Rincon Consultants, Inc. 437 Figueroa Street, Suite 203 Monterey, California 93940 831 333 0310 OFFICE AND FAX [email protected] www.rinConConsultants.Com July 27, 2018 Project No: 18-05706 Rafael Payan, General Manager Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District 4860 Carmel Valley Rd Carmel, CA 93923-7936 Via email: [email protected] Subject: Proposal to Prepare an Initial Study for the Palo Corona Regional Park General Development Plan Dear Mr. Payan: Rincon Consultants, Inc. (Rincon) is pleased to submit this proposal to support the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD) for preparation of an Initial Study for the Palo Corona Regional Park General Development Plan. We trust you will find the Rincon team particularly well-suited to assist with this important project. The following outlines our understanding of the proposed project; our team’s relevant qualifications; our proposed scope of work; and a proposed cost and schedule. Project Understanding Palo Corona Regional Park is approximately 4,500 acres of open space extending south from the Carmel River toward Big Sur and connecting to existing open space and park areas, including: Point Lobos Ranch and State Reserve, Garrapata State Park, Santa Lucia Preserve, Mitteldorf Preserve, and Joshua Creek Ecological Preserve. The Regional Park is split into three different “units”: the Front Ranch Unit, which includes approximately 600 acres at the northern end of the park, abutting the eastern side of Highway 1; the Back Country Unit, which includes approximately 3,800 acres in the central and southern portions of the park; and the Rancho Cañada Unit, which is approximately 175 acres of recently acquired property at the former Rancho Cañada Golf Course, located northeast of the Front Ranch Unit and fronting on Carmel Valley Road. The Rancho Cañada Unit will serve as the gateway to Palo Corona Regional Park. MPRPD recently prepared a General Development Plan (GDP) for the park, including all three park regions. The intent of the GDP was to investigate the range of recreation opportunities appropriate for Palo Corona Regional Park through site assessment, master planning, and public outreach. The GDP will serve as a roadmap for conservation, stewardship, and public access to manage the almost 4,500-acre property. The preferred alternative for the park, as presented to the MPRPD Board in April 2018, includes the following: Front Ranch Unit ñ Multi-use trail access to Back Country unit with speed control measures for safety ñ Potential multi-use trail connection to Carmel River State Beach Environmental Scientists Planners Engineers Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Proposal to Prepare an Initial Study for the Palo Corona Regional Park General Development Plan ñ Repurpose existing barn for interpretive, educational, and special event uses ñ Potential horse trailer staging areas ñ Continued special permits for community and non-profit events/fundraisers ñ Closure of Highway 1 parking ñ Continuation of pedestrian access from nearby neighborhoods Back Country Unit ñ Multi-use trail system including mountain bikes, equestrians, and hikers/joggers, including improved connectivity to existing, adjacent parks and open space ñ Limited, permit-only rustic backpacking sites ñ On-site ranger staff to patrol full-time ñ Research and educational/interpretive opportunities ñ Emergency access and potential to expand cell phone coverage Rancho Cañada Unit ñ Re-use Zone, including the former golf clubhouse, parking lot, and immediate surrounding area (including existing pond) o Reuse of the existing Rancho Canada clubhouse for a discovery center, gathering space for club meetings and events, and office and administrative space o Construction of a trailhead with information kiosks, picnic pavilion, observation dock, amphitheater, and exploratory play area west of the existing clubhouse parking lot o Construction of a new gravel parking area and dog park east of the existing clubhouse o Passive recreation and CalFire staging area, for use during emergencies o Installation of a river overlook and outdoor classroom on the south side of the Carmel River ñ Transitional Zone, south and east of the Reuse Zone, to include the potential for a future native plant nursery, art in the park, fitness course, or other opportunities ñ Restoration along the Carmel River (within the “Priority Restoration Zone”) and north and south of the river (“Future Restoration Zone”) The MPRPD Board approved the Palo Corona Regional Park GDP preferred alternative in April 2018. The Draft GDP will be presented to the Board in August 2018. MPRPD staff has requested preparation of an Initial Study to determine the appropriate level of CEQA documentation; the scope and cost for this Initial Study will be presented to the Board at the August 2018 meeting. The preferred alternative is considered the “project” for the purposes of the CEQA analysis. Qualifications Rincon Consultants, Inc. (Rincon) is a multi-disciplinary environmental sciences, planning, and engineering consulting firm that provides quality professional services to government and industry. Founded in 1994, Rincon has grown to a firm of over 250 professionals located in 11 California offices. Our approach to projects is focused on well-designed solutions that respond to our clients’ specific needs in a cost-effective manner. Rincon prides itself on the considerable depth of its staff, which includes professional geologists; professional engineers; a certified engineering geologist; doctors of environmental engineering, biology, and Page 2 Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Proposal to Prepare an Initial Study for the Palo Corona Regional Park General Development Plan geochemistry; wildlife biologists; certified wetland specialists and arborists; botanists; noise and air quality experts; accredited LEED professionals; and certified urban planners. Rincon recently prepared the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Carmel Rio Road Subdivision Project located on Val Verde Drive, less than 0.5 mile west of the Front Ranch Unit, and is currently preparing the EIR for the Rio Ranch Marketplace Project on Rio Road, across from the Crossroads Shopping Center. Because of this experience, we are intimately familiar with key issues of concern at the mouth of Carmel Valley, including: traffic and circulation, water supply and hydrology/flooding, and biological resources. In addition to this key local experience, Rincon has prepared CEQA documents for parks and park master plans throughout the state. Additional qualifications, including project examples and resumes for key staff, can be provided upon request. Scope of Work and Approach The following scope of work assumes preparation of an Initial Study – Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS-MND). If it is determined through the Initial Study and early consultation process that the project may result in significant and unavoidable environmental impacts, we will notify MPRPD immediately to determine the necessary course of action, which could include revising the work scope and budget to accommodate the preparation and processing of an EIR. The environmental analysis will identify and focus on the subset of preferred park projects listed in the GDP that would involve physical ground disturbance, such as construction of an amphitheater and other passive recreational facilities, renovation of the Rancho Cañada clubhouse, new multi-use trails, and horse trailer staging areas. Projects will be analyzed at the level of detail available. Where warranted, the IS-MND will establish prescriptive performance-based mitigation measures to ensure impacts are minimized to the extent feasible. The major tasks involved in preparation and processing of the IS-MND are described below. Task 1: Project Mobilization and Kickoff Rincon will visit the park to document and photograph existing conditions and context, obtain and review all available project and site information and mobilize our staff to begin the CEQA process and analysis. Rincon will coordinate with MPRPD staff to confirm study objectives during a kickoff meeting. This meeting will allow MPRPD and Rincon an opportunity to thoroughly discuss the project description, approach to environmental evaluation, existing conditions and baseline for the analysis, and any community concerns regarding the project that have surfaced to date. This step will allow the team to better focus the scope of the study. Prior to this meeting, Rincon will review the existing background document to identify potential data gaps, key information, and documents that will be needed to complete the analysis. During this task, Rincon will also coordinate with MPRPD and other stakeholders as needed to confirm our scope of work and approach. Task 2: Project Description Working with the MPRPD Project Manager, Rincon will prepare an internal review draft Project Description. Organization of this information is critical, since it forms the basis for environmental evaluation under CEQA. The project description will focus on the overall boundary of the project site. Location and vicinity maps and graphics from the GDP will be included to portray the project to the Page 3 Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Proposal to Prepare an Initial Study for the Palo Corona Regional Park General Development Plan public. The Project Description will be submitted in Word and PDF format. Rincon assumes one round of review of the Project Description by MPRPD staff prior to conducting the analysis described