For City Council Meeting [January 9, 2018]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Robb R. Steel, Interim City Administrator
FROM: Robert G. Eisenbeisz, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Request City Council to Approve a Facilities Relocation Agreement and Joint Use Agreement; and Authorize the Issuance of a Purchase Order to Southern California Edison in the Amount of $75,000 for Relocation of Utility Poles for the Alder Avenue Phase 2 Widening Improvements, City Project No. 140801.
(ACTION)
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BACKGROUND:
Alder Avenue is a North/South arterial roadway designated as a major arterial within the Renaissance Specific Plan. Phase 1 of the Alder Avenue improvements is substantially complete and has provided widening of Alder Avenue from Renaissance Parkway to Miro Way. Plans and specifications for Phase 2 of the Widening project have been completed and are ready for bidding; however, the utility relocations need to be coordinated and/or completed prior to the release for bids. The Phase 2 Alder Avenue Widening project will complete the widening on Alder Avenue between Baseline Road and Miro Way, resulting in a 4-lane divided roadway with a raised landscaped median. The proposed improvements consist of installation of street lights, concrete curb and gutter, roadway pavement, median improvements, median landscaping and traffic signal modifications.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
Preparation of plans and specifications for Phase 2 of the Alder Avenue Widening project are substantially complete, subject to final utility coordination and/or relocation requirements. City staff along with consulting staff have been coordinating with impacted utilities regarding relocation of said impacted utilities. During discussions with Southern California Edison, it was determined that a total of 11 utility poles will need to be relocated and a total of 3 utility poles will need to be completely removed. Of the 14 utility poles identified, a total of five utility poles are in an existing SCE easement with prior rights. The remaining 9 poles are subject to relocation at SCE’s expense in accordance with the Franchise Agreement. Please refer to the Utility Design plans (Attachment 1).
Poles requiring relocation governed by the City’s franchise agreement are required to be relocated at the utility company’s sole expense. Poles located within existing SCE easements, with prior rights, will be relocated at the City’s expense pursuant to the subject Facilities Relocation Agreement and Joint Use Agreement. The Facilities Relocation Agreement along with an invoice for the relocation work is included as Attachments 2 and 3. The Joint Use Agreement is included as Attachment 4.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Approval of the Joint Utility Agreement and Purchase Order for Power Pole Relocation does not constitute a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). However, 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. Therefore, since the Joint Utility Agreement includes the relocation of a utility line, the Project is subject to state environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The City, acting as the lead agency pursuant to CEQA, prepared an Initial Study and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Project. The MND was circulated for public review and the public comment period ended on March 19, 2015.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
Approval of this action complies with the following City of Rialto Guiding Principles, General Plan Goals and Policies:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
Goal 4-1: Provide transportation improvements to reduce traffic congestion associated with regional and local trip increases.
Policy 4-1.1: Establish and maintain standards for variety of street classifications to serve both local and regional traffic, including Major Arterial Highways, Major Arterials, Secondary Arterials, Collector Streets, and Local Streets.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the staff report, the Facilities Relocation Agreement, and the Joint Use Agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The utility pole relocation cost is $75,000 and sufficient funds are budgeted and available in the project budget, Transportation Fund Account No. 250-500-4312-3001-140801-20.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize:
• Approval of the Facilities Relocation Agreement with Southern California Edison subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
• Approval of a Joint Use Agreement with Southern California Edison
• Issuance of a Purchase Order to Southern California Edison in the amount of $75,000 for utility relocation to accommodate the Alder Avenue Widening Phase 2 Improvements, City Project No. 140801.