To:   HONORABLE MAYOR AND                   From:   Sara L. Hensley

                        CITY COUNCIL

 

Subject:     SANTA CLARA VALLEYWATER DISTRICT GRANTAPPLICATIONS

 

 

Council Districts:  3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10

SNI Area:  Spartan/Keyes; Tully Senter, University, Five  Wounds/Brookwood Terrace

 

REASON FOR ADDENDUM

 

The Request for Proposals from the Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) for grants from its Trails, Parks & Open Space grant program was not distributed until late April and has a filing deadline of May 30, 2003.  The addendum is necessary in order to secure the authorization to submit grant applications prior to the filing deadline.

 

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit grant applications to the Santa Clara Valley Water District for the following projects:

 

1.                  Willow Glen Spur (grant request = $300,000)

2.                  Selma Olinder/Coyote Creek Trail (grant request = $250,000)

3.                  Coyote Creek, Capital Expressway to Yerba Buena Road (grant request = $400,000)

4.                  City-wide Trail Enhancements (grant request = $450,000)

5.                  Dobern Bridge (grant request = $250,000)

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD), through its Trails, Parks & Open Space grant program, has issued a Request for Grant Proposals (RFP).  The program seeks to assist local agencies in the effort to construct public access to trails, open space and parks along creeks and rivers throughout the county.  The program has a 15-year time horizon and anticipates offering $900,000 annually throughout the county. 

 

 

ANALYSIS

 

The City of San Jose’s Greenprint document sets forth a goal of constructing a 70-mile network of trails. To achieve this goal, the City is actively pursuing viable grant opportunities.  The SCVWD’s grant program is one such opportunity.

 

Projects eligible for funding include:

 

·        New trails along creeks/rivers

·        New parks along creeks/rivers

·        Procurement of open space along creeks/rivers

·        Restoration and/or enhancement of existing trails, parks and open space

 

Funds cannot be used for master plan development, operations & maintenance or land acquisition, unless parcels or title acquired will be specifically deemed for open space, trails or parks.

 

Staff evaluated the current inventory of unfunded and under-funded projects in light of the eligibility criteria set forth by the Water District.  In an effort to ensure that the most competitive applications are submitted for the limited dollars available, staff also evaluated potential projects based on the following criteria:

 

1.      Project is community-driven and/or has demonstrated support as evidenced by:

 

·        Identified as a Strong Neighborhood Initiative (SNI) Top Ten priority project

·        Master Plan has been completed

 

The identification as a SNI Top Ten priority project and/or the completion of a master plan demonstrates community support as well as a deficiency in similar recreational opportunities as perceived by the community.

 

2.      Project supports connectivity (connecting parks, trails, open space, and/or community resources).   

 

Projects that support connectivity help to advance the City’s goals of creating a City-wide trail network for both recreational and transportation purposes. 

 

3.      District assumes less than 50% of project costs.

 

Demonstrates ability to complete and support the project.

4.      Project is covered by the Collaborative Action Plan (CAP) between the City of San Jose and the SCVWD as a potential Joint Trails Project [Contributing factor].

 

One criteria of the District’s grant program is the agency’s long-term commitment to the development and maintenance of the proposed project.  The inclusion of the proposed project under the CAP is intended to demonstrate that commitment.  The existence of the CAP and Oversight Committee supports the efficient development and implementation of the project should it be funded through the grant program.

 

5.      Project crosses multiple council districts [Contributing factor].

 

Given the limited dollars available, this criteria was used as a contributing factor to ensure the maximum benefit for San Jose residents.

 

Based on this analysis, it is recommended that the City Manager be authorized to submit grant applications for the following projects:

 

Project

Grant Request

Purpose

Willow Glen Spur

$300,000

Acquisition/Development of trail.

 

Would provide the only east-west connection between the Los Gatos Creek Trail, the Guadalupe River Trail, and Coyote Creek Trail.

Selma Olinder/Coyote Creek Trail

$250,000

Development of park and trail.

 

Top Ten SNI project.  Part of the longer-term project to create a north-south connection of parks and open space (Watson Park to Roosevelt, Roosevelt to Olinder, Olinder to Kelly, Kelly to Hellyer).

Coyote Creek, Capital Expressway to Yerba Buena Road

$400,000

Development of trail

 

Top Ten SNI project.  Part of the longer-term project to create a north-south connection of parks and open space (Watson Park to Roosevelt, Roosevelt to Olinder, Olinder to Kelly, Kelly to Hellyer).

City-wide Trail Enhancements

 

$450,000

Restoration and/or enhancement of existing trails.  Installation of trail amenities including staging areas, signage and gateway landscaping. 

Repair of bollards to meet standards.  Reaches of the Los Gatos Creek Trail, Penitencia Creek Trail and Guadalupe River Trail will be targeted.

 

Improves accessibility, moves recreational traffic away from overused recreational areas.  Would help prevent encroachment in environmentally-sensitive areas.

Dobern Bridge

$250,000

Acquisition and construction of a pedestrian bridge as well as trail enhancements on Lower Silver Creek  between Dobern Avenue and Bambi Lane.

 

NRS priority.  Many residents cross Lower Silver Creek in the Transmission Line alignment where no official crossing exists.  This proposal would provide a pedestrian bridge over the creek in order that people may safely cross the creek and improve the appearance of the area.  This will especially benefit the children who currently cross this area as they travel between the Capitol Park neighborhood and Goss Elementary School.

 

 

COST IMPLICATIONS

 

The SCVWD’s grant program does not have a matching funds requirement; however, each grant request will be evaluated in terms of the dollars to be leveraged by the District’s grant.  Grant requests in which the District will assume less than 50% of the project cost will receive the highest ratings. 

 

Ten percent of grant funds may be used for plans, specifications & CEQA clearance with a 15% maximum for non-construction related costs.  Eighty percent of the funds will be made available upon commencement of construction.

 

 

COORDINATION

 

This memorandum has been coordinated with the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, the City Manager’s Budget Office, and the City Attorney’s Office.

 

 

CEQA

 

Resolution No. 65459, PP03-05-175.

 

 

SARA L. HENSLEY

Director of Parks, Recreation

and Neighborhood Services