DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 3
SUBJECT:
Amendment to San Antonio River Improvements Project Cooperative Agreement
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes an amendment to the Cooperative Agreement between the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and the San Antonio River Authority to complete the San Antonio River Improvements Project located in Council District 3. The amendment will increase the project scope to include an additional 2,550 linear feet of multi-use trail along the San Antonio River south of Mission Espada and to increase the city's funding commitment by $350,000.00. This ordinance also appropriates $350,000.00 for construction from the Proposition 2 (2010) Sales Tax Initiative Funds.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of San Antonio entered into an agreement with Bexar County and the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) in May of 2010 to complete the San Antonio River Improvements Project. This project includes the Museum Reach and the Mission Reach, extending along the San Antonio River from Lone Star Avenue to approximately 4,000 feet south of Loop 410 South. Under the terms of the agreement, the City of San Antonio provided $76,759,438.00 for SARA to provide project management, design, permitting and construction.
The Parks Development and Expansion Venue Project Proposition 2, which was approved by voters on November 2, 2010, provides $4,599,000.00 in the FY 2014-2019 Capital Improvements Project (CIP) Budget for the Espada Greenway Trail Connection to connect Medina River Greenway to the San Antonio River Mission Reach, at Mission Espada. Allocation of funding to this project was supported through resolutions approved by the Parks and Recreation Board and Creekways Advisory Board in 2011.
Under its contract to build the San Antonio River Improvements Project, SARA has completed the Mission Reach section and fulfilled its associated contractual obligations for this portion. While the segment of trail on the west side of the San Antonio River was originally designed and permits were obtained from the United States Army Corps of Engineers, this section was not constructed in lieu of the trail being constructed on the opposite (east) side of the river. The scope of the City's Espada Greenway Trail Connection is to build approximately 3.9 miles of trail to connect from Medina River Greenway at Mattox Park to the San Antonio River Mission Reach at Mission Espada. Because the Greenway project proposes to connect to Mission Espada from the south using the west side of the river, SARA's completion of the 2,550 linear feet of multi-use trail pursuant to this ordinance will reduce the City's project scope for the Espada Greenway Trail Connection by 2,550 linear feet and create funding and time efficiencies by utilizing SARA's existing permits, design work and contractor pricing for the Mission Reach.
ISSUE:
This proposed amendment to the Cooperative Agreement between the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and the San Antonio River Authority will increase the scope of the San Antonio River Improvements Project to include an additional 2,550 linear feet of multi-use trail along the San Antonio River south of Mission Espada and will increase the city's funding commitment by $350,000.00.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City could elect not to amend the Cooperative Agreement with SARA and provide the project management, design, permitting and construction for this 2,550 linear feet in conjunction with the Espada Greenway Trail Connection. However, this alternative action is not recommended due to the fact that it would be significantly less efficient to re-apply for permits and provide design and construction for the project under new consultants and contractors at a later date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance will authorize an amendment to the Cooperative Agreement between the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and the San Antonio River Authority to complete the San Antonio River Improvements Project that will increase the city's funding commitment by $350,000.00. This ordinance also appropriates $350,000.00 for construction from the Proposition 2 (2010) Sales Tax Initiative Funds.
2010 Sales Tax Venue funds totaling $4,599,000.00 was approved in the FY 2014-2019 CIP Budget to be expended for the Espada Greenway Trail Connection in Council District 3.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this Amendment to the Cooperative Agreement between the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and the San Antonio River Authority to complete the San Antonio River Improvements Project.