To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Park Dedication Fee Fund Authorization for the Iron Horse Corridor San Ramon Double Tracking Study
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
AUTHORIZE the Auditor-Controller to release $500,000 from certain Park Dedication/Park Impact Fund Accounts to the Public Works Department to help fund the Iron Horse Corridor San Ramon Double Tracking Study, as recommended by the Conservation and Development Director.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No Impact to the General Fund. The Park Dedication/Park Impact fees proposed for this purpose originated from projects in the vicinity of the proposed study. The total cost of the studies is anticipated to exceed $1,250,000 and county staff is in the process of applying for planning grants to assist in the funding of the studies.
BACKGROUND:
Proposed Improvements
The Iron Horse Corridor San Ramon Double Tracking Study will consist of conceptual designs, preliminary cost estimates, and environmental studies required to construct separate wheeled (bicycle, e-bike, scooter) and pedestrian pathways in the Iron Horse Corridor (IHC) in the City of San Ramon from the county line to Forstoria Way. The studies will include:
• Existing Conditions Analysis
• Delineation of utility easement and pipelines containing hazardous materials.
• Phase II Environmental Site Assessment and estimate regarding the testing, removal, handling and disposal of lead-arsenate contaminated soils in the IHC.
• Conceptual Design
• Identification of new recreational amenities and park features to provide shade, water, and restrooms.
• Landscaping options for improved community greening, fire-resistance, irrigation, climate change adaptation, and compatibility with existing underground utilities.
• Irrigation plan and potential integration of recycled water where feasible.
• Safety features for pedestrian and wheeled traffic around schools and at road crossings.
• Stormwater management.
• Tree planting and protection plan for existing mature and native trees as well as new trees.
• Preliminary Financing Plan
• Preliminary cost estimate for project construction.
• Maintenance funding options.
• Financing opportunities in collaboration with existing IHC utilities, the City of San Ramon, and East Bay Regional Park District. (EBRPD)
Park Background
The Iron Horse Corridor is a former railroad right-of-way that now contains a regional trail. The Iron Horse Corridor stretches 18.5 miles from the Alameda County line northward to Mayette Avenue in Concord. It is a key component in the Bay Area Regional Trail Network and the sole north-south bike and pedestrian trail in central Contra Costa County.
The Iron Horse corridor was once Southern Pacific Railroad (SPRR) that ran from Concord to Pleasanton in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. The railroad was officially abandoned in 1978 and in 1984 Contra Costa County, with financial help from the State of California, purchased the Iron Horse Corridor property within the County in fee title.
In 1986, the County entered into a license agreement with the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) to operate a 10-foot-wide paved multiuse trail in the IHC called the Iron Horse Regional Trail (IHRT). The IHRT has been expanded northward to include Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District property along the Walnut Creek Channel, and now terminates at Marsh Drive in Concord, near Highway 4. The trail has also been expanded southward into Alameda County, passing through the City of Dublin before terminating in the City of Pleasanton. The total length of the IHRT today is approximately 32 miles.
Park Fund Background
The County imposes fees on residential development to fund park and recreational facilities under both the County's Park Dedication Ordinance and the County's Park Impact Fee Ordinance. Funds from these fees are deposited into accounts associated with the census tract where the residential development occurs to ensure the funds are directed to park and recreational facilities which serve the residents of the development. The following table outlines the San Ramon Park Dedication fee accounts that will be used for the project. Use of the park fees identified are reasonably related to proposed improvements for the Iron Horse Corridor San Ramon Double Tracking project and will serve the greater San Ramon community, including the areas from which the proposed expenditures were collected.
|
Park Account Number |
Amount |
|
8136 PD4000048 |
$ 500,000 |
|
Total |
$ 500,000 |
Applicable General Plan Goals and Policies
The proposed project implements the following General Plan Park and Recreation Facilities Goals:
• To develop a sufficient amount of conveniently located, properly designed park and recreational facilities to serve the needs of all residents. (9-H)
• To develop a system of interconnected bicycle, pedestrian, and riding trails and paths suitable for both active recreational use and transportation/ circulation. (9-1)
• To promote active and passive recreational enjoyment of the County's physical amenities for the continued health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the County. (9-J)
The proposed project implements the following General Plan Park and Recreation Facilities Policies:
• A well-balanced distribution of local parks, based on character and density present and planned residential development and future recreational needs, shall be preserved. (9-33)
• Park design shall be appropriate to the recreational needs and access capabilities of all residents in each locality. (9-34)
• Public trail facilities shall be integrated into the design of flood control facilities and other public works whenever possible. (9-38)
• Recreational activity shall be distributed and managed according to an area's carrying capacity, with special emphasis on controlling adverse environmental impacts, such as conflict between uses and trespass. At the same time, the regional importance of each area's recreation resources shall be recognized. (9-40)
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The predevelopment studies will lay the groundwork for both a final plan and associated CEQA study.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the funds are not authorized, there will not be sufficient funding to complete the studies.