Staff Report
PREPARED BY: YING SMITH
Transportation and Mobility Manager
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, Finance Director and Parks and
Public Works Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 406-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 02/19/2019
ITEM NO: 6
DATE: FEBRUARY 13, 2019
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: LOS GATOS CREEK TRAIL TO HIGHWAY 9 CONNECTOR PROJECT
APPLICATION TO SAFE CLEAN WATER AND NATURAL FLOOD PROTECTION
GRANT PROGRAM
A. ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS
UNDER THE SAFE, CLEAN WATER AND NATURAL FLOOD PROTECTION
PROGRAM OF 2012 FOR THE LOS GATOS CREEK TRAIL TO HIGHWAY 9
CONNECTOR PROJECT.
B. AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A
GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER
DISTRICT.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council:
1. Adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) authorizing application for grant funds under the Safe
Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program of 2012 for the Los Gatos Creek Trail to
Highway 9 Connector.
2. Authorize the Town Manager to negotiate and execute a grant agreement with the Santa
Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD).
BACKGROUND:
At the June 7, 2017 meeting, the Town Council authorized the Town Manager to execute and
file an application for funding for the design of the Los Gatos Creek Trail to Highway 9
Connector from non-competitive One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) Cycle II funding. After the project
was listed under the federal program, staff started working with Caltrans in the federal process
to obtain Authorization to Proceed with Preliminary Engineering, also known as E-76 approval.
Caltrans issued the E-76 approval on December 13, 2018 which was a critical milestone in the
federal process.
PAGE 2 OF 3
SUBJECT: LOS GATOS CREEK TRAIL TO HIGHWAY 9 CONNECTOR PROJECT APPLICATION
TO SAFE CLEAN WATER AND NATURAL FLOOD PROTECTION GRANT
PROGRAM
DATE: FEBRUARY 13, 2019
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\02-19-19 Interviews\06 Grant Funds\Staff Report.docx 2/13/2019 4:45 PM
BACKGROUND (continued):
Town staff prepared a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Preliminary Engineering and
Environmental Clearance, which was issued on February 15, 2019. Based on the review of RFP
submittals the contract award is expected to be submitted in April for Council’s consideration.
This phase of the project development will take approximately 12 months.
In addition, in November 2018, the SCVWD opened a grant application process to award up to
$571,000 in grant funding for projects related to developing access to trails and open space.
This cycle includes the Access to Trails & Open Space grants under Safe, Clean Water Priority
Area D3, which is part of the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program parcel
tax, approved by voters in 2012.
DISCUSSION:
The Los Gatos Creek Trail to Highway 9 Connector project has received long-standing support
from the community, schools and Town Council. The 2017 Los Gatos – Monte Sereno Bicycle
and Pedestrian Master Plan identifies this as a priority bicycle project. The project construction
cost is estimated to exceed $4 million and the Town has yet to secure funding for the
construction phase.
After consultation with the SCVWD, Town staff determined that the project is eligible for this
grant program and appears to meet the evaluation criteria very well. This is a competitive grant
program with minimum point thresholds achieved through an evaluative process. For
qualifying projects, the SCVWD may authorize full or partial funding.
CONCLUSION:
Applications for Safe Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program grants were due
February 15, 2019, with award recommendations anticipated in April or May. Staff submitted a
contingent application for an amount of $571,000, pending Council authorization.
Approval of this item will continue to build funding solutions towards the construction of this
project.
COORDINATION:
This item has been coordinated with the Finance Department and SCVWD staff. The Bicycle
and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) reviewed this item at its February 7, 2019 meeting
and passed a motion to support staff’s recommendations.
PAGE 3 OF 3
SUBJECT: LOS GATOS CREEK TRAIL TO HIGHWAY 9 CONNECTOR PROJECT APPLICATION
TO SAFE CLEAN WATER AND NATURAL FLOOD PROTECTION GRANT
PROGRAM
DATE: FEBRUARY 13, 2019
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2019\02-19-19 Interviews\06 Grant Funds\Staff Report.docx 2/13/2019 4:45 PM
FISCAL IMPACT:
The project construction cost is estimated to be approximately $3-4 million. The Town’s grant
application would request funding of $571,000. The remaining will be funded with the Town’s
contribution and other competitive sources, including the 2016 Santa Clara County Measure B,
and regional, State and Federal funding sources.
This grant has a requirement of “at least 25% matching fund of total project cost prior to
District funding.” If the Town is awarded grant funds it will be expected to program
approximately $800,000 in Town funds in Fiscal Year 2020/21 to meet this requirement. The
combination of SCVWD grant and Town funds can be used as the non -Measure B match, should
the Town decide to apply for the Measure B Bike/ Pedestrian Capital Projects Co mpetitive
Grant in mid-2019. Applying for the SCVWD grant will be the first step in securing funding for
the construction phase of this project.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
Submitting a grant application is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is
required.
Attachment:
1. Resolution authorizing application for grant funds
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