Agenda

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C. 85

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Brian M. Balbas, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Date:	October 23, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

APPROVE the Clean and Green Adopt-a-Tree, Adopt-a-Block Cleanups and Watershed Connections Route Project and take related actions under CEQA.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 10/23/2018

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:	Laura Cremin 925-313-2015
cc:	Ave Brown - Environmental Division Manager

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: October 23, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE the Clean and Green Adopt-a-Tree, Adopt-a-Block Cleanups and Watershed Connections Route Project (Project), North Richmond area(s). [County Project No. 7517-6W7257, DCD-CP #18-30] (District I).


DETERMINE the Project is a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Class 1(c) Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Article 19, Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines,

RECOMMENDATION(S): (CONT'D)

DIRECT the Director of the Department of Conservation and Development to file a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk, and

AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to arrange for payment of a $25 fee to the Department of Conservation and Development for processing, and a $50 fee to the County Clerk for filing the Notice of Exemption.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Estimated Project cost: $250,000. (67% California State Coastal Conservancy and 33% Local County Watershed Program Funds)

BACKGROUND:

The purpose of this project is to implement a suite of multiple-benefit urban greening projects in the community. North Richmond, a Community of Concern and Priority Development Area at the mouth of the San Pablo Creek and Wildcat Creek watersheds, is challenged by lack of street trees, illegally-dumped materials, and poor infrastructure. This project is needed to expand the urban forest to reduce heat islands, improve water quality of the creeks through trash reduction and removal, and increase the community’s awareness of and safe access to their local natural resources.

This project is part of the North Richmond Watersheds Connections grant. The Clean and Green Adopt-a-Tree, Adopt-a-Block, and Watershed Connections Route Project will be implemented in one phase that is distinct from the other elements of the grant. The Fred Jackson Way Rain Gardens and Fred Jackson Way First Mile/Last Mile Urban Greening elements are separate phases.

The aims of each primary component of the project are to:

Clean and Green Adopt-a-Tree: Increase the urban canopy by planting 50 street trees on private property in collaboration with homeowners;
Clean and Green Adopt-a-Block: Lead County-funded block cleanups, anticipated to remove 4,500 pounds of trash from the creeks and watersheds annually, as well as leverage ongoing trash reduction efforts by providing “jewel boxes” (artful trash and recycling receptacles) at litter hot spots; and
Clean and Green Watershed Connections Route: Improve watershed awareness, access, and walkability with wayfinding, artwork, and interpretive elements, such as painted footprints, along the Watershed Connections route.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Delay in approving the project may result in a delay of design, construction, and may jeopardize funding.