REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 14, 2023
FROM
BEAHTA R. DAVIS, Director, Regional Parks Department
SUBJECT
Title
Grant Application to California Coastal Conservancy for Completion of the Santa Ana River Trail Phase IV-A
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve and authorize the submission of a grant application in the amount of $14,459,371 to the California Coastal Conservancy for the Santa Ana River Trail, Phase IV-A project located between California Street to Orange Street in the City of Redlands.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Deputy Executive Officer, or the Director of the Regional Parks Department, as required by the California Coastal Conservancy, to execute any subsequent non-substantive amendments to the grant application on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Direct the Director of the Regional Parks Department to transmit all amendments in relation to the grant application to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
(Presenter: Beahta R. Davis, Director, 387-2340)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The current total implementation cost for the Santa Ana River Trail (SART) Phase IV-A is estimated at $14,459,371. If granted, the California Coastal Conservancy (Conservancy) would fund the total required funding for planning, design, and the construction of this section of the SART. The Conservancy does not require any matching funds under this grant.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This item will authorize the Regional Parks Department (Department), on behalf of the County, to submit a grant application to the Conservancy and authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Deputy Executive Officer, or the Director of the Regional Parks Department, as required by the Conservancy, to execute any subsequent non-substantive amendments on behalf of the County, subject to review by County Counsel. If the grant application is successful, funds will be provided to the County on a reimbursement basis to fund Phase IV-A implementation costs of the SART for the benefit of County residents and visitors. There are no other costs associated with the construction of this section of the trail. The SART Phase IV-A project will extend the trail 3.5 miles from California Street to Orange Street in Redlands. Anticipated construction start date for this phase of the trail is February 1, 2024, with an estimated completion date of November 30, 2026.
San Bernardino County has completed and opened two sections of the SART to the public. SART Phase II was completed in April of 2005 and extended the trail from Waterman Avenue in San Bernardino west to La Cadena Avenue in the City of Colton. SART Phase I was completed in April of 2007 and extended the trail from La Cadena Avenue in Colton to the Riverside-San Bernardino County Line where it joined Riverside County’s existing trail section. In addition to the National Forest trail sections, there are now seven miles of paved, multi-use Parkway completed and open to the public in San Bernardino County. Phase III of SART located between Waterman Avenue and California Street in the cities of Redlands and San Bernardino will begin construction in September of 2023. Following the award of this grant, the Department will seek Board approval to submit an additional grant application to the Conservancy for all costs pertaining to the completion of SART Phase IV-B and Phase IV-C that will extend the trail from Orange Street East to Opal Avenue in the Mentone and Redlands areas.
This action meets the County’s and Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives of (1) operating in a fiscally-responsible and business-like manner by seeking grant funding for projects; (2) ensuring development of a well-planned, balanced, and sustainable County by constructing facilities that encourage walking and biking; and (3) providing for the safety, health and social services needs of County residents by providing opportunities for healthy activities with construction of the SART.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 14, 2023; Finance (Elias Duenas, Administrative Analyst, 387-4052) on February 15, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on February 23, 2023.