Item 21 - Approve Appropriation Adjustment for the State Coastal Conservancy Grant

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SANTIAGO PARK TRAIL AND HABITAT RESTORATION PLAN Page 2 of 6 Based on the accompanying staff recommendation and attached exhibits, the State Coastal Conservancy hereby finds that: 1. The proposed authorization is consistent with Chapter 4.6 of Division 21 of the Public Resources Code, regarding the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program and funding for recreational opportunities and trails within the Santa Ana River region. 2. The proposed project is consistent with the current Conservancy Project Selection Criteria. STAFF RECOMMENDATION PROJECT SUMMARY: Staff recommends the Conservancy authorize a $400,000 grant to the City of Santa Ana for the Santiago Park trail and habitat restoration plan. The project will develop design plans and perform environmental review for the restoration of 4.28 acres of pedestrian hiking trails and creek-side habitat in Santiago Park. The environmental review of this planning phase will analyze any potential impact to the land that could result from improvements to the trail . It will ensure that those fall within the condit ions of Conditional Exemption Section 15304/Class 4 Minor Alterations. They will ensure implementation of the project will have no impact to the creek and existing vegetation in the area. The restoration design plan will include separate trails fo r pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles to reduce user conflicts and improve safety, improve ADA accessibility to Santiago Park, and provide public information about Santiago Creek and its vegetation and wildlife. A final goal is to support recreational and educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth who visit Santiago Park during field trips. The design will call for renovating the heavily used pedestrian trail with decomposed granite to enhance accessibility and walkability while establishing a clean visual appearance. High quality security lighting will illuminate the entire trail of the project area in darker hours, creating a stronger sense of safety for pedestrians and cyclists. An ADA accessible bridge will connect the north and south sides of Santiago Park across the creek by improving the functionality of the park and create an inclusive environment for park visitors. The deteriorating landscape will be revitalized with freshly planted native vegetation and maintained with new, comprehensive irrigation systems. Interpretive signage will be installed throughout the project area to enhance the educational spirit of the park. The south end of the park suffers from a lack of amenities and the plan will call for installation of drinking fountains and benches. Site Description: Santiago Park is a 35-acre park adjacent to Santiago Creek, a tributary to the Santa Ana River, in the City of Santa Ana, Orange County. The project site is located immediately adjacent to the Phase II Santiago Park construction improvements project area, previously funded by the Conservancy. It is a heavily used recreational area and was indicated as the most visited public recreational space in a 2021 city wide survey administered by the City of Santa Ana Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency. The southeast section of the