Title:
Title
Preliminary Design and EIR Addendum for Sacramento River Parkway - Central Pocket Levee Trail Project (K15185000)
End
FileID
File ID: 2019-00311
Location
Location: Pocket Area Levee, District 7
Recommendation:
Recommendation
1) Adopt a Resolution approving the preliminary design plan for the Sacramento River Parkway - Central Pocket Levee Trail Project (K15185000); and 2) adopt a Resolution approving the Addendum to the Sacramento River Parkway Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Project.
Contact: Adam Randolph, Senior Engineer (916) 808-7803; Nader Kamal, Interim Engineering Services Manager (916) 808-7035, Department of Public Works
Body
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution (Approving Preliminary Plan)
3-Preliminary Plan
4-Resolution (Adopt Addendum)
5-Resolution No. 1997-590
6-Exhibit A - Addendum to the Sacramento River Parkway Plan EIR
7-Exhbit B - Initial Study for the Sacramento River Parkway Central Pocket Levee Trail
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: In 1975, the City Council took the first formal action to recognize the need for providing recreational use along the Sacramento Riverfront by adopting a Feasibility Study and Sacramento River Parkway Master Plan (1975 Plan). The 1975 Plan introduced the concept of developing a public access recreation trail along the Sacramento River, coupled with natural resource protection and enhancement.
In 1997, an update to the Sacramento River Parkway Plan was adopted by passage of Resolutions 1997-590 through 594. These actions updated the Sacramento River Parkway Plan and the City/County Bikeway Master Plan was amended to include the proposed off-street multi-use trail along the Sacramento River. The 1997 Sacramento River Parkway Plan retained the core values of the 1975 Plan and added guiding policies that addressed security, privacy and design issues. The 1997 Plan included a map showing proposed off-street segments where they did not currently exist “on-river” along the levee of the entire Sacramento River within the City. The purpose of the Plan is to create a continuous Class I multi-use trail along the river from the City limits to downtown for local and regional recreation and commuter travel. Thereafter, the City’s General Plan has included the off-street multi-use trail along the Sacramento River levee.
In 2000, the City Council adopted Resolution 2000-464 to accept the Sacramento River Greenway Plan (Greenway Plan) as an advisory document. The Greenway Plan was prepared by the State Lands Commission, with the assistance of the cities of Sacramento and West Sacramento, and the counties of Yolo and Sacramento. The Greenway Plan complements the 1997 Sacramento River Parkway Plan such that it is intended as a regional planning tool to coordinate resource management and public recreation access to both sides of the Sacramento River.
In 2012, the City Council approved the American & Sacramento River Parkway Plans 2012 Implementation Program by Resolution 2012-390. This document outlined the procedures to acquire the necessary easement rights within the Pocket area to complete the missing segments of the trail as set forth in the Sacramento River Parkway Plan.
In July 2017, the Sacramento River Parkway Bike Trail (K15185000) Capital Improvement Project (CIP) was established to complete environmental documentation and acquire necessary easement rights for the Central Pocket Levee Trail Project segment.
City staff has completed a preliminary engineering plan for the Central Pocket Levee Trail Project, which is consistent with the Sacramento River Parkway Plan. The Project would pave 1.85 miles of the Sacramento levee to extend the existing paved levee trail northward. The existing paved trail is located in the south Pocket area from Garcia Bend Park south to Freeport Blvd., and also there are portions of the paved trail located in the north Pocket area. The existing trail allows for bicycle and pedestrian use along the river levee. The trail width is 16 feet of which 12 feet would be paved and two foot shoulders on each side provided in accordance with City off-street multi-use trail standards.
As part of this Project, the City would negotiate or acquire recreational easements of 20 feet in width along the top of the levee for approximately 0.32 miles. The City already holds property rights for the remaining portions of this 1.85-mile trail section.
The Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency (SAFCA) is planning on undertaking improvements to the Sacramento River levee between 2019 and 2023. As a result, construction of the Project will be delayed until after the levee work is completed and funding is appropriated.
Environmental review of the Project was undertaken in the form of an Initial Study. Because the Project does not require any changes to the Sacramento River Parkway Plan and there is no new information of substantial importance or changes in the circumstances under which the Project will be undertaken, the CEQA Guidelines provide that a subsequent or supplemental EIR is not needed and an Addendum to the prior EIR is appropriate. The Addendum to the existing Sacramento River Parkway Plan EIR has been prepared and the Addendum and the Initial Study was posted on the City’s Environmental Services website. City Council approval of preliminary engineering plan and adoption of the Addendum to the EIR is required in order to proceed with easement acquisition and final design.
Policy Considerations: The action requested supports the City’s General Plan goal M5.1.3 of providing a continuous bikeway network consisting of bike-friendly facilities connecting residential neighborhoods with key destinations and activity centers.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): On October 21, 1997, the City Council certified an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and adopted Findings of Fact, a Statement of Overriding Considerations and a Mitigation Monitoring Plan for the Sacramento River Parkway Plan Update (M91-006).
The Central Pocket Levee Trail Project is consistent with the Sacramento River Parkway Plan Update as analyzed in the 1997 EIR. The Initial Study determined that the analysis of impacts and the mitigation measures in the 1997 EIR is adequate to approve the Central Pocket Levee Trail Project by means of an Addendum. The more recent 2035 General Plan EIR and the SAFCA EIR for the upcoming levee improvement project were reviewed to determine if there was any new information of substantial importance or changed circumstances with regard to the proposed Project that would trigger the need for a subsequent or supplement EIR. No such new information or changed circumstances were found. Because the requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15163 provide that no further environmental review of the Project is required unless there is new information of substantial importance or changed circumstances, an Addendum was prepared in accordance with Section 15164. The Initial Study and Addendum are attached to this report.
The 1997 EIR and the City’s 2035 General Plan EIR can be found at:
<http://www.cityofsacramento.org/Community-Development/Planning/Environmental/Impact-Reports.aspx>
Sustainability: The project is consistent with the City’s General Plan goal 5.1.14 encouraging bicycle use.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: To complete this next phase of the Sacramento River Parkway Plan, the City is required to approve the preliminary plan and the Addendum to the Sacramento River Parkway Plan EIR for the Central Pocket Levee Project.
Financial Considerations: The recommendations in this report do not result in any financial impact to the City.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.