TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Graham Wadsworth, P. E., Engineering Supervisor
SUBJECT: Amendment No. 7 to Agreement No. 240200B with Kimley-Horn to provide consultant services for the Napa Valley Vine Trail - Yountville through St. Helena Project, RDS 23-19.
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Amendment No. 7 to Agreement No. 240200B with Kimley-Horn and increase the maximum compensation from $4,180,629 to $4,834,092 to provide consultant services to provide an Extended Phase I Plan, Fieldwork, and Report for the Napa Valley Vine Trail segment from Yountville through St. Helena and approve a Budget Amendment for additional federal grant funding. (Fiscal Impact: $850,000 Expense; Not Budgeted; State - Other Funding; Discretionary)
[4/5 vote required]
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BACKGROUND
The proposed project (Project) is to design and construct the Napa Valley Vine Trail (NVVT) adjacent to Highway 29 between California Drive or Madison Street in Yountville and Pratt Avenue in St. Helena. The Project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance accessibility and connectivity by promoting the use of transit, biking, and walking. The Project would also provide safe routes to schools, jobs, services, and recreation.
In 2022, Congressman Thompson included $4 million of Community Project Funding (CPF) in the federal fiscal year 2023-2024 Budget for the planning, engineering, and environmental work of over 10 miles of Class I and Class III multiuse path between the existing paths in Yountville and St. Helena. On September 12, 2023, the Board approved a $714,000 Funding Agreement with the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition (NVVTC) to reimburse the County for the design and environmental documents. In 2025, Congressman Thompson included $850,000 of additional CPF in the federal fiscal year 2026-2027 Budget to help complete the pre-construction work.
Based on the value engineering analysis of the 35% design estimate and alignment refinements, the total project cost could be $50 million and Napa County and NVVTC are applying for federal and state grants.
On November 7, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved Agreement No. 240200B with Kimley- Horn to complete the Project Initiation Document (PID) and Project Approval and Environmental Document (PA&ED) Phases of the Project (Tasks 1 through 7). In 2024 and 2025, the Board approved Amendments 1 through 6 for grant support, evaluating alternative alignments, preparing higher level environmental documents, and completing additional work required by Caltrans described in the attached resolution.
The original scope of services included preparing an Archeological Study Report (ASR); however, it did not include preparing an Extended Phase 1 (XP1) Plan for excavations to evaluate the extent of archeological resources along the 11-mile-long project alignment. Based on information in the ASR, Caltrans is requiring Napa County to excavate in areas of known archeological resources identified in the ASR as part of the National Environmental Policy Act studies required by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) that requires federal agencies to consider the effects of their projects (undertakings) on historic properties, including archaeological sites. Kimley Horn staff submitted an amendment proposal to prepare an XP1 Plan, conduct fieldwork identified in the XP1 Plan, and report the findings and eligibility of artifacts for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) at an additional cost of $521,128 to the County.
Napa County, City of St. Helena, Caltrans, and NVVTC staff agreed to eliminate Alternative 0 Option C from the Project Description and Amendment 7 includes work to remove Option C from the environmental documents. Option C was a class 1 multi-use path along Charter Oak Avenue west of Highway 29 and on a new bridge over Sulphur Creek to the intersection of Oak Avenue at Mitchell Drive in St. Helena. Having one alignment on the existing pedestrian bridge over Sulphur Creek next to Highway 29 significantly reduced the cost of the XP1 scope and the Option C design, environmental, right-of-way, and construction costs.
If Kimley Horn’s subconsultant finds eligible artifacts, then Caltrans will require an Extended Phase II (XPII) Plan, Fieldwork, and Report at an additional cost and Kimley Horn will submit another amendment request.
Archeological work is the task that takes the most time during the design phase of the project. With the additional $850,000 in federal funding, Staff recommends that the Board approve Amendment No. 7 to Agreement No. 240200B with Kimley-Horn to provide an Extended Phase I (XPI) Plan, Fieldwork, and Report.
Recommended Action:
1. Approve and authorize Amendment No. 7 to Agreement No. 240200B with Kimley-Horn for the Napa Valley Vine Trail segment from Yountville through St. Helena for an additional $653,463 for a new maximum of $4,834,092; and
2. Approve a budget adjustment to increase appropriations for Project 24012 - NV Vine Trail Yountville - St. Helena in the Roads Capital Improvement Fund (Fund 2040, Sub-Division 2040500) in account 52310 - Consulting Services by $850,000, offset by an increase in revenue of $850,000 in account 43790 - St - Other Funding from the Community Projects Grant. (4/5 vote required).
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Approving the amendment would authorize Kimley-Horn staff to prepare an XP1 Plan and Report to include in the NEPA EA and CEQA EIR. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
The services provided with Amendment 7 will continue in fiscal year 2026-27. Funding for final design and permits will be needed in the future. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
The County will not provide a XP1 Plan and Report to Caltrans, Caltrans will not adopt the Final Environmental Assessment, and Napa County will not be able to obtain federal grants for the construction. |
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Additional Information |
In 2022, 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 for the Project. On November 7, 2023, the Board approved a budget amendment to transfer $2.5 million from the Accumulated Capital Outlay (ACO) budget to Project 24012. On September 10, 2024, the Board approved a budget amendment to transfer $2,214,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund (CIF) budget to Project 24012. The CIF will be reimbursed in full as CPF and NVVTC funding is received. 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 proposed action merely approves entering into agreement to conduct detailed design for a potential future trail, which will only be constructed if funding is available, full CEQA review is conducted, and the trail is approved by all required public agencies. The County has not committed to approving this section of the Vine Trail or any potential Vine Trail alignment, or any other specific project that may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.