REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL April 23, 2020 FROM: WILMA QUAN, City Manager Office of the Mayor & City Manager BY: JANE SUMPTER, Assistant City Manager Office of the Mayor & City Manager COURTNEY ESPINOZA, Program Implementation Manager Office of the Mayor & City Manager SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the 2017 Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Grant and Transform Fresno Plan project regarding the Southwest Fresno Trail Project: 1. Adopt the February 2020 Southwest Fresno Green Trail Wildlife Doc. No. E202010000079, a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). 2. Approve a Sub-Recipient Agreement with the City of Fresno's Department of Public Works for the Southwest Fresno Trail Project totaling $1,978,959. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration in accordance with CEQA guidelines; approve a Sub-Recipient Agreement with the Department of Public Works for Project 5 regarding the Southwest Fresno Trail Project (Project); and authorize the City Manager to execute all related documents to the administration, modification, monitoring and closeout of the Sub-Recipient Agreement for Project 5. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On February 28, 2019, the City Council unanimously voted to approve a Master Grant Agreement (MGA) with the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) for the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grant award with the understanding that the Sub-Recipient Agreements between the City and Partners who will be receiving funds to implement components of the Transform Fresno Plan would be brought forward for subsequent Council consideration as they meet the required SGC readiness thresholds. The Project has met the necessary thresholds and is ready to begin implementation. BACKGROUND The Transform Fresno Plan was created by a participatory steering committee comprised of community stakeholders from the Chinatown, Downtown and Southwest Fresno neighborhoods (Project Area). On February 28, 2019, the City Council unanimously approved the MGA which binds the City and SGC with the understanding that Sub-Recipient Agreements between the City and Partners who will be receiving funds to implement components of the Transform Fresno Plan would be brought forward for subsequent Council consideration as they meet the required SGC readiness thresholds. This project, referenced below, has met those thresholds and is ready to begin implementation. Project 5 - Southwest Fresno Trail This project will install a Class I Trail along the Fanning Ditch Alignment, from West to Thorne. The project will also plant 102 trees and landscaping to increase the urban tree canopy and add trail and street lighting facilities. An associated project under the Community Engagement Plan led by USGBC-CC will facilitate community input during the design phase of the project. The City of Fresno Department of Public Works will provide long-term operations and maintenance of the trail and improvements. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS An Initial Study was prepared to evaluate the project in accordance with the land use and environmental policies and provisions of the City of Fresno's General Plan adopted by the Fresno City Council on December 18, 2014, and the related Master Environmental Impact Report (MEIR) SCH No. 2012111015. The project is determined to have a less than significant effect on the environment with mitigation and is prepared in accordance with Sections 15070 to 15075 of the CEQA Guidelines. The project is partially within the scope of MEIR SCH No. 2012111015. Pursuant to Section 21157.1 of the California Public Resources Code (CEQA Provisions), it may be determined that a subsequent project falls within the scope of the MEIR, provided that the project does not cause additional significant impacts on the environment that were not previously examined by the MEIR. Based on this Initial Study, the following findings are made: (1) The proposed project is partially within the scope of the MEIR because it will not generate additional significant effects on the environment not previously examined and analyzed by the MEIR for the reasons set forth in the Initial Study; and, (2) when all applicable mitigation measures of SCH No. 2012111015 have been applied to the project, together with project specific mitigation measures, the project will result in a less than significant impact on the environment. The Public Works Department, as lead agency, finds that no substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the MEIR was certified and that no new information, which was not known and could not have been known at the time that the MEIR was certified as complete, has become available. Moreover, as lead agency for this project, the Public Works Department, in accordance with Sections 15070 to 15075 of the CEQA Guidelines has determined that all feasible mitigation measures from the MEIR shall be applied to the project as set forth in the MEIR Mitigation Measure Monitoring Checklist. A public notice of the attached mitigated negative declaration finding for the Southwest Fresno Green Trail MND, Fish and Wildlife Do. No. E202010000079 was published in the local newspaper on February 28, 2020, as required for public review and comment. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not considered based upon conditions of state funding. FISCAL IMPACT There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding for Transform Fresno Plan projects lead by Partners will be a direct pass-through of TCC grant funds and will be distributed on a reimbursement basis. Attachments: 1. Southwest Fresno Green Trail Wildlife Doc. No. E202010000079, a Mitigated Negative Declaration 2. Sub-recipient Agreement with Department of Public Works for Project 5 3. Sub-Recipient Agreement Status Summary