Agenda Item 5: PUBLIC COMMENT Individuals may speak on any topic - - PDF document

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SA SAN F FRANCISQ SQUITO C CREEK

J O I N T P O W E R S A U T H O R I T Y

S F C J PA . O R G

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING Palo Alto City Council Chambers September 26, 2019 at 3:30 p.m.

Agenda Item 5: PUBLIC COMMENT

Individuals may speak on any topic for up to three minutes; during any other Agenda item, individuals may speak for up to three minutes

• n the subject of that item.

September 26, 2019 Board of Directors Meeting

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Agenda Item 5:

REGULAR BUSINESS – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

• a. Certify the Final Environmental Impact Report for the

Upstream of Highway 101 Project:

Consider approving Resolution #19-9-26-A, certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report for the San Francisquito Creek Flood Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation Project Upstream of Highway 101; making findings pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act; adopting a Statement of Overriding Considerations; and adopting a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program

September 26, 2019 Board of Directors Meeting

Flow

After proposed project is built: Max flow to reach Pope-Chaucer = 7,500 < 7,200 should not flood anywhere > 7,200 floods at Middlefield Bridge only Current Conditions: Max flow to reach Pope-Chaucer = 7,500 < 5,800 should not flood anywhere > 5,800 floods at Pope-Chaucer Bridge > 7,200 also floods at Middlefield Bridge

With the Bay-Hwy. 101 Project complete, the flood picture upstream of Hwy. 101

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Opportunities to review and comment on the project & EIR

The initial Upstream of Hwy. 101 project approach in 2013 was to provide 100-yr protection through work between Hwy. 101 and Pope-Chaucer Br. In public meetings in 2013 and 2014, the SFCJPA heard from many that this approach would have too many impacts on the Creek in that area. That led the SFCJPA to develop a two-pronged approach with fewer permanent impacts to the Creek in the neighborhoods: 1. Enable the channel downstream of Middlefield Bridge to contain the maximum flow that could get under that bridge (equals 1998 event); restore habitat; and not preclude additional protection upstream. 2. By detaining floodwater upstream of Hwy 280 when flows exceed the capacity at Middlefield Bridge, eliminate overtopping at that bridge during 100-yr event, and eliminate the FEMA floodplain everywhere.

El Camino Real

San Francisquito Creek Flood Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation Project

The SFCJPA’s Approach

100-year event = 8,150 at flood-prone Pope-Chaucer Bridge

• Increase capacity by ~4,500 cfs to a total of 9,400

(max flow with sea level 10 ft. above current high tide)

• Increase capacity by 1,700 cfs to a total of 7,500
• Detain 800-1,000 cfs during storm event

Downstream of Middlefield is protected against any flow, regardless of storm duration

Pope-Chaucer Br

Start filling just before overtopping begins downstream; prevents flooding during 100-year event

M i d d l e f i e l d

10/2/19 4 Today Post-project

(downstream of Middlefield Road, the creek should not overtop)

Modeled floodplain

• f 1998-sized event

In December 2016 the SFCJPA announced a revised project and planned EIR through a Notice of Preparation. As this project and EIR were developed, when it was most valuable, the SFCJPA heard public comment at multiple presentations to each City Council, dozens of SFCJPA Board meetings, and the formal public meetings in:

• Jan. – Feb. 2017: 4 scoping meetings

(2 in MP , 1 in each PA & EPA)

• October 2017: 2 facilitated workshops

and a tour of potential project sites

• April – June 2019: A public hearing in

each city on the Draft EIR; comments were accepted for a period almost 50% longer than what CEQA requires.

The Final EIR added clarifications and information requested in comments on the Draft, but no significant changes or new impacts

10/2/19 5 Outreach for the Draft EIR public hearings

• 13,000 postcards mailed to nearby properties
• Next Door posts in all three cities
• E-blast to people signed up to receive these
• Websites and website calendars
• Print ads: Palo Alto Weekly, Almanac, Palo Alto Daily News, SMC Daily Journal
• Presentations: Menlo Park & East Palo Alto City Councils, SFCJPA Board
• Announcement: Palo Alto City Council

Another look at what’s in the EIR: Alternatives considered

1. No action / no project 2. Replace Pope-Chaucer Br. & railing at Woodland & Univ., widen bottlenecks 3. Construct one or more detention basins in upper watershed 4. Construct an underground bypass culvert 5. Replace Pope-Chaucer Br. & railing at Woodland & Univ., build floodwalls 6. Construct a culvert through Pope-Chaucer Bridge 7. Construct a channel around Pope-Chaucer Bridge 8. Replace Pope-Chaucer with a bridge for bikes and peds only 9. Remove and do not replace Pope-Chaucer Bridge

• 10. Increase the removal of debris and non-native vegetation
• 11. Deepen the channel
• 12. Construct multiple small-scale water detention facilities
• 13. Increase incentives for Low Impact Development (LID)
• 14. Utilize overland floodways
• 15. Construct a new pump station
• 16. Construct a new Ladera Dam
• 17. P-C Bridge, widen bottlenecks (Corps objective smaller flow + freeboard)

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Alternatives that met project objectives and are feasible:

• Replace Pope-Chaucer Bridge, replace University Ave.

wooden parapet extension, and widen channel bottlenecks downstream

• Replace Pope-Chaucer Bridge, replace University Ave.

wooden parapet extension, and build floodwalls downstream

• Construct Webb Ranch Detention Basin Alternative
• Construct Former Nursery Detention Basin Alternative

Another look at what’s in the EIR: Alternatives analyzed

• Replace Pope-Chaucer
• Construct floodwalls not more than 2 feet high
• Replace wooden parapet extension at Woodland & Univ.

and match PA top of bank, widen creek at W. Bayshore

Closed for ~9 months during construction

Project of the City of Palo Alto to replace Newell Bridge

Floodwall Alternative

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Potential Upstream Detention Sites

Former Plant Nursery Detention Basin Webb Ranch Detention Basin

¨ § ¦

280 A l p i n e R d ey Hill Rd S a n d L a k e s h

• r

e D r A l i s

• W

Alpine Rd. S a n d H i l l R d .

Searsville Dam and Reservoir

One or more basins could be constructed. Searsville Reservoir would begin to fill when flows exceed the capacity of a new orifice/tunnel in the Dam. Webb and Former Nursery basins would begin to fill before flows exceed the capacity of Pope-Chaucer Bridge.

Former Nursery site Webb Ranch site

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Why not focus only on upstream detention to achieve objectives?

• To equal the flood protection benefit of the proposed project,

detention would have to be built at Webb Ranch and Searsville, and possibly also at the Former Nursery site

• Constructing all three facilities without replacing Pope-Chaucer

would likely not protect against the 100-year storm event

• Prolonged storm events can fill a detention basin, after which it

provides no flood protection benefit

• The timeline to construct these basins is longer and uncertain

(As discussed during the Aug. 22, 2019 SFCJPA Board meeting, we intend to secure info needed to evaluate potential detention basins)

Flow

After proposed project is built: Max flow to reach Pope-Chaucer = 7,500 < 7,200 should not flood anywhere > 7,200 floods at Middlefield Bridge only Current Conditions: Max flow to reach Pope-Chaucer = 7,500 < 5,800 should not flood anywhere > 5,800 floods at Pope-Chaucer Bridge > 7,200 also floods at Middlefield Bridge

With the Bay-Hwy. 101 Project complete, the flood picture upstream of Hwy. 101

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How the does Searsville relate to flood protection alternatives?

Potential flooding during 100-year flow (estimated in cfs at Pope-Chaucer) No SFCJPA Project Detention at Webb & Former Nursery Proposed SFCJPA project Proposed project and Webb Ranch Searsville not modified, Res. full of sediment (no fish passage) 2,350 1,050 650

(flooding only at Middlefield)

No flooding

(250 excess capacity)

Remove dam (enables fish passage) 3,450 2,150 1,750

(flooding only at Middlefield)

850 Stanford’s dam

• rifice approach

(fish passage) 1,450 150 No flooding

(250 excess capacity)

No flooding

(1,150 excess capacity)

Flooding at and downstream of Middlefield Road Bridge

Proposed Project

• Replace Pope-Chaucer
• Widen channel where needed by removing concrete
• Replace wooden parapet extension at Woodland & Univ.

and match Palo Alto top of bank

Closed for ~9 months during construction City of Palo Alto project to replace Newell Bridge

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Menlo Park Palo Alto

Existing Pope-Chaucer Bridge Proposed

Replace a large concrete terrace structure on the East Palo Alto bank with a natural creek bank

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Replace wooden Univ. Ave. Bridge parapet extension on Woodland Ave. and match Palo Alto side top of bank

Widen three areas between Newell and Euclid where sacked concrete lines the Palo Alto creek bank

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• Aesthetics
• Biological Resources
• Geology & Soils
• Hazard. Materials & Public Health
• Land Use & Agriculture
• Public Services
• Traffic & Transportation
• Energy

Preferred project: potential impacts and mitigations

• Air Quality
• Cultural Resources
• Greenhouse Gases / Climate Change
• Hydrology & Water Resources
• Noise & Vibration
• Recreation
• Utilities

The 15 categories in the box below were evaluated in Chapter 3. Table 1-2 in Chap. 1 summarizes whether the proposed project has:

• no impact
• a less than significant impact
• a significant impact that can become less than significant with mitigation
• a significant and unavoidable impact with mitigation
• From the project alone:

Noise during construction

• Cumulative effect of the project and
• ther sources, such as Highway 101:

Air quality during construction

Proposed Project: Significant & Unavoidable Impacts

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Pope Woodland

Trees on and near Pope-Chaucer

Temporary traffic impacts – Less than significant with mitigation

• During construction, max traffic increase is estimated to be 60 trips / day (20 truck, 40 worker)
• The largest anticipated # of workers at any one time is 20 for Pope-Chaucer Bridge replacement
• Channel widening activities would require the most construction haul trips in a given day

M i d d l e f i e l d R d .

Truck haul routes:

• University Ave to Hwy 101
• Embarcadero Road to East

& West Bayshore Road

• Middlefield Road near Woodland Ave and Palo Alto Ave is expected to experience the most

significant increase in traffic delays during the temporary Pope-Chaucer Bridge closure.

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• Construction equipment will operate immediately adjacent to the yards of

some properties for limited periods of time

• Construction truck traffic would generate intermittent increases in noise

Temporary noise impacts – Significant and unavoidable

Resolution 19-9-26-A to Certify the Final EIR

• Findings of Fact: The SFCJPA followed required CEQA processes, including

considering a reasonable range of alternatives; the public has had adequate

• pportunity to comment, results of EIR have been independently reviewed and

evaluated, and recirculation of the EIR is not required.

• Statement of Overriding Considerations: Project would result in environmental

impacts that can be mitigated, and significant and unavoidable impacts related to noise and air quality during construction, the impacts of which can be mitigated but not to less-than-significant levels. However, the flood protection and environmental benefits of the project outweigh the adverse impacts and justify proceeding with the project.

• Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan: A program will be implemented to

mitigate environmental impacts that can be mitigated. This program will be adopted with certification of the EIR and is a condition of project approval.

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Agenda Item 5:

REGULAR BUSINESS – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

b. Approve the Upstream of Highway 101 Project: Consider approving Resolution #19-9-26-B, formally approving the San Francisquito Creek Flood Protection, Ecosystem Restoration, and Recreation Project Upstream of Highway 101, and authorizing the Executive Director to File a Notice of Determination for the Project

September 26, 2019 Board of Directors Meeting

Resolution 19-9-26-B Approving the Project

CEQA processes were followed, the SFCJPA Board has certified the Final EIR, and the Board desires to proceed with the following actions necessary to begin construction of the Project:

• The Board approves the Project described in the Final EIR,
• The mitigation measures identified in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting

Program shall be incorporated into the Project, and

• The SFCJPA shall secure necessary funding, agreements, permits and land

rights to begin construction. The Board authorizes and directs the Executive Director of the Authority to file a Notice of Determination pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 21152(a) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15094, in the manner required by law, with the Clerk-Recorder’s Office of both the County of Santa Clara and the County of San Mateo, and with the Office of Planning and Research of the State of California

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Agenda Item 5:

REGULAR BUSINESS – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

c. Upstream of Highway 101 Project: Consider authorizing the Executive Director to execute Amendment Number 1 to the October 18, 2012 Agreement between the SFCJPA and Santa Clara Valley Water District to fund project environmental planning and permit applications

Subject to minor modifications agreed to by the SFCJPA Executive Director and General Counsel with Valley Water

September 26, 2019 Board of Directors Meeting

The October 18, 2012 Agreement provides funding to prepare the EIR. Subsequent agreement among SFCJPA and Valley Water staff enabled the agreement to fund a collaborative stakeholder process, benefit/cost analyses for grant applications, and to develop Biological Assessments and LEDPA analyses required for permits. Amendment 1 to the funding agreement describes the above items and provides $450,000 in new funds for:

• Additional analyses requested by the Cities on potential impacts to

traffic and trees.

• The preparation of applications for permits from regulatory agencies

and the fees to submit those applications

• Endangered Species Act consultation required for permits
• Preparation of Water Diversion Plan and Stormwater Pollution

Prevention Plan, both needed for permits and construction

• Landscape design for restoration/mitigation sites and Mitigation

Monitoring Plan for installation and care of the restoration sites. Amendment Number 1 to the SFCJPA-Valley Water agreement to fund environmental planning and permit applications

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Agenda Item 5:

REGULAR BUSINESS – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

d. Upstream of Highway 101 Project: Consider authorizing the Executive Director to execute Amendment Number 3 to the January 8, 2013 consultant agreement with ICF Jones & Stokes for project environmental planning and permit applications

September 26, 2019 Board of Directors Meeting

Amendment 3 to the ICF contract

• Provides additional funds for additional analyses requested by the

Cities on potential impacts to traffic and trees.

• Exercises optional tasks to prepare permit applications and

supporting materials to the Corps of Engineers, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and CA Department of Fish & Wildlife

• Adds the following new tasks also required for permits: for

Endangered Species Act consultation and preparation of a Water Diversion Plan and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.

• Increases the amount of the contract by $135,739.
• Updates the Schedule of Performance, setting the term of the

agreement to end on May 31, 2020.