Title
Parks, a Division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 107-2024 approving the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Addendum 1 to the Historical Railroad Park Project Initial Study/Mitigation Negative Declaration (IS/MND), certified in February 2016 (State Clearinghouse Number 2016022037); and
2) Approve the Project as described in Addendum 1 to the IS/MND.
FUNDING: Prop 68 Per Capita Grant.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Historic Railroad Park, located in the community of El Dorado, is a linear park adjacent to the El Dorado Trail and with amenities including a train depot building, a two-stall prefabricated restroom, and parking. Parks is working on several improvements to the park that will provide additional recreation and educational opportunities while accommodating museum enthusiasts, pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrian users.
On January 13, 2015, the Board accepted a grant award from the Housing-related Parks Program Grant 14-HRPP-9235 in the amount of $158,550 for the construction of restrooms at the El Dorado County Historic Railroad Park in El Dorado (Legistar item #14-0130). The Parks Division entered into an agreement with Foothill Associates (Helix) for the conceptual design and environmental review. On July 19, 2016, the Board adopted the CEQA Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and approved the El Dorado County Historical Park Project as described in the CEQA document (Legistar item #16-0465).
To help fund the improvements, on March 23, 2021, the Board adopted Resolution 014-2021 authorizing the submittal of a grant application for a Rail Park Playground and Dog Park grant to the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018 (Prop 68) Per Capita Grant Program (Legistar item #21-0162). On September 21, 2021, the Board approved signing the Grant Contract with the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018 (Prop 68) Per Capita Grant Program (Legistar item #21-1452).
Modifications to the park were identified in 2024 to include the addition of a dog park amenity and for the changed location of a child’s playground. On May 16, 2023, the Board approved the location change for the Dog Park project from Jacquier Road to the Rail Park (Legistar item #23-0937). The modified project plan for Railroad Park includes the addition of a dog park located on Oriental Street, ten paved parking spaces to be moved to the northwest end and adjacent to the dog park, and a change in location for the children’s play area perpendicular to the proposed static display building. Staff has prepared an addendum to the adopted 2016 MND analyzing the environmental impacts of the Revised Project in accordance with the provisions of the CEQA Guidelines and documenting that no new or more severe significant environmental impacts have been identified and preparation of a subsequent Negative Declaration is not needed for the minor project revisions. Based on the analysis, staff is recommending revising the park plan, with no other changes to the project or mitigation measures.
ALTERNATIVES
An addendum to the IS/MND is necessary due to changes for the development of the park. The Board could choose to not adopt Addendum 1 and direct staff to return with an updated addendum.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
14-0130 1/13/15 - Board approved Housing-related Program Grant for Rail Park restroom
16-0153 2/18/16 - Parks Commission reviewed and commented on Rail Park Draft IS/MND
16-0465 7/19/16 - Board adopted CEQA MND and Mitigation Monitoring & Reporting
19-0480 3/21/19 - Parks Commission discussed opportunities to develop the Rail Park
19-0687 6/25/19 - Board adopted Resolution authorizing Prop 68 grant submittal
21-0162 3/23/21 - Board adopted Resolution authorizing Prop 68 Per Capita grant submittal
21-1452 9/21/21 - Board approved signing Prop 68 Per Capita grant contract
23-0937 5/16/23 - Board approved location change for the Dog Park to Rail Park
24-0465 5/14/24 - Board approved Final Passage of Dog Park Ordinance 5200
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact with this item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk files the Addendum.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Jennifer Franich, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer