Staff Reportb�
CITY OF 14 RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MEMORANDUM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM: MICHAEL THRONE, PE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS l
DATE: JULY 7, 2015
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF FINAL DESIGN FOR THE SUNNYSIDE
RIDGE TRAIL SEGMENT PROJECT (SUPPORTS 2014
CITY COUNCIL GOALS, CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT AND
PUBLIC OUTREACH AND CITY TRAIL SYSTEM
ENHANCEMENT) MAA) REVIEWED: DOUG WILLMORE, CITY MANAGER MA"'
Project Manager: Ron Dragoo, Principal Engineer
RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the design of the Sunnyside Ridge Trail Segment Project as presented and-,
2. Authorize staff to proceed with advertising the project for construction bids.
INTRODUCTION
The design team (consisting of Public Works, a landscape architect, and structural, civil
and geotechnical engineers) worked closely with the trail users and adjacent neighbors
for the purposes of submitting to the City Council a design that accommodates the use of
the trail by hikers and equestrians, that keeps inside the adopted budget, and that is ready
to construct this year.
The final alignment is the result of several months of effort and various design iterations
from input by the community. The alignment and project features consider the challenging
topography and slope, incorporates careful trail placement while preserving the privacy
of the nearby homeowners, minimizes impacts on the sensitive environment of the ravine,
and offers all trail users a safe route.
The recommended project includes a loose horse deterrent at both exits to the trail
segment, various soil retaining structures, a bridge crossing of the canyon bottom,
controlled slopes along the trail surface, and drainage improvements to control erosion.
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BACKGROUND
The City's Conceptual Trails Plan describes the Sunnyside Segment (Sunnyside Ridge
Trail Segment) as a point-to-point trail for equestrians and pedestrians that provides a
connection between Sunnyside Ridge Road and Palos Verdes Drive East. This trail
segment is part of the Palos Verdes Loop Trail, connecting the Sol Vista and Deadman's
Curve (also known as the Conestoga Trail) segments. The Sunnyside Trail Segment is
located within a recorded trail easement that traverses two privately -owned lots, which
are currently developed with single-family residences, one of which was formally part of
the old Narbonne right-of-way.
Improvements to the Conestoga Trail are scheduled for fiscal year 2015/16 (spring 2016)
and will include widening, trail work and an equestrian protective fence.
SUMMARY OF PAST CITY COUNCIL ACTION
The City Council authorized the submission in 2013 of an application for a $300,000 grant
from the County of Los Angeles. In 2013, the City Council adopted Addendum No. 1 to
the Negative Declaration for the Sunnyside Ridge Trail Project (Attachment C).
In 2013, the County of Los Angeles approved a $300,000 grant agreement that was
accepted by the City Council and staff was directed on May 20, 2014 to include the fully
funded CIP trail improvement project in the FY 14/15 budget (Attachment D). The funding
component included $300,000 in grant funding and $165,000 from CIP reserves for a total
project -funding amount of $465,000. The grant performance deadline is December 31,
2016.
Staff was directed by the City Council at their July 15, 2014 meeting to conduct outreach
meetings with the neighbors and members of the equestrian community to assist in the
design of the trail and to address concerns regarding the Palos Verdes Drive East
connection to Conestoga Trail, including alignment and aesthetics.
The City Council at their November 18, 2014 meeting awarded a professional services
agreement to KOA Corporation to provide design development services, public outreach;
geotechnical, structural, and civil engineering; landscape architecture and design; and
construction management and oversight for an amount not to exceed $140,450.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The environmental document for this project is a Negative Declaration. The sensitive
canyon invert, which carries runoff during rain events, was avoided to minimize cost,
time and the uncertainty of project approval from the US Army Corps of Engineers, who
has the federal jurisdiction over the water in the canyon. The bridge crossing keeps the
project out of the streambed and the abutments, which are placed well -away from the
creek bottom, require minimal earthwork.
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On September 18, 2007, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2007-101, thereby
adopting a Negative Declaration / Environmental Assessment finding that the construction
of the Sunnyside Ridge Segment Connection Trail Project which involves the construction
of a point-to-point equestrian and pedestrian trail, with a foot bridge, across a City -owned
easement would not have a significant effect on the environment. This is because the
project would not result in impacts to aesthetic, biological, cultural, geologic, land use,
noise, and recreational resources in that the trail would be constructed within an existing
trail easement.
On September 3, 2013, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2013-55, thereby
adopting Addendum No. 1 to the Council adopted Negative Declaration finding that the
updated Sunnyside Ridge Trail Project would not introduce new environmental impacts
nor intensify environmental impacts previously analyzed in the Initial Study and the
Council adopted Negative Declaration. This is because the scope of the updated
proposed Project is similar to the 2007 Project and surrounding conditions have been
evaluated and no significant changes have occurred between 2007 and now. As a result,
no further environmental review is necessary. The 2013 addendum to the Negative
Declaration specifies that: "The City Council finds that the project, in terms of hydrology
and water patterns will not significantly impact the surrounding environment and will not
change the current, the course or the direction of water movements in either marine or
fresh waters, since the project site is not located in such a setting. The project involves
the construction of a bridge over an unnamed canyon to connect both sides of the new
trail and will not affect any natural water movement within the canyon during the rainy
season". The need for a short bridge to help rectify steep slopes within the canyon and to
minimize impacts to the canyon invert, was included in the scope and remains an integral
part of the project (see Attachments C and D).
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Public Meetings: Staff conducted three meetings with the interested parties to discuss
the design and engineering of the project. The meetings were conducted on December
11, 2014, February 18, 2015 and May 6, 2015 to better understand resident concerns
regarding development of the trail easement and to tap into the collective knowledge
from the participants of trail use and desirable features that could be incorporated into
the project.
Presentations at the public outreach meetings included draft conceptual plans that the
designers used to encourage dialog (copies of presentation and meeting notes for each
meeting is attached to this report). The feedback gathered during the meetings was used
to fine-tune the design shown schematically in Attachment A.
Communication: Outreach was also performed to community members that were unable
to attend the formal meetings as described below.
• Three courtesy notices sent to the homes in the project's 500' radius (August 2013,
April 2015, and July 2015)
• Hosted one project site meeting with interested parties to discuss the proposed grant
application and project scope (August 2013)
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• Attended Sunnyside Ridge Homeowners' association meetings in April and June
2014
• Met and communicated many times with affected property owner to discuss
concerns and design ideas
• Sent various emails to interested parties regarding Outreach meeting dates, City
Council meetings, and responses to interested parties' questions and inquiries.
Community Input on Design Features: The process described above resulted in
eliminating the use of railroad ties for tread surfaces in step areas and the use of
decomposed granite surfacing. Use of retaining walls was minimized and the associated
costs reduced. The installation of barriers (at the exit points of the trail) to aid with
runaway animals were included from community participation.
It is important to note some key issues were heavily discussed by those who attended or
communicated with staff before, during or following the public outreach meetings. These
included trail width, passage between the two residences, and the canyon crossing. A
summary of those discussions is provided below.
The width of the trail was discussed at great length. Some supported a 4 -foot -wide
narrow trail, while others preferred using the full 10 -foot easement width. The primary
concern focuses on multi -use (equine and pedestrian) passing opportunities. The
designers explained cost savings could be realized by narrowing the trail to an 8 -foot
width. Soil retaining systems would not need to be as long or as tall with a narrower
trail. The majority of those attending meeting that public meeting agreed an eight -foot
wide trail would be sufficient and safe.
Another aspect of the design that was difficult to communicate was the visual effect of
walking between the two homes immediately off of Sunnyside Ridge. Some attendees
indicated they did not want retaining walls with railing on top because they felt this
would create a "tunnel effect," which is typically used to describe a roadway condition
that channels drivers through an area with obstacles obstructing views on both sides
of the roadway. Staff and the designers explained the walls would be at different
elevations so that to a hiker, only one wall would be visible, the other wall would not.
Hikers would be able to look over one of the walls (its maximum height above the trail
tread is 12 inches) so their view would be unobstructed. The proposed project
incorporates these vertical features that permit a pedestrian to see over and through
the walls.
Alternatives to installing a bridge were discussed, which included placing a culvert in
the canyon invert or a ford crossing of the streambed. Both of those alternatives would
require extensive work within the streambed, necessitate inlet/outlet treatments that
would add construction costs, and a re -approval from the County of Los Angeles (the
funding agency). The estimated the cost of a culvert or ford crossing would likely equal
the cost of a bridge when all factors (geotechnical, inlet/outlet, modification to the
environmental document, additional time and uncertainty of resource agency
approvals) are considered.
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CONCLUSION
Completion of the Sunnyside Ridge Trail will provide connectivity between the Sol Vista
and Conestoga Trail segments. Accordingly, staff is requesting the City Council approve
the design of the Sunnyside Ridge Trail as presented and authorize staff to proceed with
advertising the project for construction bids.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
The City Council may choose to reduce, eliminate or change one or more design
elements. Two of the items (trail width and retaining wall material) could be included with
the recommended project as bid alternates. Changing the bridge crossing to a culvert or
ford -type would involve additional environmental review by federal and state regulatory
agencies, increase the design cost and delay construction an estimated 12 to 18 months.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding has been established for the design and construction of the project. Grant
funding has not been expended to date. All costs over the grant amount are to be funded
by the City. The funding component includes $300,000 in grant funding and $165,000
from CIP reserves for a total project -funding amount of $465,000. The grant performance
deadline is December 31, 2016. The current approved project budget is presented below:
REVENUES
Grant
$300,000
City Contribution
$165,000
communication (page 9)
C.
Total Funding
$4657000
EXPENDITURES
Design, Inspection & Const.
Mgmt.
$140,450
Construction Cost (estimate)
$294,000
Construction Contingency (10%)
$ 30,000
Total Costs
$464,450
Attachments: A.
Proposed Alignment (page 6)
B.
Public Outreach Meeting Presentations, Notes, and subsequent public
communication (page 9)
C.
City Council Agenda item September 3, 2013 (page 212)
D.
City Council Agenda item May 20, 2014 (page 230)
E.
City Council Agenda item July 15, 2014 (page 313)
F.
City Council Agenda November 18, 2014 (page 503)
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