HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-07-29; South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Adaptation Project Update (Districts 2 & 3); Gomez, PazTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date 1.b_~/2J CA -,l. CC ...;.,
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July 29, 2021
Council Memorandum
To:
From:
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Via:
{cityof
Carlsbad
Memo ID #2021146
Re:
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager {ci:J
South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Ad~iation Project Update (Districts 2 & 3)
This memorandum provides an update to a previous Council Memorandum dated Oct. 8, 2020,
on the South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Adaptation Project {Project) {Attachment A) for a
1-mile segment of Carlsbad Boulevard from Palomar Airport Road to Island Way {Attachment
B).
Background
On May 5, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-077, accepting a $498,075 grant
from the State Coastal Conservancy {SCC), and entering into a research agreement with the
University of California San Diego for the Project. On June 16, 2020, the City Council adopted
Resolution No. 2020-109, authorizing a Professional Services Agreement {PSA) with GHD, Inc.,
for consulting services related to the Project.
The Project's intent continues to focus on the eastward relocation of the southbound lanes of
South Carlsbad Boulevard from approximately Manzano Drive to 400 feet south of Island Way
to maximize the roadway's resiliency to coastal flooding and cliff erosion. In the vicinity of
Palomar Airport Road and near Las Encinas Creek, southbound Carlsbad Boulevard is currently
exposed to bluff erosion hazards. Periodic flooding of the southbound lanes is already
occurring, resulting in beach cobble on the roadway surface and lane closures.
As indicated in the city's Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment {December 2017), by year
2050 there is a high risk of damage to Carlsbad Boulevard due to sea level rise. The sensitivity of
the potential sea level rise impacts to Carlsbad Boulevard is high because of the significant
disruption caused by bluff erosion and flooding. The assessment also found that "Adaptation to
sea level rise, and other results of climate change involves taking appropriate actions to prevent
or minimize the adverse effects of climate-induced impacts."
The Project involves several phases, including development of preliminary conceptual designs,
design alternatives and a 15-30% Project design of the preferred alternative, culminating in a
final report in Spring 2023. The Project has three components: roadway design including trails
and coastal access, habitat enhancement, and open spaces near Palomar Airport Road and
Encinas Creek that could be used for passive recreation. The Project builds upon roadway
Public Works Branch
Transportation and Environmental Management Departments
1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2730 t
Council Memo -South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Adaptation Project Update (Districts 2 & 3)
July 29, 2021
Page 2
realignment and stakeholder outreach work conducted in 2012 and 2013 as part of the
Carlsbad Boulevard Realignment Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project No. 6031.
The Project team consists of staff from the city, State Coastal Conservancy, California State
Parks, California Coastal Commission and representatives from the Scripps Institution of
Oceanography's Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (CCCIA), and the consultant
GHD, Inc.
Discussion
The Project's first task involved assessing physical and regulatory constraints. In consultation
with CCCIA, sea level rise flooding and coastal erosion impacts were estimated and mapped,
a·long with other constraints such as public rights-of-way, private property lines, water and
sewer utilities and habitat areas. This mapping refined the previous mapping of impacts
contained in the city's Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment Report. CCCIA is continuing to
further refine the coastal erosion projections by studying bluff composition and hardness.
In fall 2020, the Project team conducted listening sessions with city staff and key regulatory
agencies. These included staff from the city's Community Development, Parks & Recreation and
Transportation Departments, California Coastal Commission, California State Parks, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
and San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board.
All these city departments and agencies would participate in the processing of permits and
environmental approvals for the future roadway construction; therefore, their early input was
crucial to develop successful conceptual design alternatives. The Project team also conducted a
listening session with a representative from People for Ponto in January 2021, as directed by
the City Council during the May 5, 2020, City Council Meeting.
The listening sessions covered topics such as process and communication, road use and
. realignment, coastal access, recreational spaces and natural open space. The Project team is
developing a matrix that will indicate the cross-cutting themes in each of these topic areas and
how those themes influenced design considerations and components.
Based upon the Project's physical constraints, most notably the coastal bluff erosion hazard
area, city and state roadway design guidelines and policies, and input from the listening
sessions, the Project team began developing conceptual roadway design alternatives. While the
alignment of the roadway is relatively fixed in the eastward location due to the cliff erosion
hazards, the components of the roadway could vary. These components include sidewalks,
multi modal paths and trails, intersect'ion design, lane and buffer widths, and the roadway
crossing at Encinas Creek.
The Project team is preparing a report detailing the constraints and alternatives and will
present this report to the City Council on Sept. 14, 2021. Staff will also present a proposed
Council Memo -South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Adaptation Project Update (Districts 2 & 3)
July 29, 2021
Page 3
strategy for engaging the public in the design of the Project, including roadway options and
potential uses for coastal property made available by moving the road to the east, and seek City
Council direction.
The Project team also determined that Encinas Creek restoration is a critical component to the
overall Project, which requires additional analysis to fully inform decision-making. The sec is
processing funding augmentation of the current grant to provide additional funds for this work.
The consultant GHD, Inc., would conduct the study, which requires a revision of their PSA scope
of work and budget. The Research Agreement with CCCIA will also be amended. It is anticipated
that staff will present these agreement amendments for City Council approval on
Sept. 14, 2021.
Additional information about the Project, including technical reports, is available on the Project
webpage at:
https://www.carlsbadca.gov/departments/environmental-management/sustainability/coastal-
conservancy.
Next Steps
It is anticipated that staff will present to City Council on Sept. 14, 2021, a Project update and
request for agreement amendments. The Project update will include a summary of work
completed to date, a report containing roadway and trail design considerations and
alternatives, and a public engagement strategy and timeline. The agreement amendments will
include an augmentation of the SCC grant funding, a revision to the CCCIA research agreement
budget and an amendment to the PSA for GHD, Inc. Staff plan to request whether the City
Council wants to engage the public in a discussion of this small portion of the corridor or wait to
have a more comprehensive discussion about the entire corridor.
Attachments: A. Council Memorandum dated Oct. 8, 2020
B. Location map
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Robby Contreras, Assistant City Attorney
Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer
Ryan Green, Finance Director
Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director
Jeff Murphy, Community Development Director
Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director
James Wood, Environmental Management Director
Hossein Ajideh, Engineering Manager
Council Memo -South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Adaptation Project Update (Districts 2 & 3)
July 29, 2021
Page 4
John Kim, City Traffic Engineer
Nathan Schmidt, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager
Don Neu, City Planner
Mike Grim, Senior Program Manager
To the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date 10/'"d/ae CA _:L__ CC ::!_
CM ~ ACM_:!_ DCM (3} .::!_
Oct. 8, 2020
ATTACHMENT A
Council Memorandum
To:
From:
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Mana.ger, Public Works
Via:
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID #2020220
Re:
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~
South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Ad~tion Project Update
This memorandum provides an update on the South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Adaptation
Project (Project).
Background
On May 5, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-077, accepting a $498,075 grant
from the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) and entering into a research agreement with the
University of California for the Project. On June 16, 2020, City Council adopted Resolution
No. 2020-109 authorizing a professional services agreement with GHD, Inc. for consulting
services related to the Project.
The Project involves several phases, including derivation of preliminary conceptual designs,
design alternatives and a 30% project design, culminating in a final report in Spring 2022. The
Project builds upon roadway realignment work conducted in 2012 and 2013 through the
existing Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project No. 6031:
The Project's intent continues to focus on the eastward relocation of the southbound lanes to
maximize the roadway's resiliency to coastal flooding and cliff erosion. As indicated in the City
of Carlsbad Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment, the current southbound alignment of
Carlsbad Boulevard will be subject to these impacts by 2050.
On July 6, 2020, the Project team held a kick-off meeting. The team consists of staff from the
city, SCC, California State Parks, California Coastal Commission (CCC) and representatives from
Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation
(CCCIA) and GHD, Inc.
Discussion
The Project's first task involves gathering background data and conducting listening sessions
with those who will provide critical input for Project constraints analysis or future Project
permitting. These sessions will involve key city staff, regulatory agencies and outside entities.
City staff is also planning a public engagement process that will occur throughout the Project.
Public Works Branch
Environmental Management Department
1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2799 t
I
. ,.
I
I Ii ~ I
Council Memo -South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Adaptation Project Update
Oct. 8, 2020
Page 2
In consultation with CCCIA, sea level rise flooding and coastal erosion impacts have been
estimated and mapped, along with other constraints such as public rights-of-way, private
property lines, water and sewer utilities and habitat areas.
Listening sessions have been conducted wit.h staff from the city's Transportation Department,
Planning Division and Parks & Recreation Department, as well as staff from the Regional Water
Quality Control Board and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Listening sessions are planned during
October 2020 for the following groups:
• Regional/multimodal transportation, such as the San Diego Association of Governments
{SAN DAG), California Department of Transportation {Caltrans), local biking groups
• Habitat-related agencies, such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of
Fish and Wildlife and SANDAG
• California Coastal Commission
• California State Parks
• Shoreline-related organizations, such as Surfrider, San Diego Coastkeeper, San Diego
Audubon and SANDAG
• Local property owners and homeowners' associations, including People for Ponto
Staff has prepared a Project webpage, which will be updated with pertinent Project milestones
and documents. The webpage will be actively linked on Oct. 12, 2020, and available at:
https://cityadmin.carlsbadca.gov/services/depts/pw/environment/city/coastalconservancy.asp.
The Project team is also monitoring potential grant funding sources for the final design,
permitting and construction of the roadway. One possible source is through the Federal
Emergency Management Agency's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities {BRIC)
program. City staff is coordinating with SCC on reviewing the grant application and
implementation requirements and will provide additional information as it becomes available.
Next Steps
The Project team will continue conducting listening sessions, launch the Project webpage,
continue the constraints analysis and mapping, begin developing preliminary conceptual
designs, and•explore potential grant opportunities for construction funding. Staff will also
provide periodic updates to City Council, either through memoranda or City Council meeting
presentations.
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Robby Contreras, Assistant City Attorney
Tom Frank, Transportation Director
Council Memo -South Carlsbad Boulevard Climate Adaptation Project Update
Oct. 8, 2020
Page 3
Jeff Murphy, Community Development Director
Vicki Quiram, Utilities Director
Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director
Nikki Matosian, Community Relations Manager
James Wood, Environmental Manager
Mike Grim, Senior Program Manager
Attachment B: Project Area Map