TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Graham Wadsworth, P. E., Engineering Supervisor
SUBJECT: Resolution approving Amendment 1 to Cooperation Agreement 240371B with Caltrans to review the Plans, Specifications and Estimate for the Napa Valley Vine Trail - Yountville through St. Helena Gap Closure Project, RDS 23-19
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution to approve and authorize an amendment, substantially in the form of Amendment No. 1 to Cooperation Agreement No. 240371B with Caltrans to review the Plans, Specifications and Estimate (PS&E) for the Napa Valley Vine Trail (NVVT) - Yountville through St. Helena Gap Closure Project. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
Congressman Thompson included $4 million of Community Project Funding (CPF) in the federal fiscal year 2023-2024 budget to complete the planning, engineering, and environmental work of over 10 miles of Class I and Class III multiuse path between the existing Vine Trail paths in Yountville and St. Helena. This funding has helped Napa County to be closer to “shovel ready” and submit more competitive grant applications.
On April 23, 2024, the Board adopted Resolution 2024-38 for approval of Cooperation Agreement No. 240371B (Caltrans No. 04-2979) with Caltrans to review the Project Approval & Environmental Document (PA&ED), Plans, Specifications and Estimate (PS&E), and Right-of-way (ROW) phases of the Napa Valley Vine Trail (NVVT) - Yountville through St. Helena Gap Closure Project.
On June 4, 2024, the Board adopted Resolution 2024-57 for approval of a revised Cooperation Agreement that included new sections regarding funding, invoicing, and payments. The invoicing text eliminated the need for County staff to process an invoice from Caltrans and then request reimbursement from Caltrans.
When Caltrans and Napa County staff prepared the Funding Summary in Agreement 240371B, they included $3,600,000 for the PA&ED and PS&E Phases with the understanding that they would amend the Agreement at a future date to add the remaining $400,000 of Community Projects Funding to the PS&E Phase. It is anticipated that Napa County will complete the PA&ED Phase in July 2027 with the Board’s certification of an Environmental Impact Report. Caltrans Project Management Unit staff could not withdraw obligated Community Project Funding for Caltrans expenses and want to add invoicing text back into the Cooperation Agreement so that Caltrans staff can invoice Napa County, and County staff will pay the Caltrans invoices and then request reimbursement from Caltrans Local Assistance Unit staff.
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution and approve the Amendment to Cooperation Agreement 240371B for the PS&E Phase of the Napa Valley Vine Trail - Yountville through St. Helena Gap Closure Project, RDS 23-19.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
On November 7, 2023, the Board approved a budget amendment to transfer $2.5 million from the Accumulated Capital Outlay (ACO) budget (Fund3000, Sub-Division 3000000) to Project 24012 (Fund 2040, Sub-Division 2040500, Account 52310). |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
The Napa Valley Vine Trail is a public amenity that reduces vehicle trips and promotes health and wellness. If Napa County does not amend the agreement, then the County will lose $400,000 in CPF grant funding and not have a competitive grant application and construction will begin later at a higher cost. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
If the County obtains grant funding for the construction, then the County would be responsible for maintaining the portion of the trail between the Town of Yountville and the City of St. Helena Limits. In the Maintenance Agreement for the St. Helena to Calistoga Segment, the County and the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition (NVVTC) share the cost. It is anticipated that the County and NVVTC will enter a similar agreement for the Yountville to St. Helena Segment. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
There is a risk that the $400,000 in grant funding would not be expended on the Project and the NVVTC and County would need to find some other source of funding for this section of the Vine Tail. |
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Additional Information |
Strategic initiative: Build Healthy, Connected Communities. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable. The County would be responsible for preparing and adopting a CEQA document, such as an Environmental Impact Report, for this segment of the Napa Valley Vine Trail Project.