BIKE PATH entrance on Nelson Street just north of Stanford Avenue in Garden Grove (OC Tribune photo).

By Jim Tortolano

An agreement with the Orange County Transportation Authority for the creation of nearly 15 miles of new and improved bikeways and paths was approved on a 7-0 vote by the Garden Grove City Council at its meeting Tuesday night.

The agreement with the OCTA will provide $1.265 million in funds for 14.85 miles of improvements under the city’s Bicycle Corridor Improvement Project. The grant offers a total of $20 million to improve the quality of biking and walking throughout Orange County.

Bikeway improvement locations identified for this grant include:

• Brookhurst Street from Trask to Katella avenues
• Gilbert Street from Westminster Avenue to Katella avenues
• West Street from Garden Grove Boulevard to Orangewood Avenue
• Chapman Avenue from Valley View Street to Beach Boulevard
• Lampson Avenue from Westcliff Drive to Haster Street.

The city’s share of the grant – estimated at $151,905 – will come from AQMD Rideshare funds and public works capital funds.

Also on Tuesday night, the council approved on a 7-0 vote an agreement with the owners of a Kia automobile dealership to move from its present location on Garden Grove Boulevard to another property on Harbor Boulevard.

The Garden Grove Kia sales and service lot is on land designated for the second phase of the Brookhurst Place mixed-use development. Kia has asked for economic assistance from the city to move to a 2.3-acre location at 13731 Harbor Blvd.

Under the deal, city will pay Garden Grove Automotive, Inc., an amount equal to 35 percent of the sales tax revenue generated annually above $150,000. The total amount is capped at $2.5 million and the term of the agreement is 25 years.

Counclman Phat Bui repeatedly asked for clarification on the financial terms of the deal, but eventually voted in favor after some discussion.

Also, City Manager Scott Stiles remarked that city staff had recently completed a grant application to the California Department of Transportation to further improve the city’s “active transportation” plans to create “a more viable and walkable downtown.”

The next meeting of the city council is scheduled for Nov. 14.