DATE: February 19, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Water Utilities Department
TITLE: RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY; AMENDMENT 4 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATES FOR THE LOMA ALTA SLOUGH WETLANDS ENHANCEMENT PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council 1) adopt a Resolution accepting grant funds, in the amount of $1,643,344, from the State Coastal Conservancy; 2) appropriate the funds to the Water Utilities Department; and 3) approve Amendment 4 to the Professional Services Agreement with Environmental Science Associates, in an amount not to exceed $166,514 for a for a total contract amount not to exceed $411,326, for permitting and construction services for the Loma Alta Slough Wetlands Enhancement Project; and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to act as signatory to accept grant funds and execute the amendment.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Loma Alta Slough Wetlands Enhancement Project (Project) is a planned wetland restoration effort in South Oceanside on City-owned property. The Project site is located west of South Coast Highway adjacent to Buccaneer Beach Park and Pacific Street. The Project involves a phased restoration of the Loma Alta Slough’s habitat across seven vacant City-owned lots, totaling approximately 5.8 acres. The Project will expand coastal wildlife habitat and improve water quality while connecting new trails to the coast and future improvements including the Coastal Rail Trail extension.
To date, the project planning, design, permitting, and environmental documentation have been funded through multiple State and Federal grant awards to the City’s Water Utilities Department. Grant funds originating from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), and the State Ocean Protection Council (OPC) total approximately $3 million for project construction.
To secure project funding for implementation, staff submitted a proposal to the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation grant program managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The City of Oceanside and SCC partnered to apply to this grant program in 2020 and SCC was subsequently awarded funding for project construction in the amount of $1,643,344. The SCC invests in grants for projects that restore and protect the California coast, expand public access to it, and enhance its resilience to climate change.
On June 6, 2024, staff was notified by SCC that the City was awarded the full requested amount. Grant funds will be issued to the City through a grant agreement with SCC to be executed by the City Manager and/or designee. Therefore, a resolution is required to accept the SCC grant funds. Work funded through this grant amount of $1,643,344 will fund the implementation phase including project and grant management, community engagement, construction bid and documentation, and post-construction monitoring requirements.
Environmental Science Associates (ESA) is the consulting firm responsible for the planning, permitting and design of the Project. Through a previous competitive Request for Proposals process, ESA has provided comprehensive design and permitting services. The current Professional Services Agreement with ESA is funded via the State OPC grant and was approved by City Council on September 14, 2022. Additional funds are needed outside the scope and allowances of the grant work plan to continue moving the Project to construction, which is scheduled for summer 2025. The work contemplated under Amendment 4 would be funded by the SCC grant, as noted below in the Fiscal Impact section.
Work under Amendment 4 will include additional services to develop a design set for the City’s building permit submittal, support during the Project’s construction bid process, and final permitting coordination.
FISCAL IMPACT
All work completed under Amendment 4 will be funded by the SCC award. The funding provided to the City operates as a grant on a reimbursable basis. Water Utility funds will cover Project costs between the time expenses are incurred and when they are paid by SCC. Staff is requesting grant funds to be deposited and appropriated to the SCC Loma Alta Funding account as noted below.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
The Utilities Commission approved staff’s recommendation at its regularly scheduled meeting on January 21, 2025.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The referenced documents have been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form.
Prepared by: Bronti Cash, Environmental Officer
Reviewed by: Michael Gossman, Assistant City Manager
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. Site Map
3. Resolution
4. Grant Acceptance Email
5. Grant Agreement
6. ESA Amendment