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RESOLUTION NO. 2015-213 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA WAIVING THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS, APPROVING A TWO-PARTY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AND RECON ENVIRONMENTAL, INC. TO IMPLEMENT A MULTI-YEAR COASTAL CACTUS WREN HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT WITHIN THE OTAY RANCH PRESERVE (OP-227)
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
In 2012, upon completing the City’s competitive bidding process, the City selected RECON Environmental Inc. (RECON) to implement a three-year coastal cactus wren habitat restoration project within the Otay Ranch Preserve (CIP OP-222). Funding for OP-222 was provided through a grant awarded by SANDAG through their Environmental Mitigation Program (EMP). In 2015, the City was awarded three additional years of EMP grant funding to expand Coastal cactus wren habitat restoration and enhancement efforts within the Otay Ranch Preserve. Based on RECONs exemplary performance, experience, and unique understanding of the Otay Ranch Preserve, RECON has consistently demonstrated that they possess the qualifications required to successfully continue implementation of Coastal cactus wren habitat restoration and enhancement efforts within the Otay Ranch Preserve. Today’s Council action would approve a new two-party agreement between the City and RECON to continue coastal cactus wren habitat restoration within the Otay Ranch Preserve (new CIP OP-227).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Environmental Review Coordinator has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Class 4 Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15304(d) (Minor Alterations to Land) of the State CEQA Guidelines. Consistent with Section 15304(d), the proposed project involves minor alterations in lands within an existing officially designated wildlife management area (i.e., Otay Ranch Preserve) for purposes of improving existing wildlife habitat and resources. Thus, no further environmental review is necessary.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not Applicable
DISCUSSION
On July 24, 2015, SANDAG’s Board of Directors awarded the City an EMP grant to implement a three-year land management program to restore and enhance degraded Coastal cactus wren habitat within the Otay Ranch Preserve, specifically within Salt Creek Canyon and the Otay River Valley. The City’s 2015 EMP grant proposal tiered from, and expanded upon, the success of a similar grant proposal which also received full RMP grant funding back in 2012.
The City’s 2015 project will continue to increase the amount of suitable habitat and improve connectivity for the coastal cactus wren within the Otay Ranch Preserve through restoration and enhancement of degraded habitat areas. This project addresses the immediate needs of coastal cactus wren within Salt Creek and the Otay River Valley where loss and degradation of existing wren habitat has occurred due to historical cattle grazing, increase of invasive plant species, unauthorized off-road vehicle use, drought and vegetation succession processes. Activities included in this program include invasive species control with follow-up herbicide treatments, shrub thinning, collecting and planting coast cholla and coast prickly pear cuttings, native grass and forb seed collection and redistribution, vegetation monitoring, and focused cactus wren monitoring. The grant amount requested to retain a qualified biological consultant to implement this proposal is $189,836 and would provide up to 3-years of funding.
Sole Source Contract
Implementation of the project requires a qualified biological consultant with extensive experience with the unique biological resources within the Otay Ranch Preserve, and a demonstrated ability to implement restoration and enhancement programs designed to support the Coastal cactus wren consentient with SANDAGs goals and objectives for this species as further described in the San Diego Management and Monitoring Program (SDMMP) Management Strategic Plan (MSP). Over the past six years, RECON has served as the Otay Ranch Preserve Steward Biologist (PSB) performing management and monitoring of approximately 3,200 acres within the Otay Ranch Preserve. During this time, RECON has documented, prioritized, and implemented the adaptive management needs for all of the biological resources within the current preserve acreages. In addition, RECON was retained to implement the City’s 2012 EMP grant (CIP OP-222) which included 10 acres of Coastal cactus wren habitat restoration within the Otay Ranch Preserve. Both the Otay Ranch PSB contract and 2012 EMP Grant contracts were awarded following the City’s competitive bid process.
Based on RECON’s exemplary performance, experience and unique understanding of the Otay Ranch Preserve, and successful implementation of the City’s 2012 EMP grant (CIP OP-222) they have consistently demonstrated that they possess the qualifications required to continue implementation of Coastal cactus wren habitat restoration and enhancement efforts within the Otay Ranch Preserve.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the property holdings of the City Council and has found no property holdings within 500 feet of the boundaries of the property, which is the subject to this action. Staff is not independently aware, nor has staff been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision-maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City’s Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. Implementation of this grant program will support the Healthy Community goal, particularly City Initiative 3.2.1 (Implement environmental/conservation programs). The Chula Vista Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) Subarea Plan and associated Implementing Agreement with the Wildlife Agencies rely on supplemental funding sources such as SANDAGs EMP to implement enhanced conservation projects (e.g., habitat restoration and habitat enhancement) for the protection of biological resources within the Otay Ranch Preserve.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current fiscal year impact. Staff time associated with the grant application and preparation of any consulting contracts is within the adopted FY 2015-16 Development Services Department budget. Similarly, the budget to cover the necessary consultant costs (i.e., $189,836) is included in adopted Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-16 CIP Program (CIP Project OP227); therefore, no appropriation of funds from the General Fund is required to cover biological consultant services. Payment for invoices received from the biological consultant will be paid directly from grant funds provided by SANDAG.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
The $189,836 in grant funds would be sufficient to cover costs for a biological consultant to perform the necessary habitat restoration and provide routine maintenance and monitoring activities. The project is included in the adopted Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-16 CIP Program (CIP Project OP227); therefore, no appropriation of funds from the General Fund is required to cover biological consultant services. The cost of City staff time for three years of project management is anticipated to be $3,744. This time will be provided by City staff whose costs are also included in the FY 2015-16 budget, and future budgets for the Development Services Department. The City is not obligated to continue restoration and enhancement activities once the grant funds have been expended.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Two-Party Agreement: City of Chula Vista and RECON
Staff Contact: Glen Laube, Senior Planner