SR-02-12-2013-3G - 414-007/913-002City of City Council Report
Santa Monica,
City Council Meeting: February 12, 2013
Agenda Item: —651
To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director of Planning and Community Development
Subject: Application for California Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation
Program grant funds for the Gateway Triangle Garden associated with
Colorado Esplanade Project.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the application for grant funds in the
amount of $350,000 from the State of California Environmental Enhancement
and Mitigation Program, Fiscal Year 2012 -13 for the Gateway Triangle Garden.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to apply for the
grant, accept the grant, if awarded, and accept all grant renewals, if awarded.
3. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts and Budget
Actions section of this report, in the event that the grant is awarded.
Executive Summary
The Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP) awards grants up to
$350,000 to projects that promote sustainability through plant biodiversity, promote
animal wildlife habitats, and improve air and water quality. City staff prepared an EEMP
grant application in the amount of $350,000 for the Gateway Triangle Garden (the
Garden) which was originally conceived as part of the Colorado Esplanade project. The
Garden is situated at the confluence of the City's Civic Center and Downtown Districts
on land created by the realignment of Main and 2nd Streets as part of the Esplanade.
The Garden will feature recreation and environmental enhancements that improve air
and water quality and that link the future Expo station and local destinations in the
Downtown and Civic Center Districts. In order for the City to apply for an EEMP grant,
the City Council must adopt a resolution approving the application.
Discussion
The Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program is administered by the
California Natural Resources Agency in partnership with the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans). According to the application package, the "program
encourages projects that produce multiple benefits which reduce greenhouse gas
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emissions, reduce risks associated with climate change impacts, and demonstrate
collaboration with local, state and community entities." Grant applications require a
resolution from the City Council (Attachment A) and are capped at $350,000.
City staff has prepared an EEMP grant application for the Gateway Triangle Garden.
The Garden site will consist of the newly aggregated open space created by the future
realignment of Main Street to 2nd Street, which is a major circulation infrastructure
component of the Colorado Esplanade Project (see Attachment B Project Map). The
Gateway Triangle was originally conceived as part of the larger Colorado Esplanade
Project. The Garden is located at a critical southern gateway of the Downtown District,
and will be a wayfinding marker for pedestrians coming to and from the soon to open
Expo Light Rail Station and to many of the City's key destinations: The Santa Monica
Pier, the Civic Center parks, Santa Monica City Hall, the County Courthouse, the Third
Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place, major shopping destinations for local, LA
region and international visitors.
The Gateway Triangle Garden is conceived as a meeting place and as a respite for
users, providing orientation to the surrounding destinations while also enhancing
landscaping. The Garden will also provide important environmental benefits by:
• Replanting an existing turf area of high water usage with drought - tolerant
vegetation,
• Increasing carbon sequestration potential with additional plant material that
improves air quality for the numerous daily users, and
• Accommodating rainfall infiltration, capture and diversion to prevent runoff that
could erode the City's sensitive nearby bluffs (within 1,000 feet) and pollute the
Santa Monica Bay.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The total amount of grant funds requested from State of California, Environmental
Enhancement and Mitigation Project is $350,000. There is no local match required.
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If awarded, revenue and expenditure budgets will be established in division 20267 for
FY 2013 -14 for the awarded grant amount.
If renewals are awarded, budget changes will be included in subsequent year budgets,
contingent on Council budget adoption.
Prepared by: Joanna Hankamer, Senior Planner, Strategic & Transportation Planning
Approved:
Davin, Director
Planning and Community Development
Department
Attachments:
A. Resolution
B. Project Map
101
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
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Site Plan - Existing
Site Plan — Colorado Esplanade with RTF & EEMP Project
- -- - - - ® ®' Original Colorado Esplanade Project Scope
Related Transportation Facility (RTF): Realignment of Main to 2nd Streets
EEMP: Gateway Triangle Garden
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EEMP GRANT APPLICATION LEGEND
Existing Roadway Alignment
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RTF Project, New Alignment
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i Existing Street to be abondoned
by RFf Project; part of EEMP
Project site
EEMP Project Site
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COLORADO ESPLANADE
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DMUTION PLAN
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Reference Resolution No.
10731 (CCS)