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Agenda Item 14.

City Council Meeting

Meeting Date:	10/03/2017
FROM:	Bill Gallardo

Subject:

Environmental and Pre-Acquisition Work for the Western Extension to The Tracks at Brea Trail

RECOMMENDATION

Approve Professional Services Agreement with JMD Planning and Engineering and Additional Appropriations to provide engineering and environmental documents for the potential Western Extension of The Tracks at Brea Trail.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION

The County of Orange is spearheading an effort to create a 66-mile active transportation corridor for biking and walking throughout the County called "The OC Loop." The Tracks at Brea is part of that loop. Currently, there is a gap in the Loop from the west end of The Tracks at Brea through the City of La Habra. An easement along a railroad right of way could be purchased and developed into a trail to close that gap in the two cities. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is leading an effort to negotiate with the owner of the right of way, Union Pacific Railroad (UP), for the purchase of an easement on both the portion of or right of way in La Habra and the portion in Brea. UP has stated that they will only agree to an easement if both cities participate.

In order to continue easement negotiations, environmental studies and documents must be developed. The City of La Habra has been working on this with a Planning and Engineering firm called JMD. As the two cities work closely together, and as the right of way in both cities is very similar and part of the same railroad spur, it is recommended that Brea also work with JMD. This will expedite the needed work and assure coordination between the two cities. Their proposed scope of services includes a series of tasks leading to a Mitigated Negative Declaration. Their scope also includes obtaining a right of entry from UP, developing street crossing plans required by UP, soils assessment, and developing a legal description for the easement. The full scope of work is attached to the PSA.

The proposed scope of work complements the feasibility and conceptual design work David Evans and Associates (DEA) is doing on the Western Extension. DEA's project is almost complete and their survey and other work products will be shared with JMD to keep the City's cost down.

COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Finance Committee discussed this agreement at their regular meeting on September 26, 2017 and recommended approval.

FISCAL IMPACT/SUMMARY

The total cost for the proposed PSA with JMD is $107,677. The majority of their scope of work, with the exception of $19,846, can be covered by a $200,000 Planning and Assessment grant received by the City from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the proposed Western Extension.

Therefore, City staff is requesting an additional appropriation of $200,000 which will be included with the next round of CIP quarterly budget adjustments which come before the City Council. The total DEA work needed to date is $25,525 (previously approved by the Council on April 4, 2017). However, approximately $13,800 can now be charged to the EPA grant resulting in balance $11,725. Applying this balance of $11,725 to the additional expenditure of $19,846 needed for the approval of the PSA with JMD, an additional appropriation $6,046 from the General Fund is needed. This additional appropriation of $6,046 will also be included in the next round of CIP quarterly budget adjustments.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

William Gallardo, City Manager
Prepared by: Kathie DeRobbio, Economic Development Manager
Concurrence: David M. Crabtree, AICP, Community Development Director

Attachments
Agreement
Proposal