M E M O R A N D U M DATE: May 28, 2015 TO: Prospective Bidders FROM: Mauro Garcia, Parks Superintendent SUBJECT: Addendum #1, Request For Proposals, Upper DeLaveaga Recreational Facility/Activity The purpose of this addendum is to address potential information needed by bidders. The following changes, corrections, additions and/or deletions are incorporated into the bid. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with this addendum. Attachments included in " Request For Proposals, Upper DeLaveaga Recreational Facility/Activity" dated May 27, 2015 have been amended as follows: “DeLaveaga Stroke Center Recreational Facility Use Project Biotic Report 5-25-15” A signed copy of this document must be submitted with bid. Failure to do so may result in rejection of bid. Company Name: ______________________________________________________ Authorized Representative: _______________________________________________ (Signature) DeLaveaga Park STROKE CENTER RECREATIONAL FACILITY USE City of Santa Cruz Biotic Report Biotic Resources Group Biotic Assessments Resource Management Permitting DeLaveaga Park STROKE CENTER RECREATIONAL FACILITY USE City of Santa Cruz Biotic Report Prepared for City of Santa Cruz parks and Recreation Department Attn: Mauro Garcia Prepared by Kathleen Lyons Biotic Resources Group With Dana Bland Dana Bland & Associates May 25, 2015 2551 S. Rodeo Gulch Road Soquel California (831) 476-4803 [email protected] DELAVEAGA PARK STROKE CENTER RECREATIONAL FACILITY USE BIOLOGICAL REPORT 1.0 INTRODUCTION DeLaveaga Park is located in the northern portion of the City of Santa Cruz, north of State Highway 1 and DeLaveaga Park Road (Figure 1). The Park supports an 18-hole golf course, driving range, hiking trails, a disc golf course and picnic areas. The park property also supports the County’s 911 Communications Center and remnants of the Stroke Center. The project is a proposed an outdoor recreational facility at and around the former Stroke Center. The exact recreational facilities to be developed at the project site has not been determined; therefore, this biotic report describes the existing biological resources in the area, identifies sensitive plant communities, the potential for sensitive wildlife and provides guidance for avoiding or minimizing impacts to such resources from possible recreational use. The project study area includes the former Stroke Center and areas adjacent to other City features (i.e., Quonset hut, parcourse area). The Biotic Resources Group and Dana Bland & Associates assessed the biotic resources of the project study area. Specific tasks conducted for this study include: • Characterize and map the major plant communities within the proposed project study area; • Identify sensitive biotic resources, including plant and wildlife species of concern, within the study area, • Provide recommendations to avoid, minimize or compensate for potential impacts to sensitive biotic resources. Intended Use of this Report The findings presented in this biological report are intended for the sole use of the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department in evaluating the proposed project. The findings presented by the Biotic Resources Group in this report are for information purposes only; they are not intended to represent the interpretation of any State, Federal or City law or ordinance pertaining to permitting actions within sensitive habitat or endangered species. The interpretation of such laws and/or ordinances is the responsibility of the applicable governing body. ______________________________________________________________________________ DeLaveaga Park – Stroke Center Recreational Facility Use Biological Report 1 May 25, 2015 Project Location Figure 1. Project location on USGS topographic map ______________________________________________________________________________ DeLaveaga Park – Stroke Center Recreational Facility Use Biological Report 2 May 25, 2015 2.0 METHODOLOGY A survey to document site conditions and biotic resources within the study area was conducted by Kathleen Lyons (plant ecologist) and Dana Bland (wildlife biologist) on May 4, 2015. Study methodology included a field reconnaissance survey, aerial photograph interpretation, and accessing electronic databases. Database searches were conducted; the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB) “RareFind” (2015) and the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Rare Plant Electronic Inventory (2015) for the Santa Cruz and surrounding quadrangles were accessed. Reports prepared for the greater project vicinity were also reviewed, including the City-Wide Creeks and Wetlands Management Plan (City of Santa Cruz, 2008) and the City of Santa Cruz GIS. Prior to conducting the field survey, a potential list of special status or sensitive species was reviewed, utilizing species recognized by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and US Fish and Wildlife Service. The proposed project area was walked. The major plant community types within the project area, based on the classification system developed by CNDDB's California Terrestrial Natural Communities (CDFG 2010) and A Manual of California Vegetation (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf 1995) and as amended to reflect site conditions, were mapped during the field survey. Plant community types as recognized by CDFW were used to the greatest extent feasible, however, modifications to the classification system’s nomenclature were made, as necessary, to accurately describe the sites resources, particularly for areas that the CDFW system provides no suitable classification. The plant communities were mapped onto an aerial image (Figure 2). The Jepson Manual (2012) was the principal taxonomic reference used for the botanical work. 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING DeLaveaga Park lies at the mid-portion of the geographic area known as the Central Coast Range and extends eastward to the San Francisco Bay Area Range (Hickman, 1993). The proposed project area has coastal influences as it occurs near the Pacific Ocean. Presently, the project area supports undeveloped areas of grassland and non-native trees groves and previously developed areas in and around the former Stroke Center (paving, foundations from former structures, and landscaping). The project study area supports four plant community types: eucalyptus woodland, non-native annual grassland, native coastal prairie, and non-native landscaping. A man-made bioswale is located along the southern edge of the former Stroke Center. Each vegetation type, its California vegetation code, and state ranking (rarity) are listed in Table 1. The location of these communities is depicted on Figure 2. Table 1. Vegetation Types at DeLaveaga Park – Stroke Center Recreational Facility Use CaCode1 Vegetation Type Plant Association State Ranking2 79.100.00 Eucalyptus Woodland Blue Gum Eucalyptus/Monterey - Cypress/Monterey Pine/Acacia/Coast Live Oak - Coyote Brush/Poison Oak 44.150.00 Non-native Annual Grassland Wild Oat/ Ripgut Brome/False Brome - Annual - Forbs 41.050.00 Coastal Prairie California Oatgrass/Purple Needlegrass/Blue Wild S3 Rye – Blue-eyed Grass/English Plantain - Landscaping Coast Redwood /Acacia/Pines – - Rosemary/Watsonia 1 – California vegetation code as per CDFW (CDFG, September, 2010); 2- Vegetation types are ranked between S1 and S5. For vegetation types with ranks of S1-S3, all associations within the type are considered to be highly imperiled. ______________________________________________________________________________ DeLaveaga Park – Stroke Center Recreational Facility Use Biological Report 3 May 25, 2015 Project Location Arana Creek 3d, approx. centerline Figure 2. Plant community types in study area ______________________________________________________________________________ DeLaveaga Park – Stroke Center Recreational Facility Use Biological Report 4 May 25, 2015 The study area is located adjacent to an intermittent tributary to Arana Creek; this tributary is designated as Arana Creek 3d in the City-wide Creeks and Wetlands Management Plan. The creek is located east of the former Stroke Center, extending from southward from the 911 Communications Center to Prospect Heights Street. The southern section of the creek enters a culvert under Prospect Heights Street (just east of DeLaveaga Elementary School) then travels beneath Highway 1, then ultimately empties into the main stem of Arana Creek behind Harbor High School. The soils in the project area are mapped as Watsonville loam, 2 to 15 percent slopes (177) and Nisene- Aptos complex, 50-75 percent slopes (158). 3.1 Eucalyptus Woodland This plant community type occurs along the tributary to Arana Creek (Arana Creek 3d) and on slopes west and east of the former Stroke Center (see Figure 2). The eucalyptus tree groves are the most prevalent habitat type in this portion of the park and the mapping of the eucalyptus woodland along Arana Creek 3d is consistent with mapping presented in the City-wide Creeks and Wetlands Management Plan. The upstream portion of the Arana Creek 3d corridor is comprised of densely growing non-native blue gum eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus). The trees form a dense canopy. Woody understory species include coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana), and scattered occurrences of non-native Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), French broom (Genista monspessulana), and cotoneaster (Cotoneaster sp.). No riparian-dependent plant species (i.e., willows) were observed in the upper portion of this drainage.