CITY OF SEBASTOPOL CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM REPORT FOR MEETING OF: May 19, 2026
=========================================================================================== To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Jane Riley – Interim Planning Director (Consultant: 4LEAF) Responsible Department: Planning/Public Works
Subject: Adopting a Resolution allowing CUSP California Urban Stream Partnership to apply for the Urban Greening Grant Program.
=========================================================================================== RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution to allow CUSP to prepare and submit a grant application to the California Natural Resources Agency Urban Greening Grant program. Grant funding would allow design work to begin on Phase 1 of the Calder Creek project.
PROCESS OF AGENDA ITEM:
• If the item remains on the Consent Calendar, no presentation is required, and the item will be approved as part of the Consent Calendar.
• If the item is removed from the Consent Calendar, it will be heard as a regular agenda item and will proceed as follows:
a. Presentation by staff
b. Council questions and discussion
c. Public comment
d. Council deliberation and action
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City has been actively working on a service agreement that allows CUSP to prepare and submit on behalf of the City for grant funding to move along phase 1 of the Calder Cre The Phase ek Naturalization project. This design work would include the part of Calder Creek that runs from High Street to the middle of the park, centered lined with center field of the baseball field. This design work would be based upon the Council adopted concept plan from 2022, but further public input would be taken into consideration as the project moves through the design phase.
BACKGROUND:
The Ives Park Master Plan is a comprehensive vision for the revitalization of Ives Park, adopted by the City Council in 2013. The plan includes several projects aimed at improving accessibility, naturalizing Calder Creek, and enhancing the park's overall functionality and aesthetics. The Master Plan includes the concept of naturalizing Calder Creek as it runs through the Park. In September 2022, the City Council approved the Final Concept Ives Park Calder Creek Naturalization Concept (Phase 1) and Authorized staff to execute a Service Agreement with California Urban Stream Partnership (CUSP), and directed staff to work with CUSP to submit a Grant application on behalf of the City.
Since that time, Councilmembers Carter and Maurer have met with local community groups such as Friends of Ives Park and others to discuss moving forward with Phase 1. The outcome of these meetings was a consensus for applying for grants for Reaches 1-4 including down to the swim weir. Restoration of Calder Creek would create an accessible interface to bring the public back to the water’s edge, increasing habitat, flood storage and groundwater infiltration. The Phase 1 work would be limited to the lower part of Calder Creek as it flows through Ives Park (see Figure 1), and would not effect the area where the Sebastopol Rotary is considering for its centennial project.
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Figure 1
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STAFF ANALYSIS:
Staff is supportive of the partnership with CUSP and the request for CUSP to submit grant applications on behalf of the City. The grant administration process would be handled by CUSP, which would allow for staff to focus on other projects while also improving local amenities to the City and implementing approved local plans.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS/PRIORITIES AND GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
This agenda item represents the City Council goals/priorities as follows:
Task 1.3 – Public Spaces, Parks, Arts & Community Events • Expand public spaces, parks, arts & events
Task 3.3 – Parks & Public Spaces (including Ives Park)
• Secure CUSP Grant for Calder Creek naturalization
Task 5.5 – Grants & Service Delivery Optimization
• Evaluate cost-effective service methods (contracted/shared services, limited-term staff) PUBLIC COMMENT:
As of the writing of this staff report, theCity has not received any public comment. However, if staff receives public comment from interested parties following the publication and distribution of this staff report, such comments will be provided to the City Council as supplemental materials before or at the meeting. In addition, public comments may be offered during the public comment portion of the agenda item.
PUBLIC NOTICE:
This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Initial information provided to staff indicates that there would be no fiscal impact to the City; the project consultant California Urban Streams Partnership (CUSP) would use funds from one grant to act as matching funds for a second grant. This information has not been confirmed as of the writing of the staff report. However, it would be required to be confirmed prior to acceptance of grants.
RESTATED RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution to allow CUSP to prepare and submit a grant application to the California Natural Resources Agency Urban Greening Grant program. Grant funding would allow design work to begin on Phase 1 of the Calder Creek project.
OPTIONS:
1. The Council could deny the request to submit for grant funding.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution
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APPROVALS:
Department Head Approval: Approval Date: 5/12/2026
CEQA Determination (Planning): Approval Date: 5/12/2026 The proposed action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption), and no further environmental review is required.
Administrative Services/Financial Approval: Approval Date: 5/12/2026 Costs authorized in City Approved Budget: ☐ Yes ☐ No R N/A (Future budget impacts are not known at this time and are dependent on City Council direction)
Account Code (if applicable) ___________________________ City Attorney Approval: Approval Date: 5/12/2026
City Manager Approval: Approval Date: 5/12/2026
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RESOLUTION NO 26-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE
URBAN GREENING GRANT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the Legislature and Governor of the State of California have provided funds for the program shown above; and
WHEREAS, the California Natural Resources Agency has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of this grant program and establishing necessary procedures; and WHEREAS, the procedures established by the California Natural Resources Agency require a resolution certifying the approval of application(s) by the Applicant’s governing board before submission of said application(s) to the State; and
WHEREAS, the Applicant, if selected, will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out the project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Sebastopol
1. Approves the filing of an application for the “Bringing Back Calder Creek Phase I” at Ives Park Project.
2. Certifies that Applicant understands the assurances and certification in the application; and
3. Certifies that Applicant or title holder will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the project consistent with the land tenure requirements or will secure the resources to do so; and
4. Certifies that it will comply with all provisions of Section 1771.5 of the California Labor Code; and
5. If applicable, certifies that the project will comply with any laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), legal requirements for building codes, health and safety codes, and disabled access laws, that prior to commencement of construction, all applicable permits will have been obtained; and
6. Certifies that Applicant will work towards the State Planning Priorities intended to promote equity, strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and promote public health and safety as included in Government Code Section 65041.1; and
7. Appoints the City Manager, or designee, as agent to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including, but not limited to, applications, agreements, payment requests, and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project.
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Sebastopol held on May 19, 2026, by the following vote:
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VOTE:
Ayes:
Noes:
Abstain:
Absent:
APPROVED: ________________________________________
Jill McLewis, Mayor
ATTEST: ________________________________________
Mary Gourley, City Manager/City Clerk, MMC
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________________________ Alex Mog, City Attorney
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