and adopted, by Resolution No. 27736, a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Colgan Creek Restoration and Park project on September 21, 2010.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENT
Resolution
CONTACT
Claire Myers, Storm Water and Creeks Manager
[email protected], 707-543-4204
AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO DWR URBAN STREAMS RESTORATION PROGRAM FOR THE LOWER COLGAN CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT – PHASE 3 PAGE 2 OF 2