HomeMy WebLinkAbout101-Staff report.pdf
Page 1 of 2 SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: March 2, 2011 AGENDA ITEM: DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson PREPARED BY: Crystal Morrow DIRECTOR: Barbara
Powell Administrative Analyst II Assistant City Manager SUBJECT: Santa Clara Valley Water District Clean Safe Creeks Grant Program Applications RECOMMENDED ACTION: Accept report and
determine whether or not to approve attached resolutions authorizing the City to submit applications for Santa Clara Valley Water District Clean Safe Creeks grant programs. BACKGROUND:
In 2000, voters in Santa Clara Valley approved a special tax to allow the Santa Clara Valley Water District to establish the Clean, Safe Creeks and Natural Flood Protection (Clean Safe
Creeks) Program. Through the Clean Safe Creeks Program, the special tax funds flood protection and stream stewardship projects. This includes grants for trail development along creeks
in the Santa Clara Valley. The City is seeking Council approval to apply for two grants funded by the Clean Safe Creeks Program. To submit applications, the Council must approve the
attached resolutions. Watershed Stewardship Grant Program A portion of the Watershed Stewardship Grant is dedicated to trail planning and mapping. If approved, the attached resolution
for the Watershed Stewardship Grant would allow the City to submit a grant application to design the Village Creek Trail. This trail, which is already part of the Existing and Proposed
Trails Master Plan in the City’s General Plan, would be just under half a mile long and would stretch from Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road to just past Sixth Street along Saratoga Creek. If
the Watershed Stewardship Grant application resolution is approved, the City’s grant request would be $39,000. While no matching contribution is required, the City’s application would
include contribution of staff time and noticing expenses toward the project. Trail and Open Space Grant Program The purpose of the Trail and Open Space Grant is to fund construction
of trails and access to open space along creeks. Approval of the resolution authorizing submittal of a Trail and Open Space Grant would allow the City to submit an application to build
a 150 foot segment of the Village Creek Trail. This short trail would be located behind the Village, beginning with a trailhead at the City parking lot on the western side of the Village,
just past Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road. The trail would end at a 60 square foot seating area overlooking Saratoga Creek. In
Page 2 of 2 addition to construction of the trail and seating area, the City’s application would include some habitat restoration. More specifically, restoration efforts will include
removal of non-native invasive plant species and revegetation of native plant species near the trail and seating area. The project cost is estimated at $36,000, including staff time.
If the Trail and Open Space Grant resolution is approved, the City’s grant request would be $27,000. The remaining $9,000, primarily staff time needed to oversee the project, would constitute
the City’s required 25% matching contribution. FISCAL IMPACTS: Aside from staff time spent preparing the Clean Safe Creeks Program grant applications, there are no direct fiscal impacts
associated with approval of the attached resolutions. However, if the City’s applications are approved the City will be required to provide a $9,000 matching contribution in staff time
towards the Trail and Open Space Grant. Additionally, the City’s Watershed Stewardship Grant application includes contribution of staff time and noticing expenses. CONSEQUENCES OF NOT
FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: The City will not submit Clean Safe Creeks Program applications. ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S): The Council may decide to approve one of the attached resolutions,
instead of both. FOLLOW UP ACTION(S): Implement Council direction. ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT: Pursuant to Government Code 54954.2, this item was properly posted as a City
Council agenda item and was included in the packet made available on the City’s web site in advance of the meeting. A copy of the agenda packet is also made available at the Saratoga
Branch Library each Monday in advance of the Council meeting. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A: Resolution authorizing the City to submit a Watershed Stewardship Grant application Attachment
B: Resolution authorizing the City to submit a Trails and Open Space Grant application