SANDAG: state grants fund 30% design for Buena Vista Lagoon; roughly $3M still needed to reach 65%

Kim Smith of SANDAG briefed the committee on technical studies and grant activity for the Buena Vista Lagoon project, saying the team has been awarded "about a little over $4,000,000" in state grants to complete technical analyses and reach 30% design.

Smith said the current award will not fully fund 65% design and final engineering, estimating "it's about 3,000,000" short. SANDAG staff are completing fluvial, water-quality and coastal analyses, preparing a sediment-analysis plan for Corps review, and expect 30% design plans to be finished this fall.

Smith also said SANDAG has engaged legal consultants to draft a master agreement for affected property owners and plans to begin outreach in the fall. On funding, Smith reported SANDAG is preparing a Prop 1 application expected by the end of the month and said SANDAG's government-affairs staff are coordinating with Congressman Levin's office on a possible federal earmark to fill the funding gap.

Committee members asked about the shortfall and next steps; Kim Smith responded with the $3 million estimate and steps to pursue additional state and federal funding sources.