To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Park Dedication and Park Impact Fee Fund Authorization for the Robert I. Schroder Bridge
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
AUTHORIZE the Auditor-Controller to release $800,000 from certain Park Dedication/Park Impact Fund Accounts to the Contra Costa County Public Works Department to help fund improvements to the Robert I. Schroder Bridge located along the Iron Horse Corridor at Treat Boulevard, in unincorporated Contra Costa Centre.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% Park Dedication and Park Impact Funds.
BACKGROUND:
The Robert I. Schroder is an award-winning pedestrian bridge originally constructed in 2010 in Contra Costa Centre. The existing bridge carries pedestrian and bicycle traffic over Treat Boulevard as part of the Iron Horse Trail and is located approximately 0.3-miles east of I-680.
The project includes minor repairs on the existing Robert I. Schroder pedestrian bridge to address the bridge’s serviceability and aesthetics. The project proposes to replace bearing pads at two bridge abutments; spot blast and clean rusted or paint-chipped areas; treat the bridge deck to prevent water intrusion; and repair damaged concrete areas such as sidewalks and curbs. Other miscellaneous maintenance work includes replacing pedestrian restriction cabling, pressure washing, debris removal, tree trimming and vegetation trimming and removal.
The project will also include an additional climbing structure or other park enhancements along the multi-use Iron Horse Trail adjacent to the pedestrian bridge. The project is being funded with a combination of Measure X Funding and Park Dedication/Park Impact Funds. The following expenditure summary outlines costs estimates and funding sources associated with the bridge project.
Proposed Improvement
Bridge Project Cost Estimates:
• Construction: $1.3 million
• Engineering, modeling, inspections, design review, and predevelopment: $900,000
• Park enhancement / climbing structure: $200,000
• Total: $2.4 million.
Bridge Project Funding:
• Measure X Allocation: $1.6 million
• Park Dedication/Park Impact Funds: $800,000
• Total Funding: $2.4 million
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 community 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 Contra Costa Centre Park Dedication and Park Impact fee accounts that will be used for the project. Use of the park fees identified is reasonably related to proposed improvements for the Robert I Schroder Pedestrian Bridge and are consistent with government code section 66001(a)(3)-(4), because the proposed park improvements will serve the Contra Costa Centre Community, including the areas from which the proposed expenditures were collected.
|
Park Account Number |
Amount Available |
Amount Allocated to Project |
Amount Remaining |
|
8136 PD1000016 |
$1,239,306 |
$400,000 |
$ 839,306 |
|
8136 PI1000016 |
$1,485,563 |
$400,000 |
$1,085,563 |
|
Total |
$2,724,869 |
$800,000 |
$1,924,869 |
Applicable General Plan Goals and Policies
The overarching General Plan Goal for parks is documented as Goal PFS-8: “An easily accessible, integrated system of high-quality parks and trails to meet the needs of all residents.”
The Robert I. Shroder Bridge improvements meet the following General Plan policies related to parks:
• Support development of a variety of local amenities that meet a diverse range of recreational needs, such as ballfields, all-abilities playgrounds, tot lots, spraygrounds, adult fitness courses, gymnasiums, swimming pools, sport courts, passive parks, pocket parks, urban gardens, and trails. (PFS-P8.1)
• Support development of a comprehensive and interconnected network of trails, including intra- and inter-regional trails like the San Francisco Bay Trail, Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail, Great California Delta Trail, and Marsh Creek Corridor Trail, that provides public access to shorelines, ridges, and other scenic areas, connects residents with open
space and nature, and links urban areas with parks and other recreational facilities. (PFS-P8.9)
• Encourage use of abandoned railroad rights-of-way for trails or other public purposes and participate in collaborative planning processes to determine the best use of abandoned rail corridors. (PFS-P8.10)
Parks Capital Improvement Plan Consistency
The Iron Horse Corridor and pocket parks along the trail are identified in the County’s Park Capital Improvement Plan as park facilities supporting the Contra Costa Centre community.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
A Notice of Exemption (NOE) was filed on March 10, 2026
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the funds are not authorized, there will not be sufficient funding to complete the project.