The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2021-10-07; Terramar Area Coastal Improvements Project Update (District 2); Gomez, PazTo the members of the: 1-CITY COUNCIL Date 1°71/21-CA / CC v CM_~_A~M ✓DCM(3)L, ... Oct. 7, 2021 ' Council Memorandum To: From: Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager~ Via: {cityof Carlsbad Memo ID #2021186 Re: Terramar Area Coastal Improvements Project Update (District 2) This memorandum provides an update to a previous Council Memorandum dated May 13, 2021 (Attachment A), on the Terramar Area Coastal Improvements Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project No. 6054 (Project). Background Attachment A, which is a Council Memorandum dated May 13, 2021, provides background information on the Project. Discussion On June 21, 2021, the city awarded an agreement with Michael Baker International, Inc. (MBI) to develop 60% complete design plans and construction details and obtain Planning Commission and California Coastal Commission approvals for the Project. In addition, the Traffic Analysis Report has been revised to address new traffic analysis requirements of Senate Bill 743 for the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, and to incorporate the most recent traffic data that was collected last year. This draft Traffic Analysis Report has recently been circulated to staff for final review and comment. In addition, there are existing overhead utilities within the southern limit of the Project that need to be converted to underground, per Council Policy 41. MBI is researching ownership of these utilities. Initial findings indicate that these utilities may be telecommunication lines. The city's environmental consultant is revising the Project's CEQA document to address staff's comments and include the revised traffic analysis. Utility Replacement CIP Projects Carlsbad Municipal Water District, or CMWD, and the Utilities Department staff are scheduled to implement CIP Project Nos. 5048 and 5503, which will replace aging water and sewer infrastructure, respectively, prior to construction of the road improvements. These utility CIP projects were analyzed in a 2015 Addendum to the Program Environmental Impact Report, or PEIR, for the Water, Recycled Water and Sewer Master Plan Updates, which concluded that the utility projects are consistent with CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162-15164 and no additional environmental review is required. Public Works Branch Transportation Department 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2730 t Council Memo -Terra mar Area Coastal Improvements Project Update (District 2) Oct. 7, 2021 Page 2 It should be noted, however, that the proposed utility replacement extends into the California Coastal Commission's Local Coastal Program area of deferred certification, where the California Coastal Commission reserves permitting authority, and additional permitting coordination will be required. Staff will continue discussions with the California Coastal Commission to confirm the need for a coastal development permit, or CDP, upon completion of the water and sewer replacement projects' preliminary design . The utility replacement projects were previously contemplated as being "bundled" with the road improvements for the primary benefit of constructing a single project with the perceived benefit of potentially reducing temporary construction impacts of separate projects. However, the utility replacement projects have independent utility and logical termini; therefore, the projects may be completed as separate and distinct to meet operational needs. Due to the need to replace some of the oldest water mains in the city, staff have reconsidered the single-project approach and recommend separate projects, with the water and sewer replacement work preceding the road improvements, for the following reasons: • Unknown or differing site conditions emphasize the need to solicit prime contractors that specialize and focus on wet utility construction; specifically, pressure pipeline and deep sewer construction • Delays resulting from a separate utility project can be managed easier and at less cost by avoiding delay impacts to multiple subcontractors and trades on a much larger joint project • Design and construction of a separate utility project can be streamlined and would be less likely to conflict with future dry utility construction for gas, electric or communication lines • Follow-on road improvements can be scheduled to commence as the wet utility replacement work is nearing completion, so that there will be less risk of delays associated with unforeseen utility conflicts The CMWD and Utilities Department staff solicited proposals for engineering design services for the utility replacement projects in September 2021 and will seek the City Council/CMWD Board's approval of a professional services agreement by December 2021. Water and sewer utilities construction is estimated to commence in winter 2022/23 and be completed in late 2023 to allow for the follow-on road improvements. Next Steps Staff will compile internal city comments on the draft Traffic Analysis Report and provide them to the consultant. Staff will finalize the CEQA document and pursue discretionary permits. An estimated_timeline for future work on the road improvements project is as follows: • Late 2021-Finalize Traffic Analysis Report and revise CEQA Initial Study • Early 2022 -Submit applications for a CDP and other discretionary permits for Project components in the city's permit jurisdiction (road improvements) Council Memo -Terra mar Area Coastal Improvements Project Update (District 2) Oct. 7, 2021 Page 3 • Mid-2022-Complete CEQA public review and comment period • Late 2022 -Planning Commission approval of a CDP and other discretionary permits. Apply for a CDP from the California Coastal Commission for Project components in their jurisdiction for road improvements. Estimated construction start of water and sewer utilities work. • Late 2023 -Receive CDP from the California Coastal Commission for road improvements. Complete final engineering plans, specifications and cost estimates incorporating comments and conditions from the California Coastal Commission for road improvements. Estimated completion of water and sewer utilities construction work. • Early 2024 -City Council approval of plans and specifications of road improvements and authorization to bid • Mid-2024 -City Council award of construction contract for road improvements • Late 2024 -Estimated construction start of road improvements • Late 2025 -Estimated construction completion of road improvements Attachment: A. Council Memorandum dated May 13, 2021 cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager Celia Brewer, City Attorney Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Mickey Williams, Police Chief Michael Calderwood, Fire Chief Robby Contreras, Assistant City Attorney Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director Jeff Murphy, Community Development Director Vicki Quiram, Utilities Director Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director Hossein Ajideh, Engineering Manager Dave Padilla, Utilities Engineering Manager John Kim, City Traffic Engineer Nathan Schmidt, Transportation Planning and Mobility Manager Tim Selke, Parks Services Manager Kasia Trojanowska, Parks Planning Manager Don Neu, City Planner Eric Lardy, Principal Planner Scott Lyle, Senior Engineer To the members ofthe: CITY COUNCIL Date Sh a/2J cA ✓ cc ✓ ✓ CM...)LACM ✓DCM(3)_ May 13, 2021 ATTACHMENT A Council Memorandum To: Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council Via: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager, {city of Carlsbad Memo ID #2021102 From: Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Pu~li arks Re: Terramar Area Coastal Improvement roject Update (District 2) This memorandum provides an update on the Terramar Area Coastal Improvement Project, Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project No. 6054 (Project). Background On Nov. 27, 2018, staff presented options to the City Council to address long~standing traffic and safety concerns at the Terramar area (see Attachment A for map). At that meeting, the City Council selected a project alternative which included a roundabout at the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Cannon Road, and a traffic signal at the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Cerezo Drive. The City Council also directed that the Project include the center turn lane from North Shore Drive to Cerezo Drive. The Project area includes almost one mile of Carlsbad Boulevard from approximately 1,700 feet north of Tierra Del Oro south to approximately 200 feet south of Manzano Drive. It also includes a one-quarter mile area along Cannon Road from Carlsbad Boulevard east to the railroad tracks. The bluff top area across from the former Encina Power Station encompasses approximately 2.8 acres of land. This area is currently owned by NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG); however, the city obtained an irrevocable offer of dedication to enable the city to acquire this · land as a part of executed agreements related to the Claude "Bud" Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant and the new power plant, knqwn as the Carlsbad Energy Center. The Project goals were developed with community input, and they are to: • Create a balanced road that is safe and attractive for cars, bikes and pedestrians • Maintain traffic flow with vehicle speeds compatible with residential roads through the Terramar neighborhood • Improve the aesthetics of the area and add amenities, with an emphasis on the area's natural beauty • Protect, balance and enhance the quality of life for the neighborhood and the community • Improve access to the coast and create an enhanced connection between the beach and the community Public Works Branch , Transportation Department 1635 Faraday Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2730 t Council Memo -Terra mar Area Coastal Improvement Project Update (District 2} May 13, 2021 Page 2 • Create a special place and enhance the coastal experience for residents and users To meet the Project goals and directives from the City Council, this Project will make several improvements to the Terra mar area including: • A roundabout at the intersection of Carlsbad Boulevard and Cannon Road • Additional on-street parking on Carlsbad Boulevard and Cannon Road • Sidewalks on both sides of Carlsbad Boulevard between Cannon Road and Manzano Drive • On the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard, from the warm water jetties area south to Cannon Road; a 10-foot wide sidewalk and a five-foot wide loading and unloading zone • Buffered bicycle lanes on both sides of the roadways, where possible • Three small gathering areas on the bluff top across from the power plant site • A re-vegetated bluff top to reduce erosion susceptibility • Two designated and improved pathways to the beach in the bluff top area • Bike racks and drinking fountains placed intermittently throughout the Project area • Recycling and trash receptacles placed intermittently throughout the Project area • High-visibility crosswalks with rectangular rapid flashing beacon lights on Carlsbad Boulevard and on Cannon Road • Curb extensions on side streets to discourage cut-through traffic in the Terramar neighborhood and to create safer pedestrian crossings • Street trees or landscaped areas adjacent to the sidewalk, where possible • Two enhanced bus stops on Carlsbad Boulevard, at and across from Cannon Park Discussion The Project's preliminary engineering design and technical studies have been completed; however, the Traffic Analysis Report is currently being revised. In order to address new traffic analysis requirements of Senate Bill 743 for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA}, the city's consultant collected more traffic data last year and incorporated those results into the revised Traffic Analysis Report. In addition, to accurately model future traffic flow in the Project area, t he city's consultant utilized a new SAN DAG regional traffic model which takes into account a mix of visitor-serving commercial uses and community-accessible open space land uses at the former NRG power plant site, consistent with the current General Plan land use designations for the NRG property. These changes will also be reflected in the Project's revised Traffic Analysis Report. The city's environmental consultant is revising the Project's CEQA Initial Study to address staff's preliminary comments and to include the revised traffic analysis. 2 Council Memo -Terra mar Area Coastal Improvement Project Update (District 2) May 13, 2021 Page 3 Next Steps Upon completion of the revised Traffic Analysis Report, staff will finalize the CEQA Initial Study and pursue discretionary permits. An estimated timeline for future work on the Project is as follows: • Mid-2021 -Finalize Traffic Analysis Report and revise CEQA Initial Study • Late 2021-Submit applications for Coastal Development Permit and other discretionary permits for project components in the city's permit jurisdiction • Mid-2022 -Complete CEQA public review and comment period • Late 2022 -Planning Commission approval of Coastal Development Permit and other discretionary permits. Apply for Coastal Development Permit from the California Coastal Commission for Project components in their jurisdiction • Late 2023 -Receive Coastal Development Permit from the California Coastal Commission • Late 2023 -Complete final engineering plans, specifications and cost estimates incorporating comments and conditions from the California Coastal Commission • Early 2024 -City Council approval of plans and specifications and authorization to bid • Mid-2024 -City Council award of construction contract • Late 2024-Estimated construction start • Late 2025 -Estimated construction completion Attachment: A. 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 Neil Gallucci, Police Chief Michael Calderwood, Fire Chief Robby Contreras, Assistant City Attorney Tom Frank, Transportation Director/City Engineer Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation .Director Jeff Murphy, Community Development Director Vicki Quiram, Utilities Director Kristina Ray, Communication & Engagement Director Hossein Ajideh, Engineering Manager John Kim, City Traffic Engineer Nathan Schmidt, Transportation Planning and Mobility Mana_ger Tim Selke, Parks Services Manager Kasia Trojanowska, Parks Planning Manager Don Neu, City Planner Eric Lardy, Principal Planner Jonathan Schauble, Senior Engineer 3 (city of Carlsbad Terramar Area Coastal Improvement Project