Item 24 - Appropriation Adjustment for the Santa Ana Zoo and 10th and Flower Park Stormwater Capture Projects

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Santa Ana Zoo and loth and Flower Park Stormwater Capture Projects September 16, 2025 Page 3 Council adopted a resolution authorizing an application for funds from the Tier 2 Grant Program for the Santa Ana Zoo Stormwater Capture and Diversion Project (Exhibit 2). On November 1, 2024, OCTA notified the City of Santa Ana of their intent to award the City two grants under the Environmental Cleanup Program for Fiscal Year 2025/26 (Exhibit 3). 10th and Flower Park Stormwater Project The Public Works Agency submitted a successful grant application for $600,000 of Tier 1 funding for the 10th and Flower Park Stormwater Capture Project (Exhibit 4). This project features an underground stormwater infiltration system and Bioretention Basins at the proposed park that will help improve water quality, capture trash, and reduce flooding on Flower Street and Civic Center Drive (Exhibit 5). These proposed stormwater quality improvements were envisioned and incorporated in the proposed park plans and the proposed natural landscape features will complement the recreational elements. The proposed park at the corner of 10th and Flower streets has also been awarded a grant from the State in the amount of $2.25M with a local match of $2.25M from Park Acquisition and Development funds. Together these funds will be used to construct the park and water quality improvements. Construction for the new park and stormwater improvements will be completed at the same time. Staff will return to Council in the future to award a construction contract for this work. Santa Ana Zoo Stormwater Project Staff has been developing a project to capture and treat stormwater runoff in the vicinity of the Santa Ana Zoo. Existing stormwater runoff from Santa Ana streets and the 1-5 freeway drain into a City -owned storm drain located at Zoo Lane and Chestnut Ave. that outlets to the Upper Newport Bay wetlands. The proposed project would remove trash, debris, and other pollutants from the stormwater and infiltrate the stormwater into the ground. This project is being developed in close coordination with the Santa Ana Zoo and features the construction of a new 0.25-acre passive pocket park in the west end of the Zoo's main parking lot, as well as 24 pervious parking stalls in the Zoo's overflow parking lot. This project provides several benefits to the City and community, including assisting with NPDES Permit compliance, improving water quality, enhancing local water supplies, reducing flooding, providing new recreational opportunities for the community, and new paving, signage, and striping in the Zoo parking lots (Exhibit 6). The proposed project will be closely coordinated with Zoo staff and construction will be phased in a manner to minimize impacts to the Zoo. These improvements are in conformance with the adopted Zoo Master Plan (Exhibit 7). Staff submitted a successful grant application for $2,500,000 of Tier 2 funding from OCTA for the Santa Ana Zoo Stormwater Capture and Diversion Project (Exhibit 8). Additionally, because existing stormwater runoff from the 1-5 freeway flows through City street to the project location and will be captured and treated by the project, staff engaged Caltrans to contribute additional funding for the proposed Zoo stormwater