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101-Staff Report.pdf PUBLICWORKS DEPARTMENT CITY HALL 1010300TORRE AVENUE • CUPERTINO, CA 95014-3255 TELEPHONE: (408)777-3354www.cupertino.org CITYCOUNCILSTAFFREPORT Meeting:January 18, 2011 Subject StevensCreekCorridorProject,PhaseII RecommendedAction 1.Authorize stafftoinitiatethe designeffortforAlternative 4A. 2.AuthorizetheCityManagerto negotiateandexecuteanamendmentwithSSALandscape Architectsfor design services nottoexceed $200,000. 3.AuthorizetheCityManagertoissueLetters ofIntentto various grantingagencies clarifyingtheCity’sintentto proceedwithAlternative 4Aandcreekrestoration. 4.Authorize stafftoinitiateanenvironmentalclearance processforthe project. Discussion OnNovember 29, 2010,Councilreceiveda statusreport oftheStevensCreekCorridorProject (SCCP)PhaseII. That statusreport providedtime sensitiveinformationregardingthereceiptby theCityofa $1.2M stategrantthatcould beappliedtotheentire projectifthe projectalternative wasexpandedtoincludecreekrestoration. This samereportwas providedtotheParksandRecreationCommission onJanuary 6, 2011 and included veryrecentinformationfromtheCity’shydrologistandtheCity’sgolfcourse designer thatlikelywill significantlyreducethe potentialphysicalimpactstothegolfcourseifAlternative 4Aischosen. TheParksandRecreationCommission votedtorecommendapproval of Alternative 4A. Thisreport describesthemostrecentinformationalongwitha staffrecommendationto proceed withAlternative 4A. Thetiming of $1.2M state grantis suchthatifCouncil desiresto pursuethe grantandan alternativethatincludescreekrestoration, staff needsthat directionatthistimeto begin design andmeetthegrantconstruction deadlines.OnlyAlternatives 4Aand4Bare discussedinthis report sincetheyaretheonlyalternatives presentedinNovemberwithacreekrestoration component.Alternative4Ais discussedatlength sinceitisconsideredfinanciallyfeasiblewhile Alternative4Bmay beconsidered“out ofreach”financially duetothecurrenteconomicclimate. Alternative 3, which onlyincludesthetrailconnectionfromtheBlackberryFarm parkinglotto StevensCreekBoulevard,is stillfeasible butthetimelineis notascritical sincethis specific grantwould not beapplicable. CreekRestoration Creekrestoration,if undertaken,would be similartothework doneinPhaseI,consistingofthe removal of brokenconcreteriprap, buildingrifflesand poolsforthefederally-threatened Steelhead,andwideningthechannelfor highwatereventsandimprovedhabitat value. Capturingandrelocatingthefish, dewateringthecreek,removing non-native vegetation,and planting nativevegetationandtreeswouldbeinvolvedinthecreekchannelwork. It should be notedthatthe stategrantingagencyisinfavor ofAlternative4A, butthe grantis expectedto beeligiblefor usetoaccomplishAlternative 4BifCouncil determinesthatto bethe better solution. The grantcannot be usedforanyotheralternativethat does notincludecreek restoration. The grantadministratorhasinformed staffthatthe projectmust becompletebySeptember of 2013toremaineligibleforthefull $1.2M reimbursement. To completethefull scope ofthework andmeetthatSeptember2013 deadline, staffhasdeterminedthat designmust begininJanuary of 2011. Thistimelineallowsforanappropriatepublicinput periodforthe new designandan updated MitigatedNegativeDeclaration,alongwiththetime necessaryto obtain permitsfrom theregulatoryagencies. The grantagreement does not needto beexecuted untilearlyJune of 2011,allowingCounciland stafftimeto secureadditionalgrantfunding.Ifadditionalgrantfundingturns outto be insufficientbyJune of 2011,Councilcan direct staff nottoexecutethegrantandto stopthe project. The sunk costsatthat pointareestimatedto beapproximately $200,000,includingthe $50,000expendedto date. GolfCourseImpacts Staffconsideredimpactstothegolfcourseto beapotentiallyfatalflaw ofAlternative 4Amore thanayearagowhenthisalternativewasfirstcontemplated.In March of2010, staffengaged LandmarkGolfofIndianWells,Californiato studyAlternative 4Aforgolfcourseimpacts. Landmark hasbeeninvolvedin designandconstruction ofmajorgolfcoursesaroundtheUnited States,especially on thewestcoast, since 1972.Atthattimeitwasassumed, usingexistingaerial survey data,thatcreekencroachmentintothegolfcoursemight beasmuchas 35 feetfromthe th existingtop of bank, nearly bisectingthe 9fairway. Whilefurther designandanalysisarerequired,preliminary studiesbytheCity’screek hydrologistconsultantandLandmarkGolfindicatethoseimpactswilllikelybeminimaland th manageable.AsrecentlyasJanuary 6, stafflearnedthat someflexibilityforthe design ofthe top of bank doesexistandthattheencroachmentintothegolfcoursecanvary butwill bemuch lessthanthe 35 feetthatwasthoughtto berequiredearlier.In someareas,therecanlikelyeven be no channelencroachmentatall. Thecreek,inAlternative 4A,must bewidened slightlyintothegolfcourse,alongthe ninth fairway.Additionally,asanitary sewerline undera portion ofthe ninthfairwaymay needto be relocatedtoprotectthelinefrom potentialerosionifitistooclosetothe newcreek bank.If theseconstructionactivitiesinfact do significantlyencroach on thecourse,LandmarkGolfhas indicatedthatthereareseveraltemporarywaystomaintaina nine holecoursethroughthefouror fivemonth period ofconstruction. Theyalso believethatthefinalconfiguration ofthe ninth holecan beprovidedinamannerconsistentwithUSGolfAssociationcriteria.Staffwill continuetoworktominimizeconstructionimpacts,ensurecontinuityofgolf play,and provide forthe best operationalconfiguration upon completion. Theeast bankofthecreekalongthegolfcoursehas beencoveredwithlarge bouldersand slabs ofconcrete overtheyearsto preventerosion. Much ofthisworkwasperformedbythe private owner beforetheCity purchasedthe propertyin1991. The narrowchannelwasfurtherdamaged bythefailure oftheconcrete,whenlargechunksslippedintothe stream bed orwhen highflows erodedthe soil behindthe slabs. Theresultisthatthe safepassageof spawning steelheadtrout has been disrupted. Theseimpedimentstofish passageare very similartothosethatwere removedfromthe upstreamchannel duringthePhase 1 project.All ofthisworkwould be requiredalongthegolfcourseineitherAlternative 4A or4B. Themain differenceinAlternative 4Aisthatthecreekchannelwouldremaininitscurrent locationand bewidenedtotheeastcreatinga newtop of bankinwhatis nowtherough orthe fairwayofthe ninth holeofthegolfcourse.Additionally,the newtop of bankwillrequirean adjacentvegetation bufferabout 10 feetwidethatwillfurtherencroachintothegolfcourse.Itis thoughtthat suitable native vegetationcan beidentifiedthat serves habitatgoalswhilealso being compatiblewiththeadjacentgolfactivity. The viability ofthisideawould haveto be vettedin the design phase, butthetotalencroachmentis nowthoughtto beabout 20to 25 feet. The designandconstructioncosts necessarytoaddressthegolfcourseimpactsinAlternative 4A have beenincludedinthe project budgetestimateof $3.5M. Alternative4Bwouldinsteadinvolvetrenchinganew 800 footlongby 65footwidecreek channelthroughtheStocklmeir orchard,causinga number of orchardtreesto beremoved. The existingcreekchannelwould be back-filledwith some oftheexcavated soilfromthe new channelandconvertedintoanenvironmentalwillow swale. FundingSourcesandShortfall Staff believesthatfundingforthe shortfall ofAlternative 4Amightbe partially obtainedfrom CIP savings or project deferrals.Staffalso believesthatadditional grantmoniesmaybe availablethroughtypicalgrantapplication processesandisactively pursuingthose.Inanycase, Alternative 4Aappearstoaccomplishmanygoalsandthereforeis staff’srecommended alternative. Thecreekandassociated habitatcanbenefitfromimprovements similartothe successfulPhaseI project,atthis stageitappearsthatimpactstothe operation ofthegolfcourse can beminimizedtocontinue operating successfullywithoutarevenue disruption, both during constructionand postconstruction,andmost oftheStocklmeirOrchardcanremainandbean enhancementtothe newtrail.Additionally,the significantcostassociatedwithrelocation ofthe creekincludedinAlternative 4Bcanbeavoided;makingthe project budgetachievablewithany ofa varietyof optionsthatcan beproposed duringtheannual budget process. Existingand potentialgrantfunding sourcesforAlternative 4Aare providedthefollowingtable: SourceFundingStatusConditionsforUse SCVWDGrant$100,000Havemust buildentiretrail ParkDedicationFees$150,000Remainingcan useforcreek ortrail CaRiverParkwaysGrant1,200,000Awardedcan use 50/50creek&trail SCVWD/FAHCECostShare800,000Likely,Junecreekrestoration only SCVWD – SafeCreeksGrant200,000Maybe,Junemaybe 75/25creek&trail State EEMPGrant250,000 Maybe, March‘12can use 20/80creek&trail TotalPotentialFunding2,700,000 ProjectBudget3,500,000 Shortfall$800,000 It should be notedthattheAlternative 4Afinancial shortfall, presentedinNovember of 2010, did nottakeintoaccountanyloss ofgolfcourserevenue ora potentiallong-termloss of players causedbyconstruction. CEQA InApril of 2006, CounciladoptedtheInitialStudy/ MitigatedNegativeDeclaration(MND) CEQA documentsfortheStevensCreekCorridorPark MasterPlanandRestorationPlan. Those documentsfullycovertheworkcontemplatedinPhaseII,recentlypresentedtoCouncilas Alternative4B.Staff has previouslybeenadvisedthatAlternative 4Acould potentially be addressedbya briefAddendum.AnAddendumtechnically does notrequirea publiccomment periodandcan be processedinamuch shorterperiod oftime. StaffisrecommendingthatCouncilinsteadapprove preparation ofa documentthatallowsfor publicreview,whichisexpectedto bea new orSubsequent MitigatedNegativeDeclaration.If Alternative 4Ais selected,thisapproachwillallowfora publicinput processto occur priorto adoption ofthe updateddocuments,andwould beamorerobustmeansofproviding environmentalclearance. Thischoicewouldrequirethatthe pending $250,000 state EnvironmentalEnhancementand MitigationProgram(EEMP)grantapplication bewithdrawnfromthecurrentgrantcycle, becauseitis dependentuponanapprovedenvironmental document beingin placebytheend of February. The deadlinedoes notallowenoughtimetoexecutea neworSubsequentNegative Declaration.Howeverthe EEMPgrant programisanannualfundingcycle,typicallyinvolving distribution of $10 million statewide.Ourgrantapplicationcan bere-submittedinfall ofthis year.Funding decisionsnormally occurthefollowing spring.Ifthere-submittedapplicationis successful,thetimingwouldeasilyallowthefundsto be usedforimplementingthe project. Giventhetechnicalchangein howtorestorethecreekwithencroachmentontothegolfcourse, staff believesthatthecommunityneedsthe opportunitytohavetheirinputconsideredand addressed viaanenvironmental process. ShouldCouncil selectAlternative 4Aand directthisapproach, staffwill overseepreparation of anappropriateenvironmentalclearance documentandconductanassociated publicreview process. RecentAlternativeVariations th AttheNovember 29meeting,Councilasked stafftoinvestigatethefeasibilityofconstructing thetrailalongtheentireeast side ofthecreektothe parkinglot,eliminatingtheneedfora bridge overthecreekand use oftheStocklmeir property.Inthiscase,thetrailwould be so closetothe golfcoursefairwaysthata ball protectionfencewould berequiredforitsentirelength. It should be notedthatasection of ball protectionfenceisalreadyincludedinthe scope ofwork forthe upperportion ofthetrailthatis plannedalongtheeast bank ofthecreekasit departsthe BlackberryFarm parkinglot. To continuethe protectionfencetothe parkinglotwouldcausethe entiretrailexperience ofmorethan 1,000 feetto becoveredbyaprotectivefence.Thiseast-side trailwouldalsoencroach ontothegolfcoursetoamuchlargerextentthaniscurrently envisionedby4A or4B. Letters ofIntent Some ofthe prospectivegrantingagenciesmightbemoreinclinedtoagreeto offergrantsforthis projectifaletter ofintentwere providedfromtheCity.Staff proposesthatCouncilauthorizethe CityManagerto submitletters ofintenttotheWaterDistrict,andto otherpotentialfundersas appropriate, outliningthe project scopeandthe dependence ongrantfunding. Theletterswould be preparedtoclearly statethattheCityisformallyrequestingfunds butwouldmake no promisesto proceedwiththe projectif sufficientfundingis not obtained. DesignTeam Infiscalyear 09/10Councilauthorized staffto proceedwiththedesignofPhaseIIas described asAlternative 3 inNovember.Itconsisted ofthetrail, bridge, parkinglotmodifications,and safetyimprovementstotheintersectionatPharLapDriveandStevensCreekBlvd.Staff requested qualificationsfrom selectedlandscapedesignfirmsinthebayareawithexpertisein trail designthroughenvironmentally sensitiveareas.Followinga standardRFQinterview process,thefirm ofSSALandscapeArchitects ofSantaCruzwas selectedas primeconsultant. SSA beganworkandtodate has providedpreliminary designsfortheBluePheasant parkinglot modifications. ShouldCouncil decideto proceedwith one ofthecreekrestorationalternatives, staff proposesto continuewithSSAandexpandthe subconsultantteambyadding several ofthose subconsultants originallyinvolvedinthePhaseIwork. Schedule Whilea detailed designandconstruction scheduleneedsto be developed,designforeither restorationalternativecan beaccomplishedin 2011, permitsreviewedandissuedin 2012, and constructionexecutedandcompletedbythefallof 2013.Potentialimpactstothegolfcourse would not occur untilconstruction beganand staff believesthereis sufficienttimeto developthe necessaryalternativestominimizethoseimpacts. SustainabilityImpact:Alternative 4A ofSCCP,PhaseII,fully supportstheCity’s sustainability goals. FiscalImpact ItisassumedthattheCitywill needtofrontthemoneyfortheprojectandreimbursethegeneral fundwhengrantmoneyisreceived. The projectcurrently has $1.4M inapprovedfundsforthe FY 10/11CIP, however$1.1M ofthisamountexpectedasParkDedicationFeesexpectedfrom theRoseBowl project have not beenreceivedto dateand should not beanticipatedinthe near term. Thereare no newGeneralFundmoniesavailableforcapital projectfinancingthisyear.In orderto backfillthisgap, savingsfromcompletedCIP projectsinthecurrentyearcould be appliedtoSCCPPhaseII,and otherCIP projectscould be deferredas necessary. These recommendationswill be proposedasmoreinformationis known duringtheannual budget process. Itisexpectedthatabout $1.5M ofthetotal $3.5M project budgetwould besufficientthroughout all of 2011 and 2012 fordesignand permitting.The balance of $2.0M would be necessary possiblyinlate 2012 butcertainlyin 2013 forconstructionandconstruction phase services. _____________________________________ Preparedby:TerryW.Greene,CityArchitect Reviewedby: TimmBorden,Director ofPublicWorks ApprovedforSubmissionby:DavidW.Knapp,CityManager Attachments: