RESOLUTION NUMBER 6659-2025
Resolution of the City Council of the CITY OF SEBASTOPOL, authorizing the submittal of an application for funding for $1,800,000 grant to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District’s Matching Grant Program for ‘BRINGING BACK CALDER CREEK PHASE I, located at IVES PARK; 7400 WILLOW STREET, SEBASTOPOL, CA, determining that the project is consistent with the CITY General Plan; acknowledging review of all Matching Grant Program Guideline materials and attachments; acknowledging that there are or will be sufficient match funds and funds to operate and maintain the project; and authorizing City Manager to sign and submit all required documentation for the application and grant agreement documents, if awarded.
Whereas, in accordance with the voter-approved Expenditure Plan, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District (District) has established a competitive Matching Grant Program (the Program) for projects that provide open space, community recreation, or public access opportunities within and near incorporated areas and other urbanized areas of Sonoma County; and
Whereas, the District released Guidelines and Application Materials for the 2025 round of funding; and
Whereas, the City Council of the CITY OF SEBASTOPOL on September 6, 2022 unanimously approved Minute Order 2022-259 for an update to the Ives Park Master Plan based on the concept that forms the basis of BRINGING BACK CALDER CREEK and “authorized staff to enter into agreement with CUSP” and “to work with …CUSP on grant applications that included a fully restored Calder Creek; and
Whereas, if the creek restoration concept were fully implemented it would provide benefits including 1,030 LF of stream naturalization, daylighting and restoration within Ives Park; creation of
1.13 ac of riparian and aquatic habitat; establishment of flood storage within the riparian corridor; and expansion of ADA accessible trails and walks as well as improvement of existing walkways to provide a new total of 2,212 LF of creekside trails and walks (not including park trails away from the creek); and
Whereas, the City Council of the CITY OF SEBASTOPOL under RESOLUTION NO. 6453-2022 unanimously approved a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that sought to advance planning and implementation of Ives Park Master Plan improvements including a funding request for Calder Creek at Ives Park of $10,000 for hydrologic study and conceptual design under CIP 0420-20.08; a funding request of $62,000 for preliminary design and cost estimating under CIP 0420-22.05; and a funding request of $215,500 for ADA upgrades to paths that anticipate future restoration implementation; and
Whereas, these improvements for Calder Creek at Ives Park have been found to be consistent with the General Plan Conservation and Open Space Element COS 3-3: Support rehabilitation of any culverted or open existing channelized waterways, as feasible, to remove concrete linings and allow for a connection between the stream channel and the natural water table. Avoid creating additional Docusign Envelope ID: 76468001-7968-4A6A-9EB6-750C8F1EAB80 culverted or open channelized waterways, unless no other alternative is available to protect human health, safety, and welfare.; and
Whereas, the City Council seeks to phase implementation of the BRINGING BACK CALDER CREEK project with a Phase I consisting of 420 LF of stream restoration and naturalization, 0.48 acres of riparian and aquatic habitat in an otherwise urban environment; removal of a dangerous weir structure that currently causes the creek to be fenced off from public access; and establishment of 750 lf of accessible walks and trails, including some currently being renovated under RESOLUTION NO. 6453-2022; and
Whereas, the City Council acknowledges that the Phase I Project would be competitive under the District’s 2024 Program Guidelines as an improvement project; and Whereas, the District’s Program requires applicants to provide a 50% matching contribution for the Phase I Project; and
Whereas, the City Council will secure 50% matching funds from public grants and in-kind donation of services and materials in the amount of $1.8 million; and Whereas, the total project cost for the implementation of the Phase I Project is $3,600,000 including District Grant requested funds, matching funds, and any other funds; and Whereas, if implemented, the City Council will operate and maintain the Project as part of Ives Park; and
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that this City Council hereby finds, determines, declares, and orders as follows:
1. Truth of Recitals. That the forgoing recitations are true and correct.
2. The City Manager of the City of Sebastopol is hereby authorized to work with the California Urban Streams Partnership (CUSP) to develop and submit an application for funding to the District’s Program in the amount of $1,800,000 for Bringing Back Calder Creek Phase I, as well as to work with CUSP on matching grant applications from other sources;
3. General Plan Consistency. That the Project is consistent with the City’s General Plan Conservation and Open Space Element COS 3-3: Support rehabilitation of any culverted or open existing channelized waterways, as feasible, to remove concrete linings and allow for a connection between the stream channel and the natural water table. Avoid creating additional culverted or open channelized waterways, unless no other alternative is available to protect human health, safety, and welfare.
4. Grant Agreement. The City Manager of the City of Sebastopol is hereby authorized to conduct all negotiations and submit and sign all documents, including but not limited to, application, matching grant agreement, conservation easement, recreation covenant, irrevocable offer(s) of dedication, amendments, reimbursement requests and so on, which may be necessary for completion of the project.
5. Matching Funds. If awarded funding, the City has or will have available $1,800,000 for matching funds and sufficient funds to complete the project.
Docusign Envelope ID: 76468001-7968-4A6A-9EB6-750C8F1EAB80
6. Operation and Maintenance. The City has or will have available sufficient funds to operate and maintain the project, if awarded funding.
7. Program Guidelines. The City has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the provisions contained in the Program Guidelines, and appendices.
8. Legal Compliance. The City acknowledges that if the Project is funded, it will be required to comply with all federal state and local laws.
Passed and adopted at a meeting of the Sebastopol City Council on April 15, 2025.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Maurer, and Vice Mayor McLewis Noes: Mayor Zollman
Absent: None
Abstain: None
APPROVED: ____________________________________________
Stephen Zollman, Mayor
ATTEST: _______________________________________________________________ Mary Gourley, Assistant City Manager/City Clerk, MMC
APPROVED AS TO FORM: __________________________________________________ Alex Mog, City Attorney
Docusign Envelope ID: 76468001-7968-4A6A-9EB6-750C8F1EAB80