REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
JESUS AVITIA, PE, Deputy City Engineer/Special Projects Manager
Public Works Department, Special Projects Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the River West Eaton Trail Extension Planning Project (Council District 2):
1. ***RESOLUTION - Approving the application for grant funds from the Wildlife Conservation Board and authorizing execution of grant related documents for the River West Eaton Trail Extension Planning Project (Subject to Mayor’s Veto).
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 34th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2021-178 appropriating $65,500 for the River West Eaton Trail Extension Planning (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution approving the application for $3,104,831 in grant funds from the Wildlife Conservation Board and authorizing the execution of grant related documents for the River West Eaton Trail Extension Planning Project to develop engineering design plans, specifications, estimates, and secure permitting to extend the existing Lewis S. Eaton Trail; adopt the resolution approving the 34th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2021-178 appropriating $65,500 for the River West Eaton Trail Extension Planning Project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The approval of the Wildlife Conservation Board grant application submission and authority to execute grant related documents, including the grant agreement, will allow the City of Fresno to begin and complete final engineering design plans, specifications, construction estimates, and secure permitting for the San Joaquin River Conservancy’s River West Fresno, Eaton Trail Extension Project. The planning project will extend the existing Lewis S. Eaton Trail approximately 2.4 miles starting at the Perrin Avenue alignment near Highway 41 and ending at the City’s Spano Park. The trail will be about 22 feet wide, with a 12-foot-wide paved surface, a parallel 8-foot- wide hard natural surface for equestrian use, and a 2-foot shoulder in accordance with the San Joaquin River Conservancy Master Plan.
BACKGROUND
In 2018, the San Joaquin River Conservancy 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. This 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 the Palm Bluffs, between Highway 41 and Spano Park near intersection of Palm Avenue and Nees Avenue within Fresno City limits. The River West Eaton Trail Extension will provide increased public access to the river for residents of nearby disadvantaged communities, and for residents of the City of Fresno by extending the existing Lewis S. Eaton Trail from Woodward Park westward under Highway 41 and downstream along the San Joaquin River for about 2.4 miles and creating designated access points with parking areas at the following three locations spread throughout the project site:
• Highway 41 and Perrin Avenue
• Spano Park (near the intersection of Palm and Nees)
• Riverview Drive (near the intersection of Audubon and Del Mar)
The design will create parking for 105 vehicles and 3 horse trailers and create a school bus drop off location along with new restrooms, park benches, approximately 3.0 miles of multiuse trails, and 2 viewing areas. The proposed design elements will generate opportunities for the public to engage in a variety of activities such as walking, jogging, trail running, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
The San Joaquin River Conservancy Board approved the River West Eaton Trail Extension grant application on September 1, 2021.
The subject grant does not provide construction funding; the City will be partnering with San Joaquin River Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Board to pursue construction funding upon the completion of the design and permitting phase within the scope of the subject grant.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the resolution and grant documents as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 this action is not a “project.”
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented as this item does not involve the bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adoption of the attached AAR amendment resolution will appropriate the necessary funding to start the project in the current fiscal year. Additional appropriations for the remaining project costs will be included in the City’s fiscal year 2023 budget. This request will have no impact to the General Fund as the grant will provide the full $3,104,831 in funding estimated for this phase of the project. The River West Eaton Trail Extension Planning Project is within Council District 2.
Attachments:
Resolution - Approving grant application
Resolution- AAR 34th Amendment
Vicinity Map