Agenda Item #13.5
For Council Meeting of: June 18, 2024
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DONTÉ WATSON, DIRECTOR
RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A COMMUNITY SPACES MATCHING GRANT APPLICATION TO THE SONOMA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT LOWER COLGAN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Recreation and Parks Department that the Council, by resolution: 1) approve a matching grant application to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (District) for master planning, design, and construction of the Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Improvement Project (Project) in the amount of $1,550,000 and authorize the City Manager or designee to submit the grant application on behalf of the Recreation and Parks Department; 2) authorize the City Manager or designee to accept the grant and execute any and all grant agreements, conservation easements, and amendments thereto, and all other documents necessary for the completion of the planning, design, and construction of the Project and subject to approval by the City Attorney; and 3) authorize the Chief Financial Officer to increase appropriations by the approved grant amount.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The approved resolution will authorize the Recreation and Parks Department to apply for the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s 2024/2025 Community Spaces Matching Grant Program and execute required documents to provide planning, design, and construction of the Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park Improvement Project. The Project is consistent with City Council Goal 4, Invest in the Development and Maintenance of the City’s Infrastructure, and in coordination with the Lower Colgan Creek acquisition and restoration project, will provide multiple benefits including a new public park, a Class I – Shared Use Path, along with enhanced habitat, water quality, and increased flood capacity.
BACKGROUND
On June 21, 2022, Council approved a City grant application, by the Santa Rosa Water and Recreation and Parks Departments, to the District’s Matching Grant Program for land acquisition needed for construction of both the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project and Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park Improvement Project. The City was awarded $1,500,000 for land acquisition; however, the Matching Grant Program for 2022 did not award the full funding amount available for the 2022 cycle. A second cycle was held with applications due in March 2023. The Recreation and Parks Department submitted in this second cycle but was not awarded funding due to the number of quality proposals that were received although District staff reported that the City’s application scored well.
A new round of grant funding has been announced with changes made to the structure of the Matching Grants Program. It has been renamed the Community Spaces Matching Grant Program with a trial, two-year rolling application process. Pre-applications must be submitted before June 24, 2024, to be considered for the first year of funding, with a total amount of $3,000,000 available. Applications that qualify will be invited to submit a full grant application, due by August 16, 2024, or wait to submit until the second half of the funding cycle in 2025. Those applications that do not qualify can resubmit a pre-application in 2025.
The concept plan for the Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park, proposed adjacent to the final segment of the Lower Colgan Creek restoration project, includes a variety of both active and passive recreational opportunities. Anticipated park amenities include play features, picnic areas, and paths with the specific character and combination of amenities to be determined with community input during the master planning process and refined in the design phase prior to construction. Master planning, design, and construction of the park improvements is estimated to cost $5,450,000 and to take 2.5 to 3 years.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On November 19, 2002, the City Council, by Resolution No. 25475, approved the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Plan. The Restoration Plan includes a plan for restoration and enhancement of a portion of Colgan Creek in southwest Santa Rosa as well as the creation of a neighborhood park and pathway.
On August 19, 2003, the City Council, by Resolution No. 25745, authorized an application for a Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space District Matching Grant for the acquisition of park/creek restoration land in southwest Santa Rosa. In 2008, the District awarded $336,940 for Phase I, acquisition of a 1.61-acre parcel. The acquisition occurred on June 27, 2007.
On May 8, 2007, the City Council, by Resolution No. 26832, authorized the Public Works and Recreation and Parks Departments to submit grant applications to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Matching Grant Program for the Colgan Creek Park and Restoration project, the Santa Rosa Creek Access Improvements project, and the acquisition of the Bayer property. The District awarded $2,000,000 towards Phase II, acquisition of two parcels totaling 0.54 acres. The acquisition occurred in the summer of 2011.
On December 2, 2008, the City Council, by Resolution No. 27267, amended the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Plan.
On September 21, 2010, the City Council, by Resolution No. 27736, adopted an updated mitigative negative declaration for the Colgan Creek Restoration and Neighborhood Park Project.
On May 6, 2015, the City Council, by Resolution No. 28475, authorized submittal of a grant application to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District Matching Grant Program 2014/2015 in the amount of $995,360 for the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration – Phase II project. The District awarded $617,710 towards Phase III, implementation of the Colgan Creek Restoration Plan including restoration activities and development of a shared use path.
On June 21, 2022, the City Council, by Resolution No.RES-2022-127, authorized submittal of a grant application to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District in the amount of $1,500,000 for acquisition of land which allows for both, construction of the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration Project, and improvements at Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park. The District awarded $1,500,000 for acquisition of the Bell parcel.
On February 28, 2023, the City Council, by Resolution No. RES-2023-036, approved a Matching Grant application to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District in the amount of $1,000,000 for improvements at Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park including master planning, design, and construction of play areas, picnic areas, and paths adjacent to the Lower Colgan Creek habitat and Class I – Shared Use Path. The District did not award funding for this application.
ANALYSIS
The City has worked with the District, on three (3) previous matching grant awards which helped fund land acquisition and construction for the previous phases of the Lower Colgan Creek Restoration project. The application for this latest round of funding for master planning, design, and construction of Lower Colgan Creek Neighborhood Park is consistent with the District’s Community Spaces Matching Grant Program Guidelines.
If successful, the funds secured with this grant application for park improvements, will be combined with Park Impact Development fees from the southwest quadrant (zone 2), for master planning, design, and construction of the park improvements. Grant award notification is expected in December 2024 and community engagement and park master planning could begin as early as 2025. The entire project from inception to completion is anticipated to take 2.5 to 3 years.
FISCAL IMPACT
A Council resolution is required for an application to be deemed complete, and approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund. If awarded, funds for the project will be provided in an amount not to exceed $1,550,000 from the District. The remainder of the funds, $3,900,000, are available from the park development impact fees from the Southwest Zone 2. Approval of this resolution authorizes the Chief Financial Officer to appropriate the amount of the awarded grant funds from the General Fund to JL Key 09605 to complete the project. The General Fund will be reimbursed with the payment from the granting agency upon project completion.
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. Section 15162 of the CEQA Guidelines identifies the threshold for requiring an update or addendum to an adopted CEQA document. There are no substantial changes in the Lower Colgan Creek concept plan, no substantial change in circumstances, and no new information of substantial importance. No additional environmental review is anticipated pursuant to CEQA. Mitigation for impacts to special status species for the park will be coordinated with the adjacent Lower Colgan Creek restoration project as the two projects share the same parcels.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
PRESENTER
Presenter: Emily Ander, [email protected],
AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A COMMUNITY SPACES MATCHING GRANT APPLICATION TO THE SONOMA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION AND OPEN SPACE DISTRICT FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT LOWER COLGAN CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD PARK PAGE 3 OF 3