To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Elizabeth Tyree, (707) 565-2575
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First
Title:
Title
Sonoma Schellville Trail Acquisition Ag + Open Space District Matching Grant Program Application
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Regional Parks to apply for the Ag + Open Space District’s Matching Grant Program in the amount of $1 million for the Sonoma Schellville Trail Acquisition project and authorizing the Director of Regional Parks to execute all documents which may be necessary to carry out and administer this grant. (First District)
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Executive Summary:
Regional Parks is seeking $1 million from the Ag + Open Space Matching Grant Program to contribute to the Sonoma Schellville Trail Acquisition project (Project). This Project will continue to invest in critical bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. A recently negotiated purchase agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company sets the land cost as $2,635,346 and the closing date for March 2024. This grant is a crucial addition to the $1.2 million in funding already identified for this Project.
Discussion:
Since the mid-1980’s, Regional Parks has been negotiating for the possible acquisition of the railroad right of way adjacent to 8th Street East between the intersection of Napa Street East south to Highways 12 and 121 in Schellville. To date, Regional Parks has acquired rights to ¾ of a mile of this over four-mile corridor. In early March, agreement was reached on a draft Purchase and Sale Agreement to acquire 3.9 linear miles of this corridor. With the closing date set for March 2024, Regional Parks will complete due diligence and secure the remaining funding needed for the acquisition.
With this acquisition, Regional Parks proposes to develop the 4-mile off-road Sonoma Schellville Trail. The Sonoma Schellville Trail is significant for Sonoma County and the region. The trail will connect to Sonoma’s City Trail, which connects to the planned Sonoma Valley Trail, with countywide connections between cities of Sonoma and Santa Rosa, and to the planned 500-mile San Francisco Bay Trail connecting 47 cities across nine counties.
This Project is consistent with the General Plan 2020, establishing a countywide park and trail system that meets future recreation needs of the County’s residents while protecting agricultural uses. This acquisition is part of project number 83 in the adopted 2010 Sonoma County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and is designated as a high priority project. This Project has strong local and regional support and was included in the 2004 Traffic Relief Act for Sonoma County, known as Sonoma County Transportation Authority’s Measure M.
The Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District ("District") issued a call for applications for the 2022 Round 2 Matching Grant Program, releasing the Guidelines and Applications Materials on December 13, 2022. The District anticipates awarding $2,050,000 countywide in Matching Grant Projects this year to public agencies and non-profit organizations. This competitive grant program provides funding for projects that provide open space, community recreation, or public access opportunities within and near incorporated areas and other urbanized areas of Sonoma County.
Regional Parks requests the Board’s support to apply for $1,000,000 from the Matching Grant Program managed by the District. This acquisition Project to create a new regional trail best matches the timing and purpose of this Matching Grant Program. Should funding be awarded it will be applied to the purchase price of the railroad property.
The Matching Grant Program requires a dollar-for-dollar matching contribution of which 50% must be in cash and the remaining funds can be in-kind contributions from the applicant and community partners. The total estimated value for this Project is $3,492,052. This includes land value and associated acquisition costs including appraisal, parcel survey, phase 1 environmental site assessment, and closing costs. This Project also includes limited initial site work such as installing boundary signs and vehicle barriers, debris clean up, providing identification and informational signs, and community outreach. At a later date, Regional Parks will complete design of the trail and the associated environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Regional Parks has identified $2,492,052 of matching funds. This includes $850,000 of funding available this fiscal year, an additional $995,000 anticipated next fiscal year, plus the $557,206 value of previously completed trail corridor acquisition.
Funding secured this fiscal year includes $550,000 in Sonoma County Transportation Authority Measure M funding, $250,000 in Parks for All Measure M Category 3 funding, $30,000 in Area 6 Park Mitigation Fees, and $20,000 in Climate Resiliency funding. Funding anticipated for next fiscal year includes $250,000 Parks for All Measure M Category 3 funding, $95,000 in Area 6 Park Mitigation Fees, $40,000 in Climate Resiliency funding, and $10,000 in Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation funding. Regional Parks is in discussion with the State Coastal Conservancy in consideration of $600,000 grant contributing to this acquisition.
This competitive grant could be awarded fall 2023. Once acquired, Regional Parks will provide ongoing operation and maintenance of this property.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 3: Continue to invest in critical road, bridge, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure.
Objective: Objective 3: Invest $5 million by 2024 on new pedestrian and bicycle facilities and adopt maintenance guidelines on roads to consider bicyclists and pedestrians.
Prior Board Actions:
January 31, 2023, authorized the Director of Regional Parks to execute a purchase and sale agreement with Union Pacific Railroad right of way adjacent to and underlying 8th Street East.
June 13, 2022, accepted the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan 2022-2027 including subject Sonoma Schellville Trail project.
September 22, 2009, approving a cooperative funding agreement with Sonoma County Transportation Authority for the Sonoma Schellville Trail project.
Fiscal Summary
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FY 24-25 Projected |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
No impacts currently. If the grant application is approved, budgetary adjustments for revenue and expenditure appropriations for this project will be made to the FY23/24 adopted budget.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None