For City Council Meeting [November 27, 2018]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Ahmad R. Ansari, Interim City Administrator
FROM: Robert G. Eisenbeisz, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Request City Council to 1) Approve an Installation of Water Facilities Agreement with San Gabriel Valley Water Company 2) Approve an Abandonment of Water Facilities Agreement with San Gabriel Valley Water Company 3) Authorize the Issuance of a Purchase Order to San Gabriel Valley Water Company in the Amount of $73,165 for Installation of Water Facilities and 4) Authorize the Issuance of a Purchase Order to San Gabriel Valley Water Company in the amount of $214,384.30 for Abandonment of Existing Facilities for the Alder Avenue Widening Improvements, City Project No. 140801.
(ACTION)
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BACKGROUND:
The Renaissance Specific Plan designates Alder Avenue as a Major Arterial oriented in a north/south alignment. Phase I of the Alder Avenue improvements is substantially complete and has provided partial improvement of Alder Avenue between Renaissance Parkway and Miro Way. Plans and specifications for Phase II of the Widening project are complete and ready for bidding. Phase II of the project includes widening the remaining portions of Alder Avenue between Baseline Road and Miro Way, resulting in a 4-lane divided arterial. The proposed improvements consist of installation of streetlights, concrete curb and gutter, added pavement, median improvements, median landscaping and traffic signal modifications.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
City staff has been coordinating with impacted utility companies for relocation of conflicting facilities. During discussions with San Gabriel Valley Water Company, the parties concluded that an existing 6-inch water line conflicts with the proposed street improvements due to its shallow depth. The parties further determined that because SGVWC installed a new water line along Alder Avenue, SGVWC is able to abandon the conflicting water line as necessary to resolve conflicts. The water line abandonment also requires installation of one (1) fire hydrant, and three (3) one-inch diameter domestic service lines with 5/8 inch meters. In addition, the water line abandonment requires both ends of the 6-inch line to be cut and plugged at the limits of the abandonment. The Utility Design plans are attached hereto as Attachment 1.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Approval of the installation and abandonment agreements of Water Facilities 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 installation and abandonment agreements include 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 comment and the 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, installation agreement and abandonment agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact:
The action will not affect the operating budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact:
Funds are budgeted and available in the Phase II Alder Avenue Widening Project Account No. 250-500-4312-3001-140801-22 in the amount of $287,459.30 for the subject installation and abandonment fees.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
• Approve an Installation of Water Facilities Agreement with San Gabriel Valley Water Company,
• Approve an Abandonment of Water Facilities Agreement with San Gabriel Valley Water Company,
• Authorize the Issuance of a Purchase Order to San Gabriel Valley Water Company in the amount of $73,165 for installation of water facilities, and
• Authorize the Issuance of a Purchase Order to San Gabriel Valley Water Company in the amount of $214,384.30 for abandonment of facilities for the Alder Avenue Widening Improvements, City Project No. 140801.