The Public Works Engineering Division is currently managing the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian trail on the Pacific Electric (PE) Right-of-Way (ROW) from Stanford Avenue to Brookhurst Street. The City of Garden Grove submitted a grant proposal for the PE ROW Trail from the 2015 Active Transportation Program (ATP) and received approval for $1.8 million dollars to construct the “First Mile Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Expansion on the PE ROW” on July 7, 2016.

The three segments of the PE ROW Trail from Stanford Avenue to Brookhurst Street will expand on the pilot segment that was completed in October 2014 for the first Garden Grove Open Streets. The City funded and constructed an 835-foot pilot bicycle and pedestrian trail on the PE ROW between Nelson Street and Stanford Avenue. The Pilot Segment was an important part of the Open Streets route and attendees were supportive and enthusiastic about continuing the PE ROW Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail. The support for the PE ROW Trail continued through the community outreach for the Garden Grove Active Streets Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan and it is a priority project in that document.

The trail expansion will connect two major districts: Downtown (the heart of the City and home to civic institutions, Main Street, theaters, and residences) to two large shopping centers located at Brookhurst Street and Chapman Avenue. The “First Mile” trail presents a significant opportunity for increased walking and biking in Garden Grove among adults, families, and children for both transportation and recreation.

Planning and Community Services staff began developing ideas for a community get-together to celebrate the new recreation facility in Garden Grove and the first Class 1 Bike Trail. The completion of the three trail segments is planned for early summer 2019. The PE ROW Trail is part of the Re:Imagine Campaign and as part of that ongoing effort, the City is dedicated to engaging the community in new ways and to working with them to define Garden Grove as a “great” place. As staff looked forward for a future “Opening of the Trail” event, the condition and look of the trail became a concern. The pilot segment is a 20-foot paved and gravel trail with light standards in the middle of 100 feet of barren, leftover space.

THE CAL FIRE GRANT. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has a grant opportunity under the 2017/2018 California Climate Investments Urban and Community Forestry Program (“The Program”). CAL FIRE anticipates awarding at least $17,500,000 in the Fiscal Year 2017/2018. The Program focuses on use of trees and associated vegetation to provide multiple benefits and to mimic the functions of natural forests, in neighborhoods. Co-benefits of the projects include increased water supply, clean air and water, reduced energy use, flood and storm water management, recreation, urban revitalization, and improved public health.

Working with our grant writer and Public Works staff, it was determined that the “Urban Forest Management Activities” category in the CAL FIRE grant was a best fit. This category will provide the City of Garden Grove with an Urban Forestry Management Plan over a 40-year span and planting of a limited number (under CAL FIRE standards) of new trees.  An expert consultant will be hired to develop the Urban Forest Management Plan and will carry out a GIS assessment to determine the current canopy coverage, percentage, density, and height. This information will guide the City to reach an 18-20% canopy coverage goal. 

The Garden Grove Concept Proposal includes the planting of 363 trees along the four segments of the PE ROW Trail.  Trees were chosen to be drought tolerant with low water usage and with low maintenance requirements. Public Works staff from the Parks & Facilities and the Street, Trees & Environmental Services sections worked on the tree planting plan. A City will hire a contractor to buy the trees and planting supplies, prepare the site and conduct mobilization, install the irrigation system and oversee the tree planting. Volunteers will be recruited to help with the staking and mulching.

The CAL FIRE grant is a two-part application with a Concept Proposal submitted first, for review and approval, and then a Project Application. Garden Grove submitted the Concept Proposal on February 26, 2018. The City received a letter dated April 9, 2018 that our concept proposal had been selected to submit a Project Application. The Project Application is due May 30, 2018 and requires as part of the application, a City Council Resolution for the funding. The wording of the Resolution is prescribed by CAL FIRE. The Garden Grove grant request is for $573,355.00 with a matching amount of $216,052.00 for a total project cost of $789,407.00.  The matching amount is largely staff time divided among Public Works, Planning and Community Services staff. A part of the matching amount is volunteer time.

It is recommended that the City Council:

• Approve submittal of the grant application; and

• Adopt the attached Resolution for Funding from the Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program as prescribed by CAL FIRE for submitting the grant application.

By:  Erin Webb, Sr. Planner