For City Council Meeting [February 25, 2025]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Tanya Williams, City Manager
FROM: Tim Sullivan, Director of Public Works
Title
Request City Council to: 1) Approve a Joint Use Agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE) related to the Precise Plan of Design (PPD) 2021-0055, Located on the Westside of Locust Avenue at Lowell Street and 2) Authorize the City Manager to Execute all Related Documents.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve a Joint Use Agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE).
2. Authorize the City Manager to Execute all Related Documents.
BACKGROUND
On September 14, 2022, the City of Rialto Planning Commission conditionally approved PPD 2021-0055 for the redevelopment of an existing industrial site with a 100,880 square-foot industrial commerce building located at the northwest corner of Locust Avenue and Lowell Street. Locust Avenue is a north/south roadway designated as an Arterial within the Renaissance Specific Plan. Phase 1 of the on-site improvements and related public improvements is substantially complete and has provided for sidewalks, landscaping & irrigation, curb & gutter, and relocation of a streetlight. Phase 2 of the public improvements includes pavement reconstruction on Locust Avenue and Lowell Street. However, prior to commencing Phase 2, the overhead utilities must be undergrounded and relocated within Locust Avenue.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The Developer/Owner, Locust Springs, LLC, requests that the City Council approve a Joint Use Agreement (JUA) in order to satisfy the project’s condition of approval for undergrounding overhead utilities along the project frontage. Preparation of plans and specifications for both Phase I and 2 of the Locust Avenue and Lowell Street improvements are completed, permitted, and contracted, subject to final utility coordination and relocation requirements. City staff, the City’s Attorney’s office, and the Developer/Owner’s staff have been coordinating with the utility companies regarding the relocation of the impacted utilities. During discussions with SCE, it was determined that a total of one (1) utility pole will need to be relocated, and a total of two (2) utility poles will need to be completely removed. A portion of SCE’s infrastructure will be undergrounded and placed in the City’s right-of-way. Any SCE facility relocations, removals, or new installations will be paid for by the Developer/Owner of the property located at 2904 N. Locust Avenue. Please refer to the Utility Design plans, which are included as Attachment 1.
The location of SCE’s infrastructure is in SCE’s existing easement areas with prior rights. The new locations will be in the public right-of-way where the City has prior rights. As such, the JUA was created to maintain the status quo and is included as Attachment 2.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The City, acting as the lead agency pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), prepared an Addendum to the Rialto Airport Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (Addendum) for the development. The Addendum was reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission on September 14, 2022. Approval of the Joint Utility Agreement is not a “Project,” as defined by CEQA. Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include: (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. No further environmental review is necessary.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
The project is consistent with the following goals of the Land Use Element of the Rialto General Plan:
Goal 2-19: Encourage neighborhood preservation, stabilization, and property maintenance.
Goal 2-21: Ensure high-quality planned developments in Rialto.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the agreement and approved it as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The proposed action will not affect the Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
The proposed action will not affect the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
Before execution of any issued On-Site or Off-Site Construction Permits, the Subdivider secured a business license application and paid a Business License tax at the Contractors rate, as well as Administration and State fees for his contractors performing any improvements and shall renew accordingly.