TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Graham Wadsworth, P. E., Engineering Supervisor
SUBJECT: Resolution approving a Revised Cooperation Agreement with Caltrans to review document required to construct 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 agreement substantially in the form of the Revised Cooperation Agreement No. 240371B 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. (No Fiscal Impact).
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BACKGROUND
On April 23, 2024, the Board adopted Resolution 2024-38 for approval of Cooperation Agreement No. 240371B 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. After the Chair signed the Cooperation Agreement, Caltrans Headquarters staff asked to add two paragraphs to the end of the agreement:
1. In the “Funding” section, add: “4. In accordance with the CALTRANS Federal-Aid Project Funding Guidelines, PARTIES must obtain approval from the Federal Highway Administration prior to any PROJECT funding changes that that will change the federal share of funds.”
2. In the “Invoicing and Payment” section, add: “7. CALTRANS will draw from state and federal funds that are provided by NC without invoicing NC when CALTRANS administers those funds and CALTRANS has been allocated those funds by the CTC and whenever else possible is to allow Caltrans to draw funds directly from the CTC, FHWA, etc.”
In the Funding and Spending tables, Caltrans removed the abbreviation for the federal funding. Obtaining FHWA approval before making any funding changes is a federal requirement. The invoicing text will eliminate the need for County staff to process an invoice from Caltrans and then request reimbursement from Caltrans.
Recommended Action:
Adopt the Resolution and approve the revised Cooperation Agreement for the PA&ED, PS&E, and ROW Phases of the Napa Valley Vine Trail - Yountville through St. Helena Gap Closure Project, RDS 23-19.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN 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, 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 the County does not enter into the agreement, then the County will not have a competitive Active Transportation Program 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. In the Maintenance Agreement for the St. Helena to Calistoga Segment, the County and the 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 $4 million 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. |
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 a Mitigated Negative Declaration, for this segment of the Napa Valley Vine Trail Project.