Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board take the following actions:
1) Approve and accept the State of California Standard Grant Agreement CTA 20 028L with the California Tahoe Conservancy in the amount of $440,000 for the implementation of Phase 3 for the Country Club Heights Erosion Control Project, CIP 95191, 36107009; and
2) Authorize the Director of Transportation to execute any future amendments or modification to Grant Agreement CTA 20 028L that do not increase the grant amount.
FUNDING: California Tahoe Conservancy (100%) for Implementation Phase.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On June 20, 2017 (Legistar #17-0412), the Board approved Resolution 097-2017 confirming its support for the planning and implementation grant proposals under the State’s Proposition 1, Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (2014 Water Bond) with the California Tahoe Conservancy (Conservancy). The 2014 Water Bond allocates funds for multi-benefit ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration projects. The Department of Transportation (Transportation) successfully competed with other public agencies, federally-recognized Native American tribes and eligible nonprofit agencies and were recommended for award by Conservancy staff and its application review team.
On December 10, 2020, the Conservancy Governing Board authorized the award of Grant Agreement CTA 20 028L (Agreement) to El Dorado County. This Agreement will provide $440,000 for the implementation of Phase 3 of the Country Club Heights Erosion Control Project (Project).
The Project site is adjacent an existing residential development and includes the old Elks Lodge parking lot located in the unincorporated area of South Lake Tahoe, east of U.S. Highway 50/State Route 89 at Elks Club Drive. The proposed Project will reduce impacts to water quality, enhance recreation and access opportunities, and provide for Stream Environment Zone habitat restoration. Improvements will include restoration of the site through removal of non-native fill material, a constructed infiltration basin, and a multiuse trail for recreational access from the existing parking lot to the Upper Truckee River. The Project will help to meet goals identified in the El Dorado County Stormwater Resource Plan and the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.
During the term of the Agreement, Transportation anticipates there may be a need to request that the Conservancy further modify the terms of the Agreement, generally related to administrative issues, project schedules, and budgets. Transportation is requesting that the Board delegate authority to the Director of Transportation to execute these types of amendments or modifications. If a future amendment or modification proposes to increase the current funding amount of the Agreement, Transportation will bring it to the Board for consideration.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not approve and accept the Grant funds and not authorize the Chair’s signature on the Agreement. Transportation would then be unable to move forward with the Project until different funding is secured.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
See Discussion/Background section above.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Risk Management have reviewed and approved the Agreement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will have no impact to the Net County Cost. Approval of the proposed Agreement will allow Transportation to receive a total of $440,000 of State revenue through the Conservancy. The grant funding will be provided this fiscal year, with the majority of the funding to be spent in FY 2021-22. The grant funding was identified in the prior years budget and updated with the FY 2021-22 budget request. No match is required for this grant.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on each of the three (3) originals of the Agreement.
2) The Clerk of the Board will send the three (3) originals of the partially-executed Agreement to Transportation - Tahoe Engineering Unit, Attention: Patty Scott for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation