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Home My WebLink About2011/11/01 Item 07~_, <<-= CIT-Y COUNCIL ~<<_,_ AGENDA STATEMENT ~~(/i c1TrOF '~' CHULAVISTA 11/1/11, Item ~ ITEM TITLE: RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE URBAN GREENING GRANT PROGRAM UNDER THE SAFE DRIl~IKING WATER, WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY, FLOOD CONTROL, RIVER AND COASTAL PROTECTION BOND ACT OF 2006 (PROPOSITION 84); AND AUTHORIZING THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER AUTHORITY TO ACT FOR THE CITY WITH RESPECT TO THE T APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY: DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OFENGINE ESlE S~ REVIEWED BY: CITY MANAGER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS 4/STHS VOTE: YES ^ NO SUMMARY California voters passed the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84) on November 7, 2006. Proposition 84 added Division 43, Chapter 9, Section 75065(a) to the Public Resources Code, authorizing the Legislahue to appropriate $70 million for urban greening projects that reduce energy consumption, conserve water, improve air and water quality, and provide other community benefits: The Strategic Growth Council was established and has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of this grant program establishing the necessary procedures for application of grant funds. The application deadline is November 17, 2011. The City proposes to apply for the "Park-It-Green" Demonstration Project, a sustainable parking lot located at Greg Rogers Park to provide a community showcase for urban greening concepts and to directly inform the development of broader mtuucipal policies on low impact development, urban heat island mitigation, and clunate adaptation. This action is intended to inform Council that staff is preparing the grant application and plans to submit it before the November 17, 2011 deadline. Should any grant fiords be awarded, staff will rettun to Council for appropriation to a proj ect. 7-1 11/1/11, Item_~_ Page 2 of 4 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ~ The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity, consisting of approval to submit a grant application to the state under the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a" Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because the proposal consists of a governmental action that does not have the assurance that the fimding requested will be approved for an urban greening project. Therefore, puusuant to Section 15060 (c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary at this time. Although environmental review is not necessary at this time, once the funding has been approved and the scope of the specific project has been defined, environmental review will be undertaken and the appropriate environmental determination will be made. RECOMMENDATION Council adopt the resolution. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS The proposed Park-It-Green Demonstration Project was presented to the Resource Conservation Commission (RCC) at their October 24`x' meeting for review and feedback. The RCC unanimously recommended that City Coumcil approve submittal of the grant application and asked staff to try to incorporate a public art component using green materials. DISCUSSION Because of the built-out nature of California's urban areas, the Urban Greening for Sustainable Communities Program (Program) provides fiords to preserve, enhance, increase or establish community green areas such as urban forests, open spaces, wetlands and community spaces (e.g., community gardens). The goal is for these greening projects to incrementally create more viable and sustainable counmmzities throughout the State. Greening Projects Stahrtory requirements include but are not limited to the following: Grant Fumds will be awarded to a city, county, special district, or nonprofit organization, orjoint powers authorities where at least one entity qualifies as an eligible applicant: Urban Greening Projects must be accomplished using the following criteria - 1. a) Use natural systems, or systems that mimic natural systems, or b) Create, enhance, or expand community green spaces. 2. Provide multiple benefits including, but not limited to • a decrease in air and water pollution, or • a reduction in the consumption of natural resources and energy, or • an increase in the reliability of local water supplies, or • an uzcreased adaptability to climate change. 7-2 11/1/11, Item Page 3 of 4 3. Be consistent with the State's planning policies pursuant to Section-65041.1 of the specific to the following statewide priorities - • promote infill development and invest in existing commtuuties, • protect, preserve and enhance environmental, agriculh~ral and recreational resources, • encourage location and resotuce efficient new development. 4. Reduce, on as permanent a basis that is feasible, greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code), and any applicable regional plan. In May 2011, a solicitation for concept proposals for Urban Greening projects was issued whereby Staff prepared and submitted two concept proposals; Park-It-Green Demonstration Project and Rice Canyon Interpretive Area Project. Invitations to submit fiill applications would be based on the concept proposal. The City received notification, via telephone and e-mail, of an invitation to submit a full application for the Pazk-It-Green Demonstration Project. A copy of the concept proposal submitted for consideration to apply is attached for reference. The proposed "Park-It-Green" Demonstration Project will transform an existing 50,000 sgnlre foot pazlcing lot composed of asphalt concrete and decomposed granite into a sustainable pazking lot showcasing urban greening design concepts and materials. The demonstration parlting lot, sized to accommodate at least 67 vehicles, will be located at Greg Rogers Community Park in Chula Vista which serves the City's western redevelopment area and is home to the 2009 Little League World Series Champions - Pazkview Little League. If awazded, the demonstration parking lot will enable the City to collect. specific, valuable field data in order to quantify the cost, effectiveness, and overall performance of green design and to inform implementation of the City Cotuzcil-approved Climate Adaptation Strategies -cool paving (strategy #1), shade trees (strategy #2), onsite water reuse (strategy #4), and low impact development (strategy #5). This agenda statement is intended to inform Council of staff's intention to apply -for these grant fiords and to authorize its submittal of the application to the Urban Greening for Sustainable Communities Program c/o The California Nahual Resources Agency. It is also intended to authorize the Director of Public Works/City Engineer, or his/her designee the power to execute in the name of the City of Chula Vista all grant doctunents, including but not limited to, applications, agreements, amendments and requests for payments,. necessary to secure grant fiords and implement the approved grant project, if awarded. DECISION M_AIiER CONFLICT Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council and has fotmd no property holdings within 500 feet of the boundaries of the property which is the subject of this action. CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT Staff costs associated with preparing the application aze minimal impact to the General Fm~d and will be identified as in-kind costs on the application for the project. While no matching funds are required in this program, the Strategic Growth Council encourages leveraging aL resotuces 7-3 it/1/11, Itena~_ Pave 4 of 4 including other sources of funds. If the resolution is approved, the City :will apply for grant funds. ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT If a grant is awarded, staff will return to Council with a recommendation to accept and appropriate the grant funds. At project completion, the annual maintenance cost of the improvements is estimated at $10,000-$15,000. ATTACHMENTS "Park-It-Green" Demonstration Project Concept Proposal Prerepm~ed by Merce LeClair, Sr.Management Analyse, Public Wor/u' Dept./Engineering J: I EngineerlAGENDA I CAS20 / I I l !-l 5-I I (Prop 84 Urban Greening Project Grant Rev. doc 7-4 Al'TAC4-I~ItENT PROP 84 URBAN GREENING PROJECTS GRANT Draft Concept Proposal (Main Data Fields Only) PARK-IT-GREEN DEMONSTRATION PROJECT 1. Project Scope/Proposed Activities. The City of Chula .Vista's "Park-It-Green Demonstration Project" will create a sustainable parking lot at Greg Rogers Park in Chula Vista -home of the 2009 Little League World Series Champions - to provide a community showcase for urban greening concepts and to directly inform the development of broader mtmicipal policies on low impact development, urban heat island mitigation, and climate adaptation. OVERVIEW In tub an aeeas, many commtmities have lost the envirorunental and societal benefits that "green" or natuual aeeas create. These undeveloped areas provide a critical suite of environmental services by reducing air and water pollutants, cooling air temperatures, and capriuing storm water nmoff, thus improving the health and quality of life for residents. California cities are now searching for novel approaches to restore these environmental services in physically constrained urban settings. As such, a major opporhmity exists to redesign parking lots to mimic the natural services and benefits of green areas. There is approximately 200+ million square feet of new parking lots constructed in California annually. The proposed "Park-It-Green Demonstration Project" will transform an existing 44,000 square foot parking lot composed of asphalt concrete driveways and decomposed granite/gravel parking areas into a sustainable panting lot showcasing ttrban greening design concepts and materials. The demonstration paring lot, sized to accommodate at least 68 vehicles, will be located at Greg Rogers Commttnity Park in Chula Vista which serves the City's western redevelopment area and is home to the 2009 Little League World Series Champions - Pazkview Little League. The proposed project is supported by a diverse group of community stakeholders and project partners who will be involved in its successful implementation. iJRBAN GREENING FEATURES To maximize the- environmental benefits associated with the new demonstration parking lot, a variety of sustainable design concepts and materials will be integrated into its constriction: • Permeable & Reflective Pavement -Approximately 22,000 square feet of porous concrete, pavers, or other similaz material will be integrated into the parking lot. Porous concrete materials will also be used to constrict a sidewallc to connect the existing sidewallc bordering the panting lot to the sidewallc along the street, thereby providing greater accessibility. The pervious materials will directly improve onsite storm water capture and promote grotmdwater recharge, while ~__ _ -_~ _ ~ 7-5 eliminating the need for retention ponds and other lazge-scale storm water management devices. Iu addition, pavement materials will be integrated which have high solar reflectance indices (at least 29) to help cool ambient air temperahires and reduce energy demand in neighboring buildings. • Efficient Landscaping -The new parking lot will incorporate approximately 11,000 square .feet of native and California-friendly landscaping requiring minimal water and maintenance and will be supported by a high efficiency, weather-based irrigation system to further conserve water resources. Some landscaped areas will be designed and sited to act as bioretention cells - potentially consisting of vegetative buffer strips, sand bed, and organic/mulch layer - to drain any impervious pavement areas. Finally, approximately 100 large shrubs and canopy-forming trees will be strategically planted throughout the project site to provide shading of hardscape areas and to help improve local air quality. • Onsite Water Reuse - To highlight the growing interest in capturing and reusing onsite water, the demonstration parking lot will include rain harvesting and green .roofs. Specifically, park buildings adjacent to the parking lot will be retrofitted with rain barrels to decrease storm water runoff and to help water landscaped areas. In addition, a park building will be outfitted with a green or "living" roof to absorb rainwater and further help reduce runoff and air temperahues. COMNNNITY EDUCATION & OUTREACH The project site will be located at the Greg Rogers Commtmity Park in Chula Vista. The 442-acre park boasts over 50,000 visitors annually and over 1,000 children participate in the Little League every year. In addition, the Chula Vista Elementary School District and the South County Boys & Girls Chtib, which have commuunty facilities adjacent to the project site, utilize the park complex and its pazlciig lot for various events and activities throughout the year. These factors cause Greg Rogers Park to be a high profile project site which will make the "Park-It-Green Demonstration Project" highly visible to the community arid broader San Diego region. The project's visibility will be fiirther enhanced through comprehensive onsite educational displays and signage. All signage will illustratively highlight the unique design feahires of the sustainable parking lot and the resulting environmental and societal benefits. All signage will also be branded under the "Chula Vista CLEAN" ivtiative, an award-winning community-based environmental outreach campaign. Finally, signage will incorporate- non-English text, where appropriate, to ensure messaging reaches the community and region's ethnically diverse population. BROADER POLICY DEVELOPMENT The City of Chula Vista is a regional and national leader in municipal sustainability policies and programs. To complement the City's longstanding efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Chula Vista recently became the first jurisdiction in southern California to adopt comprehensive, standalone Climate Adaptation Plans. The new plans outline 11 strategies to make the community more resilient to expected °~r<-~_-;J~.~o:: _~rmo :a-a;.cn Pti of ~~= ? pf:. __'- -__. --_ ...._ 7-6 local climate change impacts and specifically identifies the use of cool paving (strategy #1), shade trees (strategy #2), onsite water reuse (strategy #4), and low impact development (strategy #5). The proposed "Pazk-It-Green Demonstration Project" will be intentionally designed to collect specific, valuable field data in order to quantify the cost, effectiveness, and overall performance of these strategies to address climate adaptation and related issues and directly inform the fiu-ther development of City Council-supported policies. The City of Chula Vista's "Park-It-Green Demonstration Project" provides a muque opportunity to visibly demonstrate the myriad benefits of urban greening practices, while helping to inform the development of broader citywide sustainability policies which can serve as a powerful model for other local governments throughout California. 2. YVhat plants/trees (including tree size) are proposed for the site? If planting palette includes non-natives or exotics, please briefly explain. The proposed project's plant palette includes a combination of native and Califomia- friendly species which are low water use, low maintenance, and aesthetically complement the urban setting of the park site. Trees will be planted at the 24" box size. Potential species include: Agave species -Agave Aloe species -Aloe Artctostaphylos Species - Manzanita Ceanothus species - Ceanothus or California Lilac Charmelaucium uncinatum-Wax flower Cistus species -Rock Rose Dymondia margaretae -Silver carpet Grevillea species -Grevillea huuperus Chinensis`Tonilosa' -Hollywood Juniper Lantana montevidensis -Trailing Lantana Lavandula species -Lavender Mimulus species -Monkey flower Muhlenbergia cappilaris -Pink Muh1y grass Myoponim Lateum - Myoponim Myrtus species -Myrtle Parlcinsonia aculeate -Mexican Palo Verde Prosopis sp. -Screw Bean Mesquite Prunes caroliniana -Carolina Laurel Cherry Rosmarinus species - Rosemazy Salvia species -Sage Thymus species -thyme o* - --_ -_~ ~~ ~._. 7- 3. Yirhat-steps will you take or have you taken to ensure community support and, as applicable, collaboration with the local government entity with jurisdiction over the project? The City of Chula Vista has already built strong community support for the "Pazk-It- Green Demonstration Project." The City's Resource Conservation Commission, comprised of community leaders, unanimously approved the proposed project and grant application. Furthermore, the project tiers off of the City Council-approved Climate Adaptation Plans which were developed through an 18-month public stakeholder process. Project partners include San Diego Gas & Electric, Otay Water District, Sweetwater Authority, Chula Vista Elementary School, South County Boys & Girls Club, San Diego Foundation, Environmental Health Coalition, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Global Cool Cities Alliance. 4. YVho owns the property to be developed? The City of Chula Vista is the sole property owner for the project site. In addition, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has an easement through part of the project site. 5. What is the status of agreements to develop, operate, and maintain the property with EACH landowner? As previously described, the City of Chula Vista is the sole property ownei for the project site and SDG&E has an easement through part of the project site. As such, no fitrther property agreements are needed to successfully implement the proposed project. - 6. Who will be the Lead Agency for CEQA? The City of Chula Vista will be the Lead Agency under CEQA. 7. Briefly describe your experience carrying out similar projects, and other expertise and resources you have available to successfully complete this project? The City of Chula Vista has extensive experience successfiilly designing and. implementing numerous "green" infrastruchue projects. Recent efforts include integrating recycled asphalt roof shingles into pavement projects, developing a sustainable streetscape plan for the City's downtown area, and installing modular p~ ~.*-.,~.;__, D <t:a±ior. Proiect 4 ~f _ enov ~._- __- =_ _ - 7-8 wetlands within public parl~vays. The project team is comprised of a-Civil Engineer, Environmental Resouuce Manager, Landscape Architect, Certified Arborist, and a Senior Administrative Analyst under the leadership of the Assistant Director of Engineering. The project team is further supported by the project partners in their respective areas of expertise. 8. What is the current status of grad anticipated next steps envisioned (slaotdd yogi be awarded the funding) for your design plans, CEQA compliance, permits, other ficnding source and, for acquisitions, appraisals? If awarded the funding, the City of Chula Vista anticipates that final project design, environmental compliance (includhig necessary permits), and additional stakeholder engagement can by completed within 9-12 months after project start. Project construction would last approximately 6-9 months. 9. Budget Direct Project Management (ex. planning, design, permitting, $ 158;800.00 CEQA NativelCA-Friendly Landscaping & High Efficiency Irrigation $ 184,300.00 Green Roof & Bioswales $ 31,800.00 Porous & Cool Paving $ 345,000.00 Educational Signage & Site Data Collection $ 48,100.00 $ 768,000.00 - -~- ~ =-_ - -_ ._: -_ = -. = -.~~. 7-9 RESOLUTION NO 2011- RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE URBAN GREENING GRANT PROGRAM UNDER THE SAFE DRINKING WATER, WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY, FLOOD CONTROL, RIVER AND COASTAL PROTECTION BOND ACT OF 2006 (PROPOSITION 84); AND AUTHORIZING THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR/CITY ENGINEER AUTHORITY TO ACT FOR THE CITY WITH RESPECT TO THE GRANT APPLICATION WHEREAS, the Legislature and Governor of the State of California have provided funds for the Uiban Greening Grant Program shown above; and WHEREAS, the Strategic Growth Council has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of this grant program, and has established necessazy procedures; and WHEREAS, said procedures established by the Strategic Growth Council require a resolution certifying the approval of application by the Applicant's governing board before submission of said application to the State; and WHEREAS, the City proposes to apply for the "Pazk-It-Green" demonstration project, a sustainable parking lot located at Greg Rogers Park, to provide a community showcase for urban greening concepts and to directly inform the development of broader municipal policies on low impact development, urban heat island mitigation, and climate adaptation; and WHEREAS, the City, 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 Council of the City of Chula Vista hereby: 1. Approves the filing of an application for the Park-It-Green Demonstration project; and 2. Certifies that the City understands the assurances and certification in the application; and 3. Certifies that the City 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 7-10 Resolution No. Page 2 4. Certifies that it will comply with the provisions of Section 1771.8 of the State Labor Code regarding payment of prevailing wages on Projects awarded Proposition 84 Funds; and 5. If applicable, certifies that the project will comply with any laws and regulations including, but not limited to, legal requirements for building codes, health and safety codes, disabled access laws, environmental laws and, that prior to commencement of construction, all applicable permits will have been obtained; and 6. Certifies that the City will work towards the Governor's 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 Director of Public Works/City Engineer, or designee, during the competitive application process, the authority to: (i) participate in all negotiations; (ii) execute all documents associated with the request for grant funding; and (iii) should the grant be awarded, execute, subject to City Council approval, those agreements, amendments, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project. Presented by Richazd A. Hopkins Director of Public Works 7-11 Approved as to form by