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

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SANTIAGO PARK TRAIL AND HABITAT RESTORATION PLAN Page 3 of 6 park, where the proposed project is located, is a critical connection point to improve access from the City of Orange and the Santiago Neighborhood into the park site. The pedestrian trail is visibly worn from high traffic and does not provide quality ADA features. The ambience of the south side of the park suffers from the lack amenities, such as drinking fountains and benches, making it less welcoming and thus underutilized. The current lighting system is insufficient and poses as a safety concern for visitors in the colder seasons when daylight is limited. As for the surrounding native landscape, the vegetation is deteriorating from poor irrigation. The Santiago Park Nature Reserve, viewing areas, walking paths and riparian areas along Santiago Creek provide a feature for the public to enjoy bird watching and other wildlife that live in the park. The park includes large oak trees, eucalyptus trees, sycamore trees, poplar trees, and pine trees. Grant Applicant Qualifications: The City of Santa Ana Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency has received and managed more than $50 million in grant funding to construct new parks and renovate existing parks and recreation facilities. The agency works closely with the City’s Public Works Department to ensure that projects are completed in a timely manner and on budget. The City’s senior management analyst, administrative services manager, and senior accounting staff monitor project progress and expenditures, and manage project cash flow. Further, the City’s competitive contractor selection and bid process en sures that they hire qualified contractors and require performance bonds to ensure that projects are completed on schedule and per plan specifications. CONSISTENCY WITH CONSERVANCY’S PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA: The proposed project is consistent with the Conservancy’s Project Selection Criteria, last updated on September 23, 2021, in the following respects: Selection Criteria 1. Extent to which the project helps the Conservancy accomplishes the objectives in the Strategic Plan. See the “Consistency with Conservancy’s Strategic Plan” section below. 2. Project is a good investment of state resources. The project provides an opportunity to complete designs for enhancement of an invaluable resource for the state. Once implemented, it will restore and protect the ecological integrity of a portion of this tributary to the Santa Ana River while also providing a safe recreational space. The budget is reasonable for the scope of work. The Park Santiago Neighborhood Association has expressed strong support for the project, deeming it as “an essential respite within the densely populated urban setting in which [they] live”. Local residents and visitors will be able to enjoy the interpretive signs that will highlight the critical role that the park plays in sustaining wildlife, even in its urban context. 4. Project benefits will be sustainable or resilient over the project lifespan.