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HomeMy WebLinkAbout121712-3251-Environmental-Enhancement-and-Mitigation-Program-Tree-Grant City of Palo Alto (ID # 3251) City Council Staff Report Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 12/17/2012 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Summary Title: Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program Tree Grant Title: Adoption of a Resolution to Apply for Grant Funds for the Environment Enhancement and Mitigation Program for Tree Plantings to Mitigate Impacts of the Highway 101 Auxiliary Lane Construction From: City Manager Lead Department: Public Works Recommendation Staff recommends Council approve a resolution (Attachment A) to authorize the City Manager or his designee to submit a grant application to Caltrans for a California Natural Resources Agency, Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP) grant that would provide up to $350,000 for the planting of trees for the Charleston/Arastradero Corridor Project, PE-13011. Background State funding is available to mitigate the environmental impacts of transportation facilities (projects). The EEMP was established by the Legislature in 1989. It offers a total of $10 million each year for grants to local, state, and federal governmental agencies and to nonprofit organizations. Eligible projects must be directly or indirectly related to the environmental impact of the modification of an existing transportation facility or construction of a new transportation facility i.e. road widening would be mitigated by planting trees in the City right- of- way. Expected increases to vehicle traffic will add pollutants to the air, including carbon dioxide, which can be sequestered by planting trees and other suitable plants. City of Palo Alto Page 2 Discussion The EEMP grant does not require matching funds to be supplied, however due to the competitive application process, existing Capital Improvement Project(s) (CIP) need to be identified as the City’s commitment at the time of the submittal. Every EEMP project must be directly or indirectly related to the environmental impact of the modification of an existing Transportation Facility, or the environmental impact of the construction of a new Transportation Facility. A Related Transportation Facility is defined as a public street, highway, mass transit guideway or their appurtenant features (e.g. park and ride facilities, high- occupancy vehicle lanes, transit stations, etc.) The Charleston/Arastradero Corridor Plan was adopted by Council in January 2003 and funding of the Charleston/Arastradero Corridor project PE-13011 was approved in the FY 2013 Capital Budget. The project is currently in the design phase and the scope includes new landscaping and tree planting duringconstruction. The Charleston/Arastadero project could be defined as being indirectly related to the current widening work being done on Highway 101 by Caltrans and approval of this grant will allow additional planting thereby mitigating traffic impacts by maintaining environmental health for Palo Alto residents. Grant applications are due no later than January 4, 2013. Award notices are scheduled to be supplied by September 2013 with an expected project completion date of June 2015. Trees would l be planted between November through March during the winter of 2013-14 or 2014-15 dependent upon the timeline established for the Charleston/Arastrero project. Funds from the grant award will be on a reimbursement basis for actual direct costs of trees including related site preparation and installation costs. Resource Impact The grant amount of up to $350,000 will supplement or provide funding in the existing Charleston/Arastradero Corridor project PE-13011 for up to 300-500 trees dependent upon the final design. Funding for these trees and associated costs City of Palo Alto Page 3 will be included in the construction budget when submitted for Council approval and reimbursed once invoices are submitted to Caltans. Policy Implications Application for a grant to improve City landscaping is consistent with City policy. Environmental Review California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documents for this project have been completed as required to be supplied as addendums to the grant application. An Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Charleston/Arastradero Corridor Plan was prepared in 2004. Attachments:  Resolution #3251 (DOC) Resolution of the City of Palo Alto Endorsing submittal of an application for grant funds from the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of California has enacted AB 471 (Chapter 106 of the Statutes of 1989), which is intended to provide $10 million annually for a period of 10 years for grant funds to local, state and federal agencies and nonprofit entities for projects to enhance and mitigate the environmental impacts of modified or new public transportation facilities; and WHEREAS, the Natural Resources Agency has established the procedures and criteria for reviewing grant proposals and is required to submit to the California Transportation Commission a list of recommended projects from which the grant recipients will be selected; and WHEREAS, said procedures and criteria established by the Natural Resources Agency require a resolution certifying the approval of application by the Applicant's governing body before submission of said application to the State; and WHEREAS, the application contains assurances that the Applicant must comply with; and WHEREAS, the Applicant, if selected, will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out the environmental enhancement and mitigation project; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE The City of Palo Alto (GOVERNING BODY) 1. Approves the filing of an application for the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program for grant assistance. 2. Certifies that said Applicant will make adequate provisions for operation and maintenance of the project. 3. Appoints Walter Passmore, Urban Forester as agent of the City of Palo Alto to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including, but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. Approved and Adopted the _________ day of ____________________, 2_____________. I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution Number _______________ was duly adopted by the (GOVERNING BODY) following roll call vote: Ayes: Noes: Absent: ______________________________________ (CLERK/SECRETARY FOR THE GOVERNING BODY)