To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Public Infrastructure
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2550
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Acceptance of a Grant Award from the California Coastal Conservancy for Development of a Geyserville Community Plaza
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution (a) authorizing the Director of Sonoma County Public Infrastructure (SPI) to execute a grant agreement with the California Coastal Conservancy in the amount of $400,000 for design, environmental review and permitting of a Geyserville Community Plaza, and take all other actions required to receive the grant funds; and (b) making certain determinations pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
B) Adopt a Resolution approving budget adjustments to Fiscal Year 2023-24 Capital Project Adopted budget in the amount of $400,000 for design, environmental review and permitting of a Geyserville Community Plaza. (4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
The Geyserville Municipal Advisory Council (GAV MAC) was established on December 11, 2018, to provide policy recommendations on matters of local concern, such as transportation and land use planning. In 2021, the GAV MAC identified property adjacent to the Sonoma County Transit Park and Ride facility in Geyserville for development of a long-sought Community Plaza. In March 2021, funding was approved by your Board to perform mapping and development of a conceptual design for the Plaza. The conceptual design was completed in February 2023, and has been used to secure grant funding from the California Coastal Conservancy. If approved, the grant will fund design, environmental review and permitting for the Plaza. The County owns the property and Sonoma County Department of Public Infrastructure (SPI) will act as project manager for the Plaza. SPI recommends adoption of a resolution authorizing the Director of SPI to execute the grant agreement and related documents.
Discussion:
The unincorporated community of Geyserville is located in northern Sonoma County adjacent to Highway 101, between the cities of Healdsburg and Cloverdale. At the heart of the Alexander Valley, Geyserville is home to world class wineries, award winning restaurants, and a growing arts community. The residents of Geyserville have long sought a community plaza/gathering space for outdoor recreation and venue for community-based events including the Fall Colors Festival and Geyserville Tractor Parade.
The Geyserville Municipal Advisory Council (GAV MAC) was established on December 11, 2018, in the Fourth District to provide policy recommendations on matters of local concern, such as transportation and land use planning. While the GAV MAC was initially charged with conferring on how certain Tribal Mitigation set aside funds should be expended, in 2020 their role was expanded to identify and recommend community improvement projects to the Board, regardless of the funding source.
One of the projects recommended by GAV MAC is a Geyserville Community Plaza (“Plaza”) adjacent to the current Geyserville/Sonoma County Transit Park and Ride facility located at 21100/21140 Geyserville Avenue (APN’s 140-100-012-000 and 140-100-013-000). In 2003, the properties were acquired by Sonoma County Transit using grant funding from a Housing and Urban Development to promote tourism in Geyserville. Subsequently, approximately 40% of the property was developed into a Park and Ride facility with funding provided by local Transportation Development Act funds and the North Sonoma County Air Pollution District. The Park and Ride facility is still in service and available for community events through agreements with Sonoma County Transit.
On March 23, 2021, funding was approved by the Board to perform mapping and development of a preliminary conceptual design for the Plaza in Central Geyserville. The conceptual design was completed by Questa Engineering in February 2023, and has been used to secure grant funding from the Coastal Conservancy. The Coastal Conservancy approved $400,000 in grant funding on September 14, 2023. SPI recommends adoption of a resolution authorizing the Director of SPI to execute the grant agreement and take other necessary actions to receive the grant funding. SPI will act as the project manager and will establish a capital project to track grant revenue and expenditures for the project. In addition, SPI will bring a joint board item with Ag + Open Space at a future date for the Matching Grant Program funding ($1,000,000) for this project that was authorized by the Ag + Open Space Board of Directors on August 22, 2023.
The proposed grant will be used to prepare engineering designs, environmental studies, and permit applications for possible future actions, which the Board has not yet considered, approved, adopted, or funded. As such, the proposed grant approval is exempt from review under CEQA pursuant to 14 California Code of Regulations Section 15262 - Feasibility and Planning Studies. As required by section 15262, the grant funds will involve review and consideration of environmental factors associated with the plaza project. The proposed grant is also categorically exempt from CEQA review pursuant to CCR Section 15306, since it consists of basic data collection, research and evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource and which will be undertaken as part of a study leading to an action which the Board has not yet approved, adopted, or funded. Upon approval of the grant, SPI staff will file a Notice of Exemption.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
8/22/2023, Item #33 - 2022 Matching Grant Program Round 2 Funding Recommendations
3/23/2021, Item #2 - Geyserville Municipal Advisory Council Project Funding Recommendations
12/11/2018, Item #16 - Establishment of the Geyserville Municipal Advisory Council
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$400,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$400,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$400,000 |
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$400,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
SPI requests appropriation of grant revenue to fund this project. A capital project has been established (40806000) to track grant revenue and expenditures for the project. SPI will return to the Board for approval of engineering, design, permitting, and construction contracts as necessary.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
1-California Coastal Conservancy Grant Resolution
2-Budget Resolution
3-Grant Agreement
4-Exhibit 1
5-Exhibit 2
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.