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Chief Administrative Office, Parks Division, recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 192-2016 consenting to the Sacramento-Placerville Transportation Corridor Joint Powers Authority's (SPTC-JPA) development of a project to construct a natural trail within portions of the corridor located in the County of El Dorado, the City of Folsom and unincorporated Sacramento County. The SPTC-JPA Board of Directors has approved the Natural Trail Project and the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. Written consent from the SPTC-JPA Member Agencies, including the County of El Dorado, is required for the Natural Trail Project to proceed to final design and construction.
FUNDING: SPTC-JPA.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Chief Administrative Office, Parks Division recommends approval of Resolution 192-2016, consenting to the Sacramento-Placerville Transportation Corridor Joint Powers Authority's (SPTC-JPA) development of a project to construct a natural trail within portions of the corridor located in the County of El Dorado, the City of Folsom and unincorporated Sacramento County.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The SPTC-JPA was established by its Member Agencies (County of Sacramento, Regional Transit, County of El Dorado, and City of Folsom) in 1991 to oversee the acquisition and preservation of the Placerville Branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1996, the SPTC-JPA completed the acquisition of 53 miles of railroad right-of way extending from Sacramento to Placerville. The corridor passes through portions of Sacramento County, the City of Folsom, and County of El Dorado. The County of El Dorado's segment extends from the County line (Milepost 119.4) to Forni Road (Milepost 147.6).
In 1996, the SPTC-JPA member agencies executed the Reciprocal Use and Funding Agreement (RUFA) which sets forth the agencies' rights and responsibilities with respect to the acquisition, ownership, use, operation, improvement, maintenance and eventual disposition of the rail corridor. In accordance with the RUFA, the SPTC-JPA holds the title to the rail corridor and each member agency has been granted an easement to use their allocated portion of the corridor. The RUFA also gives the member agencies reciprocal rights to use the rail corridor for its entire length.
The SPTC-JPA is developing a project to construct 10 miles of natural trail within the corridor between Iron Point Road in the City of Folsom and Latrobe Road in the County of El Dorado. The proposed trail would be available to pedestrians, mountain bikes and equestrian use. It would be constructed as an unpaved trail surface consisting of compacted earth or decomposed granite, ranging from three to four feet wide with two to three feet of clearance on each side. In 2014, the SPTC-JPA hired Foothill Associates to provide design refinement for the entire 10 miles of proposed trail, and to prepare CEQA documentation for the segment of the trail within the City of Folsom and unincorporated Sacramento County. The County of El Dorado's portion of the trail had previously been cleared under CEQA as part of the County of El Dorado 2003 SPTC Master Plan.
On November 2, 2015, the SPTC-JPA Board of Directors approved the Natural Trail Project and the IS/MND for the project. Copies of the Board Resolution and Notice of Determination are attached. The SPTC-JPA is currently developing a funding and implementation plan to complete final design and construction of the project. The timing for construction of the project will depend on securing funding for final design and construction and obtaining required permits.
Pursuant to Section 7(a) of the RUFA, the SPTC-JPA must receive written consent from all member agencies before proceeding with the construction of the Natural Trail Project. The Board's approval of Resolution 192-2016 will provide the County of El Dorado's consent for the Natural Trail Project.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION
CAO concurs with department recommendation.
FINANCIAL
No Fiscal Impact
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain Board Chair's signature and forward signed Resolution to Parks Division for distribution to the SPTC-JPA.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Vickie Sanders 621-7538