Title
Adoption of Resolution to Accept a Planning Grant in the Amount of $300,000 from the Division of Boating and Waterways, Harbor and Watercraft Revolving Fund and Authorize the City Manager to Manage the Planning Grant Agreement. (Recreation and Parks 280)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Adoption of Resolution to Accept a Planning Grant in the Amount of $300,000 from the Division of Boating and Waterways, Harbor and Watercraft Revolving Fund and Authorize the City Manager to Manage the Planning Grant Agreement
BACKGROUND
The Encinal Boat Launch Facility was last renovated in 1981, funded by a grant from the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW) and a grant from the State Wildlife Conservation Board. On February 5, 2013, the City Council authorized a grant application to the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways, Harbor and Watercraft Revolving Fund to renovate and improve the Encinal Boat Launch Facility.
In April 2015, the City was awarded a $300,000 planning grant to design the improvements and fund all required project permits.
In April 2017, city staff was informed that a resolution was now required for acceptance of the planning grant. This is a housekeeping item to comply with management of this grant. The project design has passed numerous hurdles with the Division of Boating and Waterways and is nearing completion. Construction funds have not yet been identified.
DISCUSSION
The Encinal Boat Launch Facility is an important recreational asset. However, it is an aging facility with a poorly paved parking lot, unusable restrooms (portable toilets are the current alternative), inadequate dock floats and a deteriorated ramp. There is increasing demand on the Encinal Boat Facility, especially for non-motorized watercraft. Both the Alameda Community Sailing Center and O’Kalani Outrigger Canoe Club, local non-profit organizations, now have their base of operations at this facility and use it on a daily basis. The Encinal Boat Launch provides direct access to the San Francisco Bay, unlike the Grand Street Boat Launch located on the estuary.
The Encinal Boat Ramp improvement project scope includes the following:
• Replace the existing dock float and add a second dock float for non-motorized watercraft, including kayaks, canoes, stand up paddles and others.
• Renovate the boat ramp.
• Repave the parking lot, remove medians and add parking spaces.
• Replace and expand the restrooms facility.
• Create ADA compliant access between the parking lot, restroom and boat ramp plus an ADA boat parking station.
• Add a fish cleaning station.
• Install new parking lot lighting.
• Install new vehicle safety features.
• Install new signage.
A community design input meeting was held on March 14, 2016 with good attendance from the motorized and non-motorized boating communities. The input received was incorporated into the current design. There has been an unusually long design review process with DBW, but the design is now moving forward and is anticipated to be completed by early summer. Staff will then finalize regulatory permits and work to identify funding for construction.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This grant agreement is budgeted and included in the Recreation and Parks Department Capital Improvement Project Fund (Project No. 91110). The planning project is funded with monies allocated from this planning grant from the Division of Boating and Waterways.
Construction funds for this project have not yet been identified and could include a combination of grant funds and development impact fees.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action does not affect the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to Guidelines Sections 15301 (Repair, maintenance and/or minor alteration of an existing facility.) In addition, the Encinal Boat Launch Facility project requires permits from the Army Corps of Engineers, BCDC and the Regional Water Quality Board. These permits are designed to ensure appropriate actions are taken during construction to avoid construction impacts to biological and/or water quality resources.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution to accept a planning grant in the amount of $300,000 from the Division of Boating and Waterways, Harbor and Watercraft Revolving Fund and authorize the City Manager to manage the planning grant agreement.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director