REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
DENIX D. ANBIAH, PE, Director
Capital Projects Department
BY: JILL M. GORMLEY, TE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Traffic & Engineering Services Division
CHERYL L. BURNS, MPA, Business Manager
Public Works Department, Traffic & Engineering Services Division
SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Assistant Director
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
YUE LEHMAN, PE, Licensed Professional Engineer
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project: (Council District 2)
1. RESOLUTION - Adopting Addendum No. 2 to the River West Fresno, Eaton Trail Extension Project Final Environmental Impact Report SCH No. 2014061017 pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15164 and adopting findings pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15091 and 15093 as required by CEQA Guidelines Section 15096 for the River West Eaton Fresno, Trail Extension Project;
2. Approve the Joint Project Agreement with San Joaquin River Conservancy and authorize the Public Works Director or Designee to execute the Joint Project Agreement subject to modifications which shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office;
3. ***RESOLUTION - Authorizing the Submission of a Proposition 4 Grant Application for $5,115,000.00 in Grant Funds to the San Joaquin River Conservancy and Authorizing the Public Works Director or Designee to Accept and Execute All Application and Grant Agreement Documents on Behalf of the City of Fresno for construction of the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project (Subject to Mayor’s Veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council adopts Addendum No. 2 to the River West Fresno, Eaton Trail Extension Project Final Environmental Impact Report SCH No. 2014061017 (FEIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15164 and adopt findings pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15091 and 15093 as Required by CEQA Guidelines Section 15096 for the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project (Project); approve the Joint Project Agreement (JPA) with the San Joaquin River Conservancy (SJRC) for the Project and authorize the execution of the JPA and agreement documents by the Public Works Director or Designee subject to modifications which shall be approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office; and adopt a resolution authorizing the submission of a Proposition 4 grant application to the SJRC for up to $5,115,000 and authorize the execution of all grant application and grant agreement documents by the Public Works Director or designee.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Phase 1 of the Project will add approximately 2.4 miles of multipurpose trail, extending the existing Lewis S. Eaton Trail from the Perrin Avenue alignment near State Route (SR) 41 to the City’s Spano Park at the northern terminus of Palm Avenue. The Project also includes facilities such as vehicle access and parking areas, a stairway and bike rail, new fire hydrants, a two-vault restroom, and other amenities such as lighting, picnic areas, gates, and signage. Due to funding limitations, the Project is divided into two phases and Phase 1 of the Project, also known as the Core Project, consists of the trail extension, construction of a parking lot near the SR 41 undercrossing at Perrin Avenue, pedestrian and bicycle access near the City’s Spano Park, and other trail amenities.
The SJRC is the Lead Agency of the Project for the purpose of CEQA as defined under CEQA Guidelines Section 15367. The City is a Responsible Agency for the Project as defined under CEQA Guidelines Section 15381. Staff is recommending adoption of Addendum No. 2 to the FEIR for the Project, which describes a minor scope revision adding pedestrian accessible improvements between west of the SR 41 undercrossing at Perrin Avenue and the terminus of the Lewis S. Eaton Trail within Woodward Park (Perrin Avenue Improvements).
Staff is also requesting authorization to execute the JPA with the SJRC, which defines the project scope, background, construction estimates, funding sources, and outlines the responsibilities of the City and the SJRC for the Project. Finally, staff is requesting authorization to apply for and accept up to $5,115,000 in Proposition 4 grant funds from the SJRC for the construction of Phase 1 of the Project. The balance of the project, Phase 2, will only occur once funding has been secured.
BACKGROUND
In 2018, the SJRC updated the San Joaquin River Parkway Interim Master Plan (Master Plan) that was originally adopted in 1997. The updated Master Plan describes public access and recreational improvements along a 22-mile stretch of the San Joaquin River between Friant Dam and Highway 99. The 2018 update provided a plan to guide future improvements that would improve public access and recreational facilities in the area located along the south side of the San Joaquin River just north of Palm Bluffs, between Highway 41 and the City of Fresno’s Spano Park. The Project will provide increased public access to the San Joaquin River for all residents of the City of Fresno and visitors to the area.
The Project has been divided into two phases for construction due to funding limitations. Phase 1, known as the Core Project, includes the addition of approximately 2.4 miles of multipurpose trail from the Perrin Avenue alignment near SR 41 to the City’s Spano Park at the northern terminus of Palm Avenue, a new vehicular access point at the east entrance (“Woodward West”), a stairway with bike rail for pedestrian and bicycle access from the City’s Spano Park, and sidewalk improvements at the SR 41 undercrossing at Perrin Avenue to connect to the existing Lewis S. Eaton Trail network at the City’s Woodward Park. The Core Project will also include new fire hydrants; one two-vault restroom at the Woodward West access; other amenities such as lighting, picnic areas, gates, and signage; and habitat restoration and revegetation. A future Phase 2 of the River West Eaton Trail Extension Project will add two additional vehicular access points, a bus turnaround with access roads, a second two-vault restroom, and other trail amenities.
Joint Project Agreement
The City and SJRC wish to define their respective responsibilities to the Project through a JPA. The JPA defines the City’s and SJRC’s responsibilities for the development of the Project from preliminary engineering through construction completion.
Project Funding
On December 9, 2021, the City Council approved the application for Proposition 84 grant funds from the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) in the amount of $3,104,831 for the planning phase of the Project and authorized the execution of all grant-related documents. The WCB awarded the funds on November 18, 2021.
On February 27, 2025, the City Council approved the application for Proposition 40 grant funds from the WCB in the amount of $172,000 for the Habitat Restoration and Revegetation Plan (HRRP) in support of the Project and authorized the execution of all grant-related documents. The WCB awarded the funds on February 26, 2025, and the Notice to Proceed is anticipated to be issued during the construction phase of the Project in the Summer of 2026.
On September 11, 2025, the City Council approved the application for Proposition 68 grant funds from the WCB in the amount of $5,550,000 for the construction of the Core Project and authorized the execution of all grant-related documents. The WCB awarded the Proposition 68 grant funds on February 26, 2026, and the Notice to Proceed is anticipated to be issued during the construction phase of the Project in the summer of 2026.
The Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond of 2024 (Proposition 4) was enacted by voters on November 5, 2024, to fund $10 billion in public improvements throughout the State of California. The primary objective of Proposition 4 is to tackle the state’s most urgent climate needs by investing in preventing devastating wildfires, providing clean, safe drinking water and boosting water supplies, and protecting California’s iconic landscapes. The SJRC has received approximately $11 million to support local assistance grants under its Proposition 4 Grant Program. The SJRC issued a Notice of Funding Availability in January 2026 with applications accepted on an ongoing basis.
The Public Works Department requests authorization to submit an application to the SJRC for its Proposition 4 Grant Program and accept up to $5,115,000 for the construction of Phase 1 of the Project. The current construction cost estimate for Phase 1 totals $13,662,959. The total grant funding awarded to the Project to date totals $8,826,831. Of the grant funds received to date, a total of $5,722,000 is allocated for the construction phase of the Core Project, including the HRRP. The requested Proposition 4 funds, if awarded, would bring the total construction funding for Phase 1 of the Project to $10,837,000.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved Addendum No. 2 to the FEIR, the JPA, and the Resolutions as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15381, “‘Responsible Agency’ means a public agency which proposes to carry out or approve a project, for which a Lead Agency is preparing or has prepared an EIR or Negative Declaration.” The City is a Responsible Agency for the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project.
CEQA Guidelines Section 15096 lays out the process required for a Responsible Agency when implementing a project, or any portion thereof. Under CEQA Guidelines Section 15096(f), a Responsible Agency must consider the environmental effects identified in the EIR prepared by the Lead Agency when preparing to implement any portion of a project for which the agency is responsible.
The SJRC is the Lead Agency for the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project, as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15367. The SJRC prepared the FEIR and certified it on November 15, 2017, which analyzed several components of the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project, but did not include the newly proposed Perrin Avenue Improvements. The City is a Responsible Agency tasked with constructing the Project, including the Perrin Avenue Improvements. The details of the Perrin Avenue Improvements include an additional section of sidewalk and ADA-compliant curb and gutter of approximately 320 feet in length that go under SR 41 to connect the trail on both sides of the freeway.
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15096(f), a Responsible Agency must only prepare a subsequent EIR if it is required under CEQA Guidelines Section 15162. An analysis has been performed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 to determine whether a subsequent EIR or Negative Declaration (ND) is required for this project. Based upon this analysis, the following findings are made to support the determination that no subsequent EIR or ND is required:
1. No substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions to the EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects because the changes proposed under the Perrin Avenue improvements are minor constituting the construction of a small stretch of sidewalk, curb, and gutter to connect the two different sides of the Trail.
2. No substantial changes occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions to the EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects.
3. There is no new information of substantial importance, which was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the previous EIR was certified as complete, showing that:
a. The project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous EIR;
b. Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous EIR;
c. Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found to be not feasible would in fact be feasible, and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project;
d. Mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed in the previous EIR would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment.
Based upon these findings, it has been determined that a subsequent EIR is not required for this approval. It has been determined that these changes to the original Project are minor in nature, and do not require preparation of a subsequent EIR or ND. Therefore, Addendum No. 2 has been prepared in compliance with CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15164.
The Resolution proposed for adoption, and the corresponding Exhibit and Addendum No. 2, fulfills the City’s requirement to adopt findings pursuant to the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Sections 15091 and 15093, as specified by Section 15096(h), including ratification and adoption of the SJRC certified EIR for the River West Fresno Eaton Trail Extension Project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not included because this Resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Project is located in Council District 2. This action will have no impact on the General Fund. No funds will be expended prior to SJRC allocation and receipt of a formal Notice to Proceed, ensuring the availability of funds before costs are incurred.
Attachments:
Vicinity Map
Resolution - Resolution - Adopting Responsible Agency CEQA Findings
Addendum 2 to the FEIR
Joint Project Agreement (w/ Location Map)
Resolution - Authorizing the Submission of Proposition 4 Grant Application