Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Housing and Community Development to sign the closure statement to Agreement 05-0234 with California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans), executed on May 6, 2014, for Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) of the Carmel River Floodplain and Environmental Enhancement (CRFREE) Project; and
b. Approve a Cooperative Agreement with California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for continuing the development of Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) and Right-of-Way coordination leading up to the bid/contract award of construction of a 360-foot-long overflow bridge south of the Carmel River on State Route 1; and
c. Authorize the Director of Housing and Community Development to execute the Cooperative Agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of Housing and Community Development (HCD), as Successor to the Director of the Resource Management Agency, to sign the closure statement to Agreement 05-0234 with California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans), executed on May 6, 2014, for Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) of the Carmel River Floodplain and Environmental Enhancement (CRFREE) Project; and
b. Approve a Cooperative Agreement with California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for continuing the development of Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) and Right-of-Way coordination leading up to the bid/contract award of construction of a 360-foot-long overflow bridge south of the Carmel River on State Route 1 for the Carmel River Floodplain and Environmental Enhancement (CRFREE) Project; and
c. Authorize the Director of Housing and Community Development to execute the Cooperative Agreement.
SUMMARY:
Approval of the closure statement to Agreement 05-0234 and approval to execute a new Cooperative Agreement between California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the County of Monterey will allow Public Works, Facilities, Parks (PWFP) to continue development of Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E) and Right-of-Way coordination leading up to the bid/contract award to construct a 360-foot-long overflow bridge south of the Carmel River on State Route 1 (SR 1) as part of the CRFREE Project.
DISCUSSION:
The Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement Project (CRFREE Project) is a comprehensive effort to improve flood control and restore native riparian habitat, floodplain habitat, and hydrologic function to a portion of the lower floodplain along the Carmel River. Key aspects of the CRFREE Project are to create notches in the levees along the south bank of the lower Carmel River, restore the south lower Carmel River floodplain, and build a causeway along Highway 1 (causeway component), restoring connectivity between the lower Carmel River Floodplain and the south arm of the Carmel Lagoon. The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was approved in January 2020, and the Project and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan (MMRP) was approved in June 2021 by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.
Cooperative Agreement 05-0234 was executed on May 6, 2014, between Caltrans and the County of Monterey Resource Management Agency (RMA) for the purpose of Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) of the CRFREE causeway component. (Attachment A) As defined by Caltrans, PA&ED is now complete for the CRFREE causeway component. Approval to sign the Caltrans closure statement for Agreement 05-0234 will allow Caltrans to terminate this agreement and move to the next phase of the CRFREE Project. (Attachment B) Agreement 05-0234 was signed by the then-Director of the RMA.
Cooperative Agreement 05-0401 covers responsibilities for development of plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E), and right-of-way agreements for the construction of the CRFREE causeway, called an overflow bridge by Caltrans, associated ground improvement, relocation of utilities, and the construction of a by-pass road. The completion of PS&E, including its quality management will lead into the advertisement/award of the construction contract. Approval to execute this agreement will bring the CRFREE Project causeway component to the next phase of Caltrans review, necessary prior to construction. (Attachment C)
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Big Sur Land Trust (BSLT) is co-sponsor for the CRFREE Project. Through a cooperative agreement with Caltrans, the County of Monterey is acting as the Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act for the Project. Following the dissolution of the RMA in 2021, the Director of HCD is responsible for CRFREE environmental, permitting, and pre-construction coordination. The Director of PWFP is responsible for construction of the CRFREE Project and will sign the construction phase Caltrans Cooperative Agreement.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Environmental review is complete for the CRFREE Project. The Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was certified by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors in a public hearing on January 20, 2020, and the Project was approved June 15, 2021. Federal environmental review was completed April 23, 2021, when Caltrans, as lead federal agency for the causeway portion of the Project, issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI), agreeing with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, as lead federal agency for the floodplain restoration portion of the project, who issued a FONSI on October 30, 2020.
FINANCING:
CRFREE is expected to cost approximately $45.1 million to complete the final design, construction, and restoration efforts, and will be entirely grant funded. The County has been awarded $17.2 million in unexpended grant funds. BSLT holds nearly $1 million in grant funds available for the project. An additional $25.3 million is pending award from CalOES/FEMA and Caltrans. The County and BSLT are working to raise additional funds to meet the full Project cost.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
If approved, this action supports the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Initiatives for Administration and Infrastructure. The Project will provide sustainable physical infrastructure and associated flood risk reduction and habitat benefits to promote the safety of area residents and visitors.
___ Economic Development
X Administration
___ Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
___ Public Safety
Prepared by: Shandy Carroll, Management Analyst III, (831) 784 5643
Reviewed by: Melanie Beretti, AICP, Principal Planner
Reviewed by: Tom Bonigut, PE, Assistant Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Approved by: Erik V. Lundquist, AICP, HCD Director
The following attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Attachment A - Caltrans Cooperative Agreement 05-0234
Attachment B - Closure Statement to 05-0234
Attachment C - Caltrans Cooperative Agreement 05-0401