BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code ? 84308 Applies: Yes ? No ?
(If "YES" Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code ? 84308)
SUBJECT:
Title
Approve the Modified Palo Alto Flood Basin Tide Gate Structure Replacement Project, Project No. 10394001 (Palo Alto, District 7).
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Consider the First Addendum to the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Palo Alto Flood Basin Tide Gate Structure Replacement Project (PATG Replacement Project); and
B. Approve the Modified Palo Alto Tide Gate Structure Replacement Project.
Body
SUMMARY:
The primary objective of the Palo Alto Flood Basin Tide Gate Structure (PATG) is to continue to protect residents from coastal flooding and control the downstream water levels for Matadero, Adobe and Barron Creeks, which all drain to the Palo Alto Flood Basin. Originally built in 1957, the PATG has exceeded its 50-year design life, and the surface of the concrete structure has degraded due to harsh conditions near the San Francisco Bay (Bay). The existing structure is also vulnerable to a large earthquake since seismic codes have changed significantly since 1957.
A California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document was prepared in 2021 for a project to build a replacement tide gate structure and the Board adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration on April 27, 2021 (MND for PATG Replacement Project) before approving the project. However, following project approval the construction cost estimate increased significantly due to dewatering needs and the narrow construction window to avoid impacts to the Ridgeway's Rail bird species, which annually breeds and nests between February and August. In FY 2024, as part of Santa Clara Valley Water District's (Valley Water) Capital Improvement Program FY2025-2029 Five-Year Plan development process, the Valley Water Board approved staff's recommendation to pursue development of a revised capital project within the funding constraints. Subsequently, staff...
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