HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-08-10 City Council (26)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
6
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
DATE:
SUBJECT:
AUGUST 10, 1998 CMR:347:98
CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL OF COST-SHARING WITH THE CITY
OF MENLO PARK, AND APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $112,500 FOR THE SAN
FRANCISQUITO CREEK BANK STABILIZATION AND
REVEGETATION STUDY
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council:
Grant conceptual approval for a cost-sharing agreement with the City of
Menlo Park, which will provide a 50 percent contribution of the funding for
Phase 1 of the San Francisquito Creek Bank Stabilization and Revegetation
Study.
Approve a Budget Amendment Ordinance in the amount of $112,500 from
the General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve to provide the necessary
funding for preliminary work and Phase 1 of the study.
o Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a cost-sharing
agreement with the City of Menlo Park for Phase 1 of the Study.
BACKGROUND
On May 11, 1998, staff reported to Council on the activities of the San Francisquito Creek
Coordinating Committee and obtained direction from Council to continue working through
the Committee to form a joint powers authority, and to address creek-related issues of
mutual interest to all San Francisquito Creek stakeholders. Representatives of the
Committee include the city managers or senior staff members from the cities of Palo Alto,
Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Portola Valley, and Woodside; management staff from the
Santa Clara Valley Water District, San Mateo County Flood Control District, and Stanford
CMR:347:98 Page 1 of 5
University; and CRMP (Coordinated Resource Management and Planning) representatives.
Representing Palo Alto on the Committee is the City Manager and the Director of Public
Works.
The Committee has been meeting regularly since the February 2-3, 1998 flood to discuss
the formation of a joint powers authority and to identify opportunities to mutually address
creek-related issues. It is the purpose of the Committee to establish a joint powers
authority that will serve as a review board for future projects that will have an impact on
the creek, and to develop and institute environmentally acceptable guidelines for use by
all creek stakeholders.
In January 1998, the City of Menlo Park issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to qualified
consultants for preparation of a San Francisquito Creek Bank Stabilization and
Revegetation Study (Study), and landscaping plans for specific creekside areas. In late
April, the firm of Royston, Hanamoto, Alley, and Abey was selected from the four
consultant teams that responded to the RFP. During initialmeetings of the Committee, the
City of Palo Alto was invited to join with Menlo Park to develop the final scope of work
for the Study so that concerns on both sides of the creek would be addressed.
DISCUSSION
Staff from Menlo Park and Palo Alto have worked together to developa final Scope of
work for the San Francisquito Creek Bank Stabilization and Revegetation Study to be
prepared by Royston, Hanamoto, Alley, and Abey (Consultant). One of the major
obstacles in addressing bank erosion problems along San Francisquito Creek has been the
fragmented jurisdictional boundaries and responsibilities related to the creek. In preparing
the Study, the Consultant will perform a comprehensive analysis of existing conditions on
both sides of the creek and identify potential restoration techniques and permitting
processes. The Study will contain creek bank stabilization and vegetation guidelines that
can be used by creeksideproperty owners to repair storm damage and to prevent further
creek bank failures during winter rains. The Consultant will identify shared concerns of
all the creek stakeholders (cities as well as private property owners), and will discuss
environmentally acceptable bank restoration techniques that could be implemented without
adversely affecting neighboring properties. The Study will also assist local policy makers
in joint discussions and decision making for future creek policies and improvements.
The Consultant has completed the preliminary tasks for the Study, and Palo Alto’s City
Manager has authorized a $12,500 contribution for 50% of this preliminary work. The
Consultant’s preliminary work culminated in a workshop for creekside residents on July
16, jointly hosted by the cities of Menlo Park and Palo Alto. During the workshop, the
Consultant identified typical problem conditions that developed along creekside properties
CMR:347:98 Page 2 of 5
over the course of last winter. The workshop presented various restoration techniques and
identified resources that could be used for creek bank stabilization and revegetation. The
Consultant also presented the residents with informational materials regarding permitting,
a list of contractors familiar with creek restoration and repair, revegetation guidelines, and
a list of native plants suitable for creekside planting.
Once Council authorizes the City Manager to negotiate and execute a formal cost sharing
agreement with the City of Menlo Park and it is in place, the Consultant will begin
working on the Study. At this time it is anticipated that the Study will consist of three
phases. Only Phase 1 conceptual approval is being requested at this time. If approved,
Palo Alto’s share of Phase 1 work will be $100,000.
The proposed Phase 1 work consists of project coordination, information gathering, and
field surveying, which needs to be completed prior to the onset of the winter rains. The
information will be compiled into a base survey that will include topographical information
to assist in the development of creek profiles and cross sections; the extent, acreage, and
species composition of native and nonnative tree canopies (individual trees and plants will
not be mapped); a geomorphic survey identifying existing channel conditions, bank
erosion, riparian vegetation cover, and any possible endangered structures (roads, houses,
etc.); an assessment of habitat suitability for the red-legged frog and steelhead trout; and
any historical or archeological information that may be present within a particular area.
It is anticipated that the work for Phase 1 will be completed in approximately five months.
If subsequently approved by Menlo Park and Palo Alto, the proposed Phase 2 of the Study
would commence shortly after the approval of Phase 1 and would include research.of
existing creek condition reports, an analysis of the regulatory requirements applicable to
San Francisquito Creek, formal reports to Council, and the preparation, of a master plan.
In addition, the Consultant would develop a five to ten page brochure outlining creek bank
stabilization alternatives, permitting requirements, and creek bank revegetafion techniques.
The brochure will be targeted at local residents and conservation organizations within the
San Francisquito Creek watershed. It is anticipated that Phase 2 could be completed in
approximately 12 months.
The proposed Phase 3 of the Study, which would address City-owned properties, is
tentatively scheduled to commence in the summer of 1999 and would include the
preparation and development of specific creek stabilization alternatives for use in particular
City-owned reaches of the creek. Phase 3 would also include the development of a creek.
revegetation plan, including a recommended plant list and identification of appropriate
planting locations within the riparian corridor. The report will also recommend locations
CMR:347:98 Page 3 of 5
and techniques for removal of invasive normative plants. The exact duration of Phase 3
is project-dependent, but completion is anticipated by the year 2000.
RESOURCE IMPACT
A Budget Amendment Ordinance in the amount of $112,500 is requested to provide 50%
of the funding for the San Francisquito Creek Bank Stabilization and Revegetation Study.
This amount includes $12,500 toward the cost of the preliminary work and $100,000 for
Phase 1 of the Study. This project will be funded from the General Fund Budget
Stabilization Reserve. Currently the estimated cost of Phase 2 is $120,500 and the Phase
3 costs will be determined in the future when site/project locations are developed.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This report identifies a need to conduct and fund the San Francisquito Creek Bank
Stabilization and Revegetation Study jointly with the City of Menlo Park. Approval of the
joint funding is consistent with prior Council direction to participate in the San
Francisquito Creek Coordinating Committee.
TIME~
The following represents the anticipated time frame for each phase of the San Francisquito
Creek Bank Stabilization and Revegetation Study:
Phase 1:Approximately five months from approval of the cost-sharing agreement
between the cities of Palo Alto and Menlo Park and the issuance of the
Notice to Proceed to the Consultant.
Phase 2:Approximately 12 months from issuance of the Notice to Proceed to the
Consultant. (This will require additional ,funding and an amended cost-
sharing agreement between the cities of Palo Alto and Menlo Park.)
Phase 3:Will begin in the summer of 1999 and be completed by the year 2000. (This
will require additional funding and an amended cost-sharing agreement
between the cities of Palo Alto and Menlo Park.)
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council approval of the cost-sharing agreement with the City of Menlo Park and approval
of a Budget Amendment Ordinance does not require California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) ~eview. However, future individual projects for creek bank stabilization or
revegetation will require CEQA review.
CMR:347:98 Page 4 of 5
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:
Attachment B:
Consultant’s Scope of Work and Cost Breakdown for Phase 1 of the
San Francisquito Creek Bank Stabilization and Revegetation Study
Budget Amendment Ordinance
PREPARED BY: Joe Teresi, Senior Engineer
DEPARTMENT HEAD: ~)L ~, ~
GLENN S. t~ERTS
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: . ~ ~. _~~
( ] ’U~E FLEMING
~ / Ci~ Manager
CC:Dianne Dryer, City of Menlo Park
Pat Showalter, CRMP Coordinator
Randy Talley, Santa Clara Valley Water District
CMR:347:98 Page 5 of 5
ATTACHMENT A
Summary Scope of Services and Costs for Phase I
San Francisquito Creek
iA. General
1.0 Biweekly Coordination Meeting~
2.0 Preparation of Meeting Summ,ary Memorandum and Distribution
3.0 l’rojec! Coordination
$1r700
S£CTION A SUBTOTAL FEES $27,4701
B. Assessment of Existing .Co, q.ditions
$21,850
$80,664
$21,720
$28,560
$6,200
SECTJON B SUBTOTAL
TOTAL EXPENSES
TOTAL FEES $6,000
ATTACHMENT
ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1998-99 TO
PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF $112,500 FOR PHASE
I - SAN FRANCISQUITO CREEK BANK STABILIZATION AND
REVEGETATION STUDY
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 of Article
III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto, the Council on June
22, .1998 did adopt a budget for fiscal year 1998-99; and
WHEREAS, On May ii, 1998, Council directed staff to continue
working through the San Francisquito Creek Coordinating Committee
to form a joint powers authority with other affected agencies to
address creek-related issues of mutual interest to all San
Francisquito Creek stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, a consultant will be retained to provide services for
Phase I - San Francisquito Creek Bank Stabilization and Revegetation
Study with the cost being split evenly between the cities of Palo
Alto and Menlo Park; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto’s share of the consultant
expense and the preliminary work is $112,500; and
WHEREAS, City Council authorization is needed to amend the
1998-99 budget as hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does
ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION I. The sum of One Hundred Twelve Thousand Five Hundred
Dollars ($112,500) is hereby appropriated to non-salary expenses in
the Structures and Grounds Functional Area in the Public Works
Department, and the Budget Stabilization Reserve is correspondingly
reduced.
SECTION 2. This transaction will reduce the
Stabilization Reserve from $16,472,308 to $16,359,808.
Budget
SECTION 3. As specified in Section 2.28.080(a) of the Palo
Alto Municipal Code, a two-thirds vote of the City Council is
required to adopt this ordinance.
SECTION 4. The Council of the City of Palo ALto hereby finds
that approval of this Budget Amendment Ordinance does not require
a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review. However,
individual projects in the future for implementation of the creek
stabilization methods will require CEQA review.
SECTION 5 As provided in Section 2.04.350 of the Palo Alto
Municipal Code, this ordinance shall become effective upon adoption.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST:APPROVED:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:City Manager
Senior Asst. City Attorney Director of
Services
Administrative
Director of Public Works
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