Title
Transportation Department recommending adoption of Resolution retroactively authorizing the Director of Transportation to apply for Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program grant funding for the US 50/Missouri Flat Road Interchange Phase 1C Project.
FUNDING: Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program grant funding.
Resolution 259-2009
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
There is no impact to the County General Fund associated with this item. The requested grant funding will fully cover the costs of the proposed Environment Enhancement and Mitigation Program project for the first five years. After the five year establishment period, maintenance will be funded through the Road Fund.
Background:
The California State Legislature enacted Assembly Bill 471 which provides $10 million annually for grant funds to local, state and federal agencies and nonprofit entities for projects to enhance and mitigate environmental impacts of modified or new public transportation facilities.
The California Natural Resources Agency administers the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP) for State grant funding and released a Call for Projects for the 2009-10 EEMP grant cycle with an application due date of November 16, 2009. Recommended projects will be submitted to the California Transportation Commission for award and Caltrans will administer the Grant Agreement. Eligible projects cannot be mitigation measures required under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and matching funds are not required.
Reason for Recommendation:
The Department of Transportation (DOT) prepared and submitted an application for EEMP grant funding for landscaping enhancements for the US 50/Missouri Flat Road Interchange Improvements Phase 1C (Riparian Restoration) Project, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project Number 71346. The landscaping enhancements are not part of the riparian restoration mitigation required under the CEQA document, and are, therefore, eligible for EEMP grant funding.
One of the requirements of the grant application is the inclusion of an authorizing resolution to apply for the EEMP grant funding. The resolution must be project specific; therefore, Resolution No. 273-2008, approved by the Board of Supervisors on October 7, 2008, authorizing the Director of Transportation to submit and execute grant applications will not satisfy this requirement. The DOT is requesting that the Board adopt the attached Resolution authorizing the Director of DOT to retroactively apply for EEMP grant funds specifically for the US 50/Missouri Flat Road Interchange Phase 1C Project. A draft copy of this resolution was included with the EEMP application submitted on November 16, 2009. The EEMP 2009/10 Grant Cycle announcement letter dated October 1, 2009 notes that: "All required documents must be included with the application packet except for board resolutions (required for local and non-profit agencies). Board resolutions may be submitted separately within 30 days, if necessary."
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1) The Board Clerk will have the Chairman sign two (2) copies of the Resolution and will forward one signed copy to the Department of Transportation by December 14, 2009.
Contact:
James W. Ware, P.E.
Director of Transportation
Concurrences: County Counsel