RPVCCA_SR_2010_08_17_02_Trails_Master_Plan_Grant_ApplicationCrrYOF
MEMORANDUM
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
TO:
FROM:
HONORABLE MAYOR &CITY COUNCI MEMBERS
JOEL ROJAS,AICP,COM U I DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR
DATE:AUGUST 17,2010
SUBJECT:TRAILS MASTER PLAN GRANT APPLICATION
REVIEWED:CAROLYN LEHR,CITY MANAGER ~
Project Manager:Kit Fox,AICP,Associate Planner~
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution No.2010-_,thereby approving the application for Local Sustainable
Planning Funds available through the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and
Incentives Program for the preparation of a citywide Trails Master Plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Strategic Growth Council of the California Department of Conservation is offering
grants for Local Sustainable Planning through the Sustainable Communities Planning
Grants and Incentives Program.The application deadline is August 31,2010,and the
application must be accompanied by an authorizing resolution.Staff believes that this
program provides an excellent opportunity to update and consolidate the City's Trails
Network Plan,which consists of the City's 1993 Conceptual Trails Plan and 1996
Conceptual Bikeways Plan-as well as more recent trails planning efforts such as the 2005
Forrestal Nature Preserve Trails Network Plan,the 2008 Preserve Trails Plan for the Palos
Verdes Nature Preserve and the 2008 Coast Vision Plan-into a single,comprehensive
Trails Master Plan.Therefore,Staff requests that the City Council adopt the draft
resolution attached to tonight's report.
BACKGROUND
On July 5,2010,the Strategic Growth Council of the California Department of Conservation
began accepting grant applications for Local Sustainable Planning Funds through the
Sustainable Communities Planning Grants and Incentives Program.This program was
2-1
August 17, 2010
Page 2
authorized pursuant to the “Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control,
River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006,” approved as Proposition 84 by California
voters. In recent months, the City Council also authorized Staff to pursue Proposition 84
grant funding for the proposed Abalone Cove Nature Education Center. Staff believes that
the opportunity to update and consolidate the City’s 1993 Conceptual Trails Plan, 1996
Conceptual Bikeways Plan, 2005 Forrestal Nature Preserve Trails Network Plan, 2008
Preserve Trails Plan for the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve and 2008 Coast Vision Plan into
a single, comprehensive Trails Master Plan will make for a highly-competitive grant
proposal, as discussed in greater detail below. Since the application deadline for these
funds in August 31, 2010, and a complete application requires an authorizing resolution by
the local governing body, Staff presents the attached resolution for the City Council’s
consideration and adoption at tonight’s meeting.
DISCUSSION
Under the provisions of the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentives
Program (Program), cities are eligible to apply for Local Sustainable Planning funds. The
purpose of the Program is to develop and implement plans that reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and achieve the following objectives:
• Improve air and water quality
• Promote public health
• Promote equity
• Increase housing affordability
• Increase infill and compact development
• Revitalize urban and community centers
• Protect natural resources and agricultural lands
• Reduce automobile usage and fuel consumption
• Improve infrastructure systems
• Promote water conservation
• Promote energy efficiency and conservation
• Strengthen the economy
Examples of eligible project types that may qualify for the Program include (but are not
limited to) specific plans/infill plans/zoning ordinances; climate action plans; targeted
general plan updates or elements; and other implementation instruments and plans needed
for successfully meeting AB 32 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and
implementing SB 375, while improving community-wide sustainability. In reviewing grant
applications, funding priority will be given to proposals that:
• Demonstrate collaboration with state, regional and local, public and private
stakeholders, and provide opportunities for community involvement;
• Address climate change impacts;
2-2
August 17, 2010
Page 3
• Demonstrate strategies or outcomes that can serve as best practices for
communities across the state;
• Are leveraged with additional resources; and,
• Serve an economically-disadvantaged community or a severely-disadvantaged
community
Under the Program, $60 million is to be distributed over three grant cycles. The maximum
funding request is $1 million and the minimum funding request is $100,000. No local
matching funds are required (although they may be desirable in order to demonstrate the
leveraging of resources). Only proposals scoring at least sixty-five (65) out of one hundred
(100) possible points will be considered for funding, as described in greater detail in the
attached Program fact sheet.
As mentioned above, the City’s current Trails Network Plan (TNP)—the Conceptual Trails
Plan and the Conceptual Bikeway Plan—have not been updated since the early- to mid-
1990s. In recent years, the City Council has reviewed and approved trails plans for
subareas of the City (i.e., the Forrestal Nature Preserve, the Palos Verdes Nature
Preserve, the coastal zone and adjoining areas), but there has been no comprehensive,
citywide update to the TNP.
It has been Staff’s intent to undertake a comprehensive update of the TNP after the
Preserve Trails plan was completed. To that end, Staff intends to initiate a comprehensive
update to the TNP in January 2011. Staff believes that the preparation of a Trails Master
Plan (TMP) to update and consolidate all of the City’s existing trails plans will fulfill many of
the objectives of the Program, including (but not limited to):
• Promoting public health;
• Encouraging the use of alternate modes of transportation;
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions;
• Improving air and water quality;
• Protecting natural resources and open space;
• Enhancing the semi-rural lifestyle of the Palos Verdes Peninsula; and,
• Preserving future opportunities for equestrian uses and activities.
At this time, Staff envisions the following tentative scope of work for the preparation of the
TMP (subject to future change and refinement):
• Prepare an “Existing Conditions” Report – This report would be largely compiled
from the existing TNP and other recent trails plans. It would include the
identification of existing dedicated and/or improved trails, trail segments and
easements.
2-3
August 17, 2010
Page 4
• Develop/Refine Trail Design Criteria – The TNP currently includes appendices
describing design criteria for a variety of trail types. These existing criteria would be
refined and brought up-to-date, where necessary.
• Prepare an “Opportunities and Constraints” Analysis – An inventory of opportunities
to use existing City property, rights-of-way and easements to provide trails
connections would be prepared. Similarly, a summary of constraints upon trails
would be compiled, including such issues as topography, sensitive habitats, soils
stability and jurisdictional conflicts.
• Define/Refine Proposed Trail Alignments – The TNP currently describes and maps
numerous trails systems and segments throughout the City. However, these
descriptions and maps are frequently rather vague and non-specific. Existing and
proposed trail alignments would be clarified and mapped.
• Prepare a Preliminary TMP – The product of the foregoing tasks would be
consolidated into a Preliminary TMP.
• Prepare a Trails Action Plan – A Trails Action Plan (TAP) would be developed during
the review of the Preliminary TMP. The TAP would identify, evaluate and prioritize
specific trails projects and segments for short- and long-term implementation.
• Prepare a Final TMP – All of the information included in the Preliminary TMP and
the TAP will be compiled into a Final TMP. The Final TMP will then be presented to
the City Council for its consideration and approval. The City Council’s review will
include the review of the project’s environmental impacts in accordance with CEQA
(although CEQA costs are ineligible for grant funding under the Program).
• Facilitate Public Involvement – Throughout the preparation of the TMP, the
participation of the general public and trails stakeholder groups would be actively
sought.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, and based upon the foregoing discussion, Staff requests that the City Council
adopt the attached draft Resolution, thereby approving the City’s application for Local
Sustainable Planning Funds available through the Sustainable Communities Planning
Grant and Incentives Program for the preparation of a citywide Trails Master Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT
For development of the grant application, Staff intends to use primarily “in-house”
resources; the City’s grant consultant will only be asked to review the final application
2-4
MEMORANDUM: Trails Master Plan Grant Application
August 17, 2010
Page 5
package prior to its submittal to the State. As mentioned above, these grant funds also
cannot be used for environmental analysis of the Trails Master Plan pursuant to the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Therefore, Staff also expects to prepare the
necessary CEQA analysis for the project “in house.” This is what was done with the
Forrestal Nature Preserve and Palos Verdes Nature Preserve trails plans.
ALTERNATIVES
In addition to Staff’s recommendation, the following alternatives are available for the City
Council’s consideration:
1. Do not adopt Resolution No. 2010-__.
Attachments:
• Resolution No. 2010-__
• Fact Sheet – Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentive Program
M:\Trails Master Plan\20100817_StaffRpt_CC.doc
2-5
RESOLUTION NO. 2010-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT
FUNDS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLANNING GRANT
AND INCENTIVES PROGRAM UNDER THE SAFE DRINKING WATER,
WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY, FLOOD CONTROL, RIVER AND
COASTAL PROTECTION BOND ACT OF 2006 (PROPOSITION 84)
WHEREAS, the Legislature and Governor of the State of California have
provided funds for the program shown above; and,
WHEREAS, the Strategic Growth Council has been delegated the responsibility
for the administration of this grant program, establishing necessary procedures; and,
WHEREAS, said procedures established by the Strategic Growth Council require
a resolution certifying the approval of application(s) by the Applicant’s governing board
before submission of said application(s) to the State; and,
WHEREAS, the Applicant, if selected, will enter into an agreement with the State
of California to carry out the development of the proposal.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES:
Section 1: Approves the filing of an application for the Trails Master Plan in
order to become a sustainable community;
Section 2: Certifies that Applicant understands the assurances and
certification in the application;
Section 3: Certifies that Applicant or title holder will have sufficient funds to
develop the Proposal or will secure the resources to do so;
Section 4: Certifies that the Proposal will comply with any applicable laws and
regulations; and,
Section 5: Appoints the City Manager, or designee, as agent to conduct all
negotiations, execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to
applications, agreements, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for the
completion of the aforementioned project(s).
2-6
Resolution No. 2010-__
Page 2 of 2
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this __th day of August 2010.
_____________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES) ) ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I, Carla Morreale, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the
above Resolution No. 2010-__ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said
City Council at a regular meeting held on _________, 2010.
_____________________________
City Clerk
M:\Trails Master Plan\20100817_Reso_CC.doc
2-7
16 Via Boyero, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 www.blaisassoc.com Page 1
FACT SHEET
Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentives Program
Funding Information and Application Requirements
Application
Deadline
August
31,
2010
Applications
will
be
available
July
5,
2010
Focus
Areas
(FA)
#1
Local
Sustainable
Planning
#2
Regional
SB
35
375
Plus
#3
Regional
Planning
Activities
with
Multiple
Partners
Eligible
Applicants
FA
#1:
Cities,
counties
FA
#2:
Metropolitan
Planning
Organizations
(MPOs)
FA
#3
Cities,
counties,
Joint
Powers
Authorities
(JPAs),
Regional
Transportation
Planning
Agencies
(RTPAs),
and
Council
of
Governments
(COGs)
Purpose
of
Program
To
develop
and
implement
plans
that
reduce
greenhouse
gas
emissions
and
achieve
the
following
objectives:
•
Improve
air
and
water
quality
•
Promote
public
health
•
Promote
equity
•
Increase
housing
affordability
•
Increase
infill
and
compact
development
•
Revitalize
urban
and
community
centers
•
Protect
natural
resources
and
agricultural
lands
•
Reduce
automobile
usage
and
fuel
consumption
•
Improve
infrastructure
systems
•
Promote
water
conservation
•
Promote
energy
efficiency
and
conservation
•
Strengthen
the
economy
Type
of
Funding
Competitive
Grants
Priority
The
following
are
considered
priority
items
and
additional
points
will
be
awarded
for
a
proposal
that:
• Proposal
demonstrates
collaboration
with
state,
regional
and
local,
public
and
private
stakeholders
community
involvement
• Proposal
addresses
climate
change
impacts
• Proposal
demonstrates
strategies
or
outcomes
that
can
serve
as
best
practices
for
communities
across
the
state
• Proposal
is
leveraged
with
additional
resources
• Proposal
serves
an
economically
disadvantaged
community
or
a
severely
disadvantaged
community
Agency
Strategic
Growth
Council
(SGC)
Web
Site
http://www.sgc.ca.gov
Contact
Name/Phone
Number
916-‐322-‐3439
DOCSustainability@conservation.ca.gov
2-8
16 Via Boyero, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 www.blaisassoc.com Page 2
Total
Funds
Available
$60
million
to
be
distributed
over
three
cycles.
At
a
minimum
the
goal
is
to
balance
funds
at:
25
percent
to
Focus
Area
#1,
25
percent
to
Focus
Area
#2
and
10
percent
to
Focus
Area
#3.
In
addition,
at
least
20
percent
of
each
round
of
funding
shall
be
for
projects
that
target
economically
disadvantaged
communities.
Maximum
Funding
Request
$1
million
Minimum
Funding
Request
$100,000
Local
Match
None
required.
High,
Low,
Average
Grant
Last
Year
Not
applicable
as
this
is
a
new
program.
Success
Rate
Last
Year
Not
applicable
as
this
is
a
new
program.
Authorizing
Resolution
Required
Yes
Eligible
Project
Types
FA
#1:
Specific
Plans/Infill
Plans/Zoning
Ordinances,
Climate
Action
Plans,
Targeted
General
Plan
Updates
or
Element,
Other
implementation
instruments
and
plans
needed
for
successfully
meeting
AB
32
greenhouse
gas
emissions
reduction
and
implement
SB
375,
while
improving
community-‐wide
sustainability.
FA
#2:
Blueprint
Plans,
Multi-‐jurisdictional
corridor
plans,
Transit
Oriented
Development
(TOD)
Plan,
Targeted
General
Plan
Updates,
Specific
Plans
or
other
planning
processes,
Sustainable
Community
Strategy,
Alternative
Planning
Strategy,
Natural
Communities
Conservation
Plan
or
Regional
Greenprint
Plan.
FA
3#:
County
wide
Climate
Action
Plan,
Regional
Cap
and
Trade
Plan
or
Offset
Program,
Rural
Blueprint
Plans
or
plans
with
voluntary
SB
375
compliance,
Interregional
Plans.
Ineligible
Activities
Proposals
that
will
not
be
funded
under
this
program
include,
but
are
not
limited
to,
proposals
that:
• Do
not
contain
adequate
documentation
and
applicable
materials
• Do
not
include
objective(s)
and
indicator(s)
• Do
not
meet
a
minimum
of
65
points
• Request
funding
for
any
part
of
the
CEQA
process
• Request
funding
for
two
proposals
by
the
same
lead
applicant
• Request
funding
for
the
same
proposal
under
another
focus
area
• Request
funding
for
activities
already
funded
by
other
grant
program
Evaluation
Criteria
and
Process
The
Criteria:
• Program
Objectives
-‐
0
to
60
points
o Scope
and
number
of
objectives
addressed
in
the
Proposal
o Indicators
identified
to
measure
the
success
of
the
objectives
o Responses
provided
and
supporting
documents
2-9
16 Via Boyero, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688 www.blaisassoc.com Page 3
o Proposal
meets
the
intent
of
the
applicable
focus
area
• Priority
Considerations
-‐
0
to
28
points
o Proposal
demonstrates
ongoing
collaboration
with
state,
regional
and
local
public
and
private
stakeholders
and
community
involvement
(5
pts)
o Proposal
addresses
climate
change
impacts
(5pts)
o Proposal
demonstrates
strategies
or
outcomes
can
serve
as
best
practices
(5pts)
o Proposal
is
leveraged
with
additional
resources
(5pts)
o Proposal
serves
an
economically
disadvantaged
community
OR
Severely
disadvantaged
community
(8pts)
• Organizational
Capacity
-‐
0
to
12
points
o Organization
demonstrates
the
ability
to
complete
the
Proposal
within
the
schedule
and
budget
o Identify
in
the
work
plan
how
the
proposal
will
be
implemented,
including
zoning
updates
if
applicable
Eligible
proposals
receiving
between
60-‐100
points
will
be
considered
for
funding.
The
Process:
1. Reviewed
for
completeness
and
eligibility
2. Evaluated
by
the
Committee,
using
criteria
3. Committee
recommends
to
SGC
4. SGC
determines
final
awards
Application
Requirements
Submit
one
(1)
unbound
original
and
two
(2)
bound
copies
of
the
application.
Original
materials
must
be
presented
unbound
in
the
order
indicated
above.
Clearly
number
and
label
each
item
and
number
all
pages
in
sequential
order.
Do
not
submit
additional
materials
that
have
not
been
specifically
requested.
11-‐point
font
1”
margin.
• Application
Form
• Proposal
Summary
Statement
(one
page
maximum)
• Proposal
Description:
Provide
responses
to
the
Proposal
Evaluation
Questions
(12
pages
maximum-‐summary
statement
and
supporting
documents
are
not
counted
in
page
limit)
• Supporting
Documents
o Budget
o Work
Plan
• Signed
Resolution
from
Governing
Body
• Collaboration
Requirement
Letters
• Disadvantaged
Community-‐
Submission
Requirements
Applications
will
be
released
July
5,2010
2-10