Camarillo City Council
AGENDA REPORT
Date: October 22, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Dave Klotzle, Public Works Director
Subject: Joint Use Agreement with AMCAL Terra Campagna Fund, L.P. and AMCAL Somis Ranch Fund, L.P. for Common Driveway, and
Quitclaim Deed
BACKGROUND
AMCAL Terra Campagna Fund, L.P. and AMCAL Somis Ranch Fund, L.P. (AMCAL) is the owner of the 360-unit Somis Ranch Apartments farmworker housing development project (Housing Development) being constructed on 19 acres in the unincorporated Ventura County area just north of the City’s Desalter facility on Somis Road as shown on the attached location map (Attachment 1). The Housing Development was approved through the County of Ventura’s entitlement process in early 2021.
The Housing Development conditions of approval require two points of direct access from Somis Road, the northern and southern access driveways shown on the location map. The City’s Desalter project constructed the southern access driveway connection from Somis Road up to the Desalter which is now a shared access (Common Driveway) with the Housing Development. The City and AMCAL acquired separate non-exclusive access easements from the underlying property owner for the shared southern access driveway. AMCAL constructed a pedestrian walkway along the shared southern access driveway and decorative monument signs near the connection to Somis Road, collectively designating the Common Driveway as the main access route to the Housing Development.
AMCAL constructed the northern access as a secondary exit-only driveway with an automatic gate for exiting vehicles (not direct open access). AMCAL acquired an easement for the northern access driveway from the underlying property owner requiring the gate and prohibiting bicycle and pedestrian access.
AMCAL is required to construct additional improvements on Somis Road including turn lanes, a traffic signal at the northern access driveway and bus stops in each direction. The Housing Development conditions of approval also require the construction of a direct pedestrian pathway to the adjacent Rancho Campana High School.
AMCAL - Agreement
October 22, 2025
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DISCUSSION
AMCAL is coordinating with Ventura County Public Works Agency to obtain the Caltrans permits required for the improvements on Somis Road (State Route 34). In the 1970s a proposed development including the widening of Somis Road was annexed into the City but the annexation was formally reversed after a successful CEQA challenge defeated the project. An easement to the City for the road widening was executed with the annexation and remains on record, and Caltrans requires a quitclaim of the easement (Attachment 2) from the City to Ventura County before the AMCAL improvements are approved and permitted by Caltrans.
Staff met several times with AMCAL and Ventura County staff to discuss the quitclaim they need from the City and the City’s significant safety concerns regarding conflicts between the high volume of vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic from the Housing Development, and vehicles using the Common Driveway to access the Desalter. The short left-turn lane on Somis Road is another vehicle safety concern as there is limited space for a large number of vehicles, or the large trucks making deliveries to the Desalter, to stack without blocking the northbound through lane as they wait to turn into the Common Driveway.
Additionally, the new southbound bus stop turnout on Somis Road is proposed to be located just to the south of the Common Driveway, increasing the concerns regarding the safety of pedestrians that will have to cross the Common Driveway to use the bus stop. Construction of the bus stop turnout will also require the relocation of the power pole that supplies electricity to the Desalter, hence the Desalter will be out of operation for an unknown length of time until power is switched over from the relocated pole.
Discussions with AMCAL resulted in a proposed Joint Use Agreement for the Common Driveway which was considered by City Council on May 28, 2025. City Council discussed the proposed agreement, and expressed concerns regarding vehicle and pedestrian safety, liability and indemnification, compliance with the project CEQA documents and conditions of approval, pedestrian access to Rancho Campana High School, and the Common Driveway being the main access route to the Housing Development. City Council directed staff to work with AMCAL and the County to provide additional information regarding the concerns raised and return with a revised agreement that provides for compliance with all conditions of approval and that both project driveways will allow equal levels of access.
Staff met several additional times with AMCAL and Ventura County staff to develop a revised Joint Use Agreement (Agreement – Attachment 3) that includes the following provisions to address the City’s concerns:
AMCAL to modify the northern driveway gate and install a gate across the southern driveway with both gates providing twenty-four hour, two-way access activated by key pad or fob. Both gates are to be operational when the Somis Road improvements are completed.
City to grant an easement to AMCAL for the portion of the southern driveway gate required to be constructed within the northeast corner of the City’s desalter parcel.
AMCAL - Agreement
October 22, 2025
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AMCAL to maintain the Common Driveway with City contributing 10% of the maintenance costs based on the low level of City use compared to the majority of use by the Housing Development.
Indemnification of the City and $5 million of insurance coverage from AMCAL. AMCAL to construct a direct pedestrian access to Rancho Campana High School. AMCAL to offset the cost to the City of purchasing imported water if power to the Desalter is disrupted for longer than 4 hours.
City to execute a quitclaim of the Somis Road easement to Ventura County as required for AMCAL to obtain Caltrans approval and permitting of the roadway improvements.
AMCAL to provide a $25,000 security to the City if both driveway gates are not completed before the quitclaim is executed by the City.
The City will contribute 10% of the Common Driveway maintenance cost, in an amount to be determined upon completion of maintenance. If production of Desalter water is ceased due to power being out for four hours, the cost to the City for the equivalent amount of imported water is approximately $4,000.
AMCAL has signed an Agreement with the County for Construction of Improvements to State Route 34 in Support of Somis Farmworker Housing Project (Attachment 4) requiring AMCAL to construct the roadway improvements and install the southern driveway gate.
The County is authorized to sign the agreement after the quitclaim is executed by the City per the County of Ventura Board of Supervisors letter dated May 20, 2025 (Attachment 5).
The installation of the two access driveway gates, along with the roadway improvements to Somis Road, is expected to equalize the level of use of each driveway with enhanced roadway safety features for vehicular access to the Housing Project. AMCAL’s traffic engineer has confirmed that the proposed roadway improvements and existing left-turn lane from Somis Road to the southern driveway will provide adequate access to the Housing Project. The addition of the southern driveway gate with the Somis Road improvements, and the indemnification and insurance provisions, together addresses the concerns raised by the City, and staff recommends the City enter into the Joint Use Agreement with AMCAL.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
Staff has determined, in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines that the Quitclaim to Ventura County of the Easement Deed is not subject to CEQA review because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the Quitclaim may have a significant effect on the environment.
The activity is administrative. Additionally, staff has determined in accordance with CEQA Guideline 15301 that the Joint Use Agreement with AMCAL Terra Campagna Fund, L.P. and AMCAL Somis Ranch Fund, L.P. is exempt from CEQA review as the Agreement involves operation of existing facilities or structures.
AMCAL - Agreement
October 22, 2025
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CITY COUNCIL STRATEGIC PLAN FY 2025/26
This recommendation supports the City Council’s Strategic Plan Goal and Objective to “Plan appropriate land uses, transportation network and transit systems” and “Continue to seek improvement on local traffic issues that impact our City.”
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for Common Driveway maintenance are available in the FY 2025/26 Water Utility Fund budget, Desalter Operations Account No. 860-3670-436.35-72. Funds for the cost of imported water are available in FY 2025/26 Water Utility Fund budget, Water Purchased Account No. 860-3610-436.61-70.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Find that the proposed Joint Use Agreement with AMCAL Terra Campagna Fund, L.P. and AMCAL Somis Ranch Fund, L.P. for Common Driveway is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, and the execution of a Quitclaim Deed is exempt from review under CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines; and
2. Authorize City Manager to execute Joint Use Agreement with AMCAL Terra Campagna Fund, L.P. and AMCAL Somis Ranch Fund, L.P. for Common Driveway; and
3. Authorize City Manager to execute the Quitclaim to Ventura County of the Easement Deed recorded on July 10, 1974, in Book 4285 page 529 as No. 45373 in the Official Records of the County of Ventura; and
4. Authorize City Manager to execute the necessary easement to AMCAL for the southern driveway gate.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Location Map
2. Quitclaim Deed
3. Joint Use Agreement for Common Driveway
4. AMCAL Agreement with County of Ventura
5. County of Ventura Board of Supervisors letter
REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL None