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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSS2 - Upper Newport Bay Restoration ProjectsCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Study Session Agenda Item No. ss2 January 14, 2003 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: City Manager's Office Dave Kiff, Assistant City Manager 949/644 -3002 or dkiff @city.newport- beach.ca.us SUBJECT: Upper Newport Bay Restoration Projects ISSUE: Should the City of Newport Beach continue its support for two proposed restoration projects adjacent to Upper Newport Bay? RECOMMENDATION: None. Information and discussion only. DISCUSSION: Detailed information about these two proposed restoration projects: • The Big Canyon Restoration Project; and • The West Bay Boardwalk and Restoration Project ... are attached in separate staff report formats. The Study Session on January 14, 2003 will include discussions and information about both projects. The Council may act on a formal professional services agreement associated with the Big Canyon Restoration Project at its evening meeting on January 14, 2003. We will present an action item on the West Bay Boardwalk and Restoration Project at a later date. Submitted by: `lir �- Dave Kiff Assistant City Manager Attachments: Please refer to the Big Canyon Restoration Project Staff Report set for the January 14, 2003 evening agenda); and West Bay Boardwalk and Restoration Project Staff Report (in draft form) CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (DRAFT) Agenda Item No. January 28, 2003 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: City Manager's Office Dave Kiff, Assistant City Manager 949/644 -3002 or dkiff @city.newport - beach.ca.us SUBJECT: West Bay Boardwalk and Restoration Project ISSUE: Should the City of Newport Beach support a proposal to restore habitat and place a boardwalk along the west side of Upper Newport Bay near Upper Newport Bay Regional Park? RECOMMENDATION: None. Discussion only. DISCUSSION: Background: Along much of the western, northern, and easterly sides of Upper Newport Bay, visitors can enjoy the Bay's views, learn about and see its habitat, and walk, bike, ride, or run along its boundaries. A paved trail system, including Back Bay Drive and a boardwalk bridge, link Irvine Avenue (near Santiago) to Jamboree Road. Hundreds of thousands of people use this trail system annually. The trail system traverses two major park facilities -- the Upper Newport Bay Regional Park (administered by the County of Orange) and the Newport Bay Ecological Reserve (administered by the California Department of Fish and Game). The Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center -- a facility operated by the County of Orange's Harbors Beaches, and Parks Division -- sits within the Regional Park off of University Drive. The City of Newport Beach plays a role, too, because we own and operate Back Bay Drive and co -own certain parts of the Regional Park along with the County. The West Bay. The land immediately bayward and west of the Interpretive Center -- still within the Regional Park -- is among the more heavily visited sites around the Bay. A paved trail links the Center to Irvine Avenue and a decomposed granite ( "DG ") trail 41M4 1 C %WT6'OOWS \Temporary lam nct Fiks%0LA4395%D3- 01 -14.M We t Bay dw I.8'03 2 4. PM West Bay Boardwalk Protect — Draft Staff Report . January 28, 2003 Page 2 traverses nearby, but visitors to -the Regional Park have developed their own trails in this area, often entering the most sensi.parts of the Park and the Ecological Reserve. This aerial photograph Mustrabitsorne of the illegal trails: The lowlands adjacent to the areas with the illegal trails were once home to the Light Footed Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris levipes) and the California Least Tern (Sterna antillarum browni). But predation (from cats, dogs, foxes, and coyotes) and intrusion from humans is likely to have caused these birds to move their nesting areas to safer territory. The federal government listed both of these species as endangered in October 1970. Some experts believe that Upper Newport Bay is the only region in the world where the Clapper Rail is successfully reproducing. The Bay is home to about 100 nesting pairs of Clapper Rail. Califomia Least Tem West Bay Boardwalk Project -- Draft Staff Report January 28, 2003 Page 3 A Proposed Remedy. The City, the County, and DF &G have proposed doing restoration work and constructing a boardwalk that would take walkers, joggers, bikers and horseback riders off of sensitive habitat and keep them on existing trails and the new boardwalk. The 2 -mile elevated boardwalk would stretch from University Avenue to 23rd Street, allowing people limited access to the edge of the Bay's blufftops but not direct access down to the shoreline of the Bay. The boardwalk may have viewing platforms, bird viewing blinds, and interpretation and signage that will assist visitors in learning about the sensitive habitat that they view. At a meeting held on January 7, 2003, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (US F &WS) gave initial (albeit informal) support to this West Bay Boardwalk and Restoration Project (the "Project "). US F &WS is the agency primarily responsible for protecting federally - listed endangered species. The goals of the Project are to: • Install two -miles of elevated boardwalks and trails, public access points and viewing platforms; • Protect highly sensitive wetlands habitat and nesting areas for Light- Footed Clapper Rail; • Integrate high quality interpretation into boardwalk and public access points; • Restore damaged wetlands, salt marsh, riparian and coastal sage scrub habitats; • Remove unauthorized trails & non - native vegetation; • Restore bluffs, drainages and upland habitat; • Connect trails to the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center; • Prevent erosion; and • Develop plan for ongoing maintenance emphasizing sustainability. The next page shows the Project's preliminary impact area. The Project Team. The Project team will be led by Community Conservancy International ( "CCI" at www.ccint.org). CCI describes itself as "a non - profit organization dedicated to preserving natural lands and waters worldwide and implementing conservation- compatible projects to protect local communities..." CCI recently advocated and planned for two square miles of park and open space in the Baldwin Hills (near Ballona Creek in southwestern Los Angeles). CCI succeeded in securing $36 million in state funding for the Baldwin Hills. Other team members will be city staff (Public Works and the City Manager's Office), the County of Orange (from Harbors, Beaches, and Parks), US F &WS, DF &G, the Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends. Budget & Scope of Work. Planning and constructing a boardwalk project in a sensitive habitat area owned by at least three agencies (the City, the County, and DF &G) is complicated. As such, we will propose to the Council at a future Council meeting that it authorize the mayor to enter into a phased professional services agreement (PSA) with CCI to coordinate many aspects of the planning. Phase I of the Project will be the Research, Site Analysis and Schematic Design. We have described Phase I in detail in Attachment A. West Bay Boardwalk Project -- Draft Staff Report.-._ .- January 28, 2003 = Page 4 West Bay Boardwalk and Restoration Project Preliminary Impact Area West Bay Boardwalk Project -- Draft Staff Report January 28, 2003 Page 5 The draft budget shown below would complete Phase I. Phase II of the planning effort would bring the project to permitting and environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Phase III would include final construction drawings and construction management. Phase I Budget -- Draft Task Project Scoping & Initiation Landscape Architecture Biological Assessment Bio Constraints & Construction Impact Analyses Public Use Survey Engineering Survey & Topo Geotechnical Analysis Concept Development, Meetings & Reports Geotechnical Slope Study GIS Mapping Restoration Specialist Interpretive Design Research, Meetings, Tech. Team & Agency Coord. (Phase IA) Planning, Meetings, Tech. Team & Agency Coord. (Phase IB) Document Preparation & Final Report (Phase IC) Concept Illustrations Project Expenses Contingency @ 10% Total Budget (Phase I) $ Amount $ 27,036 $ 50,600 $ 49,704 $ 15,193 $ 10,203 $ 24,000 $ 27,225 $ 23,100 $ 5,500 $ 12,000 $ 11,780 $ 15,000 $ 20,762 $ 16,250 $ 6,577 $ 7,500 $ 21,260 $ 34,369 $ 378,060 Funding. As a part of the American Trader Oil Spill Settlement Agreement and at the City's request, the County of Orange has allocated about $800,000 of its settlement proceeds for this project. We intend to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding for the use of these funds, because the City will likely manage the CC[ contract and the project itself. It is difficult to estimate the costs of Phases II and III until Phase I is complete -- but we believe that the Project's construction costs alone will be about $3,000,000.00. To fund construction of the Project, we co- signed a joint letter to the Director of the California Department of Fish and Game, Mr. Robert Hight, for his support for allocating $4 million in Proposition 40 (and 12, 13, and 50) bond funds towards construction of the West Bay Boardwalk Project — Draft Staff Report January 28, 2003 Page 6 projects identified via the planning and technical studies. Despite the State's current budget problems, we are optimistic that the Project, once planned and approved, will successfully secure construction funding given that funding from the above - mentioned propositions is unaffected by the State budget. The Department of Fish and Game reports that staff to the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB), a funding arm of DF &G which specifically receives Proposition 40 and 50 revenue, has visited the area, heard about the Project, and offered a verbal commitment to allocate a portion of the WCB's bond funding for it. Environmental Review: Environmental review is not required for Phase I, but will be required and completed as a part of Phase ll. Public Notice: This agenda item requires standard Brown Act notice. Funding Availability: If the City were to enter into a contract with CCI for Phase I, the City will have to enter into an MOU to secure that portion of the County's American Trader Oil Settlement revenues to fund the Phase. Submitted by: Dave Kiff Assistant City Manager Attachments: Attachment A — Proposed Scope of Work (Phase I, in draft form) West Bay Boardwalk Project -- Draft Staff Report January 28, 2003 Page 7 Exhibit A Draft Scope of Work for Phase One: Research, Site Analysis and Schematic Design Community Conservancy International Upper Newport Bay: West Bay Boardwalk and Restoration Project Phase IA: Research and Site Analysis (October 02 -May 03) 1. CCI project scoping: background research; define project and site; define technical team; coordinate with City of Newport Beach (City) and Dept. of Fish and Game (DFG); determine project scope and legal requirements; determine mapping needs; prepare budgets; initial meeting with City, County, DFG, and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2. Landscape Architect selection: assemble list; prepare and send RFQ; review qualifications; interview and select landscape architect; select technical sub - consultants; execute contract. 3. Retain technical team: engineer and geotechnical, project biologist, restoration specialist and interpretive consultant. 4. Gather all background materials, existing site and project data and maps; distribute to team. 5. Coordinate with City, County and DFG as necessary. Individual agency meetings as necessary with USFWS, Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Coastal Commission (CC), Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), City and County. 6. Establish partnership with L.A. and Orange County Conservation Corps (Conservation Corps) to provide labor and training for biological and public use surveys. 7. Engineering a. conduct aerial and ground site, trails and drainages survey and topographic mapping; prepare AutoCAD base map. b. drilling and sampling; soils analysis; prepare soils and seismic conditions report. c. geotechnical site walk; data collection; prepare opinion of conditions and geotechnical report. d. conduct geotechnical and civil review of site hydrology and flood history, drainages, slopes and existing erosion and drainage problems on site; prepare recommendations, concepts and estimates. e. advise on project permitting requirements. 8. Biological Assessment a. conduct wetlands delineation and literature review; establish wetlands boundaries; evaluate wetlands restoration needs; coordinate Conservation Corps members; GIS mapping; prepare report and maps. b. conduct California Gnatcatcher and general bird surveys in wetlands and upland areas; coordinate Conservation Corps members; GIS mapping; prepare report and maps. c. conduct plant survey in non - wetland areas; coordinate Conservation Corps members; GIS mapping; prepare report and maps. d. prepare constraints analysis; make wetlands and upland habitat restoration recommendations; evaluate and report on all permitting issues. 9. Public Use Survey (Feb -Sept 03): develop survey and protocol; train docents and Conservation Corps members; conduct survey of public uses in West Bay area (wetlands, bluffs and existing trails). Survey will be conducted two (2) weekdays and two (2) weekend West Bay Boardwalk Project -- Draft Staff Report January 28, 2003 Page 8 days per month for eight (8) months. Prepare interim report on public use data and deliver to technical team. 10. Landscape Architecture a. coordinate sub - consultants; collect and synthesize technical and site data; mapping and preparation of related documents. b. review site history, uses, visitor information, trails, destinations, access and related data; review specific needs and concerns of City, County and DFG. c. prepare site analysis illustrations of site opportunities and constraints; prepare diagrams as necessary of uses, slopes, erosion, hydrology, soil types, views, habitat types, vegetation, public access and trails, interpretive elements. d. coordinate with CCI to prepare presentation materials for public workshop; attend workshop; synthesize and analyze workshop data for technical team. e. prepare preliminary concept plan alternatives. 11. Evaluate interpretive needs and priorities; develop initial interpretive concepts and plan for integration of interpretive elements into boardwalk, trails, public access and overlooks. 12. GIS Mapping: convert AutoCAD data to GIS maps as necessary; incorporate all GIS data; prepare 3- dimensional perspectives; coordinate technical aspects of map data collection, analysis and synthesis; prepare GIS presentation maps; coordination by CCI of map components, design and preparation. 13. Habitat Restoration Consultant a. review and analyze site vegetation and landscape aspect, slope and position; conduct upland area soils testing and analysis; prepare report. b. participate in analysis of site drainage and erosion issues; advise on permitting and related requirements; prepare recommendations. c. develop vegetation analysis and plant association recommendations for project area; prepare conceptual restoration and enhancement plan. d. participate in technical team as necessary. 14. Project Management: coordinate public agencies, technical team and public interface; participate in site planning and design; coordinate preparation and distribution of project materials; coordinate individual agency meetings; document meetings; project bookkeeping, invoicing and submittal of deliverables. 15. Design, advertise and conduct public workshop to be attended by Landscape Architect; prepare presentation materials as necessary. 16. Schedule and conduct technical team meetings: Meeting #1 - develop project goals and objectives; review existing site data and constraints; set schedule; Meeting #2 - review all site data, maps, consultant recommendations and constraints; conduct initial concept planning. West Bay Boardwalk Project -- Draft Staff Report January 28, 2003 Page 9 Phase IB: Schematic Design (June 03- October 03) 1. Integrate work of project engineers, project biologists, habitat restoration consultant, interpretive consultant and landscape architect into overall site design. Monitor for emphasis on sustainability and maximum sensitivity to habitat needs and public agency concerns. 2. Two technical team meetings to review and refine draft conceptual plan alternatives and develop preferred plan alternative for all components of two -mile elevated boardwalk, trail, overlooks and interpretive elements, including endangered species sensitive construction plan; discussions and design consultation between technical team members as necessary. 3. Landscape Architecture a. develop concept plan alternatives for trails, boardwalks, railings, ramps, overlooks, shade structures, irrigation and other improvements. b. prepare illustrations, alternative layouts, cross - sections, elevations, preliminary details, sketches and other materials as necessary to describe design elements. c. work with interpretive consultant to prepare concept sketches, diagrams and illustrations of all interpretive elements. d. develop presentation materials. e. develop preliminary construction cost estimates for project. 4. Engineering a. develop concepts for erosion repair and prevention and for drainage restoration that emphasize sustainability and soil bioengineering strategies; develop cross - sections describing materials and systems. b. prepare general arrangement sketches; prepare overall site grading concepts for proposed trails and overlooks and for portions of site requiring erosion repair and prevention. c. prepare concept alternative drawings, cross - sections, comparisons, structural concepts for boardwalk, bridges, shade structures and overlooks. d. prepare opinion of estimated costs and advise on project construction staging. 5. Biological Assessment a. consult with public agencies to prepare Endangered Species Biological Assessment per Endangered Species Act Section 7. Prepare report. b. review concept plan alternatives; advise on endangered species habitat protection needs; prepare Construction Impact Analysis. c. work with technical team to develop wetlands restoration plan as necessary. 6. Continue public use survey and deliver interim report on public use to technical team. 7. Coordinate with City, County and DFG as necessary. Individual agency discussions and meetings as necessary (USFWS, ACOE, CC, RWQCB). 8. Refine GIS maps as necessary. 9. Habitat Restoration Consultant a. work with technical team to refine habitat restoration (wetlands and uplands) and erosion repair concepts. b. prepare Habitat Restoration Plan including: methods for site preparation; plant/seed introduction; plant species lists for each habitat type identified for restoration and /or enhancement; seasonal schedule, implementation and maintenance protocol; plan phasing; analysis of expected improvement of habitat functions and values and ecosystem integration. 10. Agency Meeting to review draft conceptual plans, biological data, constraints analysis, permitting requirements and related information, and to discuss agency needs, issues and concerns. West Bay Boardwalk Project — Draft Staff Repoli January 28, 2003 Page 10 11. Project Management: Coordinate technical team meetings, information transfer, development of technical reports, maps, plan drawings and related detail; mail project update. 12. In conjunction with City Attorney's office, determine legal requirements of project; determine permitting requirements. Ensure maximum design and construction schedule sensitivity to wetlands and endangered species habitat issues. 13. Direct concept plan illustrations and development of public presentation materials; design, advertise and conduct public workshop to be attended by landscape architect. 14. Research and identify potential funding sources for construction, including federal grants, state and local funding and private funding sources. Coordinate with City. 15. Public Workshop to review draft concept plan. 16. Coordination with City and County regarding legal requirements pursuant to CEQA and NEPA, permitting, phasing, phase II and construction funding. Phase IC: Document Preparation (November 03- December 03) 1. Complete public use survey, analyze data and prepare final report. 2. Integrate technical team work, reports and maps and other data and produce final digital copies as necessary. 3. Refine conceptual plans and refine preferred plan alternative for all project site components, including: boardwalk, railing, overlooks, trail, viewing areas and all interpretive detail; erosion control, grading and drainage and restoration plans. Drawings, diagrams and other illustrations will include layouts, cross- sections, elevations, preliminary details, sketches and product materials as necessary to describe design features. 4. Finalize and produce all GIS maps. 5. Prepare written narrative for project design elements. 6. Prepare final biological assessment report and all related GIS maps. 7. Prepare and finalize construction impact analysis. 8. Coordinate and prepare an overall opinion of probable cost. 9. Prepare report on recommendations for project implementation and construction funding and identify donor opportunity elements of boardwalk and other site improvements. 10. Prepare Phase II budget and timeline for presentation to City Council. 11. Produce final printed report and distribute to involved public agencies and key stakeholders. 12. Presentation to City Council. per Ne o" est Bay , d FT- W.Hap'onw ecember 14, 2002 & Restoration Project West Bay Boardwalk Project -- Draft Staff Report January 28, 2003 Page 11 Phas*lk R.i"rd, & htr yh� rJ"-, A;-- 0 4n ---------- A,x:- Ae7yMW,nn4; IK: iry 7T !;=d- 4� r Phase 1C a:wv. t! 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