TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Graham Wadsworth, P. E., Engineering Supervisor
SUBJECT: Cooperation Agreement with Imola Avenue, LP for Napa County to design and construct a Class 1 Multi-use Path on Imola Avenue and a Class IV Protected Bikeway on Highway 221
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Cooperation Agreement No. 260364B with Imola Avenue, LP for Napa County to design and construction of a Class 1 Multi-use path on Imola Avenue and a Class IV Protected Bikeway Highway 221; and authorize the Director of Public Works to submit an Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program grant application and execute documents related to the grant application. (No Fiscal Impact, Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has an Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program that includes $750 million in funding to reduce greenhouse gas submissions, strengthen the economy, and improve health in the environment. The AHSC Grant puts Cap and Invest dollars into projects that facilitate greenhouse gas reductions by supporting more compact infill development patterns, active transportation and transit usage, and protecting agricultural land from sprawl development.
The Napa Valley Transportation Authority (NVTA) and Imola Avenue, LP asked Napa County to partner on a project that would construct affordable housing on State property on the south side of Imola Avenue, purchase two busses, extend bus service to Skyline Park, construct a class 1 path from Skyline Park along the south side of Imola Avenue to Soscol Avenue, and construct a Class IV Protected Bikeway on the east side of Highway 221 from Imola Avenue to Basalt Road. The housing property is located on 5 acres of State land across Imola Avenue from Penny Lane and east of the Napa County Office of Education.
The 2.5 miles of bikeways on Imola and Highway 221 would provide critical safety and access improvements to existing residential areas, neighborhood retail, schools, and recreational destinations. The class 1 path along Imola Avenue is shown in the Napa Countywide Active Transportation Plan (2026) and Imola Corridor Plan (2020) and a class I path is shown along the east side of Highway 221 as a Tier 1 project in the Caltrans District 4 Bicycle Plan. There is not adequate grant funding to construct a class 1 path on Highway 221; therefore, the project would widen the highway for a class IV bikeway.
The Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure (STI) Grant could pay 100% of the eligible costs; however, “soft costs” cannot exceed 30% of the grant amount. The eligible “soft costs” include design, environmental, permitting, and construction management expenses, which could exceed the 30% maximum. If HCD awards the STI grant, then Napa County would need to enter into a reimbursement agreement with HCD and seek reimbursement from the State, which the Director would ask the Board to approve at a future meeting. County staff propose budgeting $500,000 from the Roads Fund in fiscal year 2027-28 to pay expenses until HCD reimburses Napa County and pay for any ineligible expenses. NVTA would separately request reimbursement from the State for the purchase of two buses and expand VINE Route D to Skyline Park per their Sustainable Transit Plan.
Imola Avenue, LP and Napa County Counsel prepared a cooperation agreement for Napa County to be the government sponsor and Imola Avenue, LP to be the private developer for the housing project. Grant award announcement is expected in December, 2026. The County would have 5 years to deliver the project should the grant be awarded.
Recommended action
1. Approve Agreement No. 260364B with Imola Avenue, LP for Napa County to design and construction of a Class 1 Multi-use Path on Imola Avenue and a Class IV Protected Bikeway Highway 221; and
2. Authorize the Director of Public Works to execute documents with the other parties to the Cooperation Agreement, California Strategic Growth Council, or HCD for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program grant application.
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: |
The class 1 multi-use path along Imola Avenue is shown in the Napa Countywide Active Transportation Plan and the class 1 path along the east side of Highway 221 is shown as a Tier 1 project in the Caltrans Bicycle Plan. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
If HCD awards the STI grant to Napa County, County staff will ask the Board to approve a grant agreement, professional services agreement with a design consultant, and request funding in the FY 2027-28 Budget. If the County constructs the project, then the County would be responsible for maintaining the path and Caltrans will require Napa County to enter into a Maintenance Agreement. Based on the cost to maintain the Class 1 Napa Valley Vine Trail, the cost could be $15,000 per mile per year, or $37,500 per year. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
NVTA, Imola Avenue, LP, and Napa County would not apply for the grant to construct affordable housing on State property on the south side of Imola Avenue, extend bus service to Skyline Park, nor construct a class 1 multi-use path from Skyline Park along the south side of Imola Avenue to Soscol Avenue and on the east side of Highway 221 to Streblow Drive. |
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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 a Mitigated Negative Declaration, for the class 1 multi-use path.