Agenda Item #13.10
For Council Meeting of: May 13, 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DONTÉ WATSON, DIRECTOR
RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZING A RESOLUTION OF LOCAL SUPPORT FOR THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING ASSIGNED TO THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION FOR MASTER PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE SANTA ROSA SOUTHEAST GREENWAY AND COMMITTING ANY NECESSARY MATCHING FUNDS AND STATING ASSURANCE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Recreation and Parks Department that the Council, by resolution, authorize a Resolution of Local Support required by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to receive $750,000 in grant funds for the Southeast Greenway Project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Recreation and Parks Department was awarded $750,000 for Master Planning and design for the Santa Rosa Southeast Greenway Project. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) requires a Resolution of Local Support to comply with the 2024 Priority Conservation Area (PCA) Grant Program requirement.
BACKGROUND
In 2024, the City purchased the approximately 49 acres of State-rescinded, Route 12 excess lands owned by Caltrans, located between Farmers Lane and Spring Lake Regional Park. The acquisition provides the land base for the future development of the regionally significant Southeast Greenway Park (Project). This new park promises to provide a major urban greening project, greatly expanding park access, and connecting residents with the community’s beloved three-park complex of the County’s Spring Lake Regional Park, the City’s Howarth Memorial Community Park, and Trione-Annadel State Park.
The Recreation and Parks Department (Department) applied for $1,000,000 in grant funds with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Priority Conservation Area grant program, seeking grant funds to support the master planning and design phases of the Project. A partial grant award of $750,000 was approved for the Department, and the adoption of the Resolution of Local support is one of the final steps required by the MTC to add the funds through the federal Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The MTC typically revises the TIP every month, and once the project is in the active TIP, the Department may proceed with a request for obligation to Caltrans Local Assistance and the various procedures required to process delivery of the project.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On June 17, 2014, Council approved a Letter of Intent with Members of the Southeast Greenway Partnership.
On July 7, 2015, Council adopted Resolution No. 28666 approving the 2015 MOU between Caltrans and the Partnership.
On July 9, 2019, Council certified the Southeast Greenway Project Environmental Impact Report, adopted findings of fact, a mitigation monitoring and reporting program, and statement of overriding considerations pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, and adopted a General Plan Amendment and Rezoning for the Property.
On July 7, 2020, Council approved a first amendment to the 2015 MOU.
On July 25, 2023, Council declared the future Southeast Greenway property for a public purpose, approved a deed restriction for same, and established park land requirements for land retained by Caltrans in Resolution RES-2023-131.
On August 20, 2024, Council approved Resolution RES-2024-138 authorizing the submittal of a grant application for the Master Planning and Design of the Southeast Greenway Project.
ANALYSIS
The Recreation and Parks Department applied for $1,000,000 from the MTC PCA Grant Program on August 28, 2024. The Department was notified on November 21, 2024, that it was awarded partial funding of $750,000 for the Greenway Project.
The funds secured through the MTC PCA grant application will combine with existing funding allocated from Park Impact Development Fees (Southeast Quadrant) to develop a community-supported Master Plan and design for required environmental review and documentation pursuant to CEQA prior to developing specific design plans for the project. Staff is currently preparing a request for proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant team for the Project, and community engagement for the Master Plan could begin in the Fall of 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund. Funds for the project will be provided in an amount not to exceed $750,000 from the MTC. The matching funds are currently available in the SE Greenway fund key 09786. Approval of the previous resolution, No. RES-2024-138, authorized the Chief Financial Officer to appropriate the amount of the awarded grant funds from the General Fund to JL Key 09786 to complete this phase of the Project. The General Fund will be reimbursed with the payment from the granting agency upon Project completion.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
As part of the Land Use Planning process to update the General Plan for the Southeast Greenway land to include allowable land uses and property zoning, an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was adopted by the City Council including findings of fact, a mitigation monitoring and reporting program, and a statement of overriding considerations pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Subsequently, on July 25, 2023, the Council approved a deed restriction for the property, declaring it for a public purpose, and established parkland requirements for the parcels to be retained by Caltrans, which are now zoned for housing and mixed uses.
While the adopted map and land use concepts do not represent specific proposals for park development, it is anticipated that implementation of future public park areas, recreational facilities, multi-use paths, and associated greenway infrastructure may rely on the program level EIR, assuming they are within the parameters of what was evaluated in the certified EIR. The project strongly aligns with the requirements for a streamlined environmental review for project-specific impacts under CEQA Section 15183. The streamlined environmental review process applies to projects that are consistent with the General Plan land use and zoning for which an EIR was certified. Specific studies regarding biological and cultural resources, traffic impacts, etc., will be included during the planning and design phases, and additional environmental review and documentation may be required depending on the nature of project-level elements.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
PRESENTER
Scott Wilkinson, Parks Planner
AUTHORIZING A RESOLUTION OF LOCAL SUPPORT FOR THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING ASSIGNED TO THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION FOR MASTER PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE SANTA ROSA SOUTHEAST GREENWAY AND COMMITTING ANY NECESSARY MATCHING FUNDS AND STATING ASSURANCE TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT PAGE 3 OF 3