Central Services
Joan Araujo, Director
Engineering Services
Anastasia Seims, Director
Roads & Transportation
Anitha Balan, Director
Water & Sanitation
Vacant, Director
Watershed Protection
Vacant, Director
Hall of Administration L #1600
800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009 • (805) 654-2018 • FAX (805) 654-3952 • www.VCPublicWorks.org
Gregg Strakaluse
Agency Director
Jeff Palmer
Assistant Director
May 20, 2025
County of Ventura Board of Supervisors
Subject: Approval of the Design Plans for the Somis Ranch Farmworkers Housing Off - Site Improvements (Project) Located on State Route 34; Approval of Cooperative Agreement for Construction No. 07-5335, Project No. 0724000027, between the California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA); Approval of an Agreement for Construction of Improvements between VCPWA and AMCAL Terra Campagna Fund, L.P., (AMCAL); Approval of a Project Specific Maintenance Agreement between Caltrans and VCPWA ; Authorization for the Public Works Agency Director (Director) or Designee to Execute any Amendments to the Agreements provided that such Amendments are Cost -Neutral to the County ; Execution of All Agreements to be Contingent on City of Camarillo’s Conveyance of Necessary Road Easement; Supervisorial Districts 2 and 3. This item is subject to the Levine Act.
Recommendations:
1. Approve the Design Plans (Exhibit 3) for the Somis Ranch Farmworkers Housing Off- Site Improvements (Project) located on State Route 34.
2. Approve the Cooperative Agreement for Construction No. 07 -5335, Project No. 0724000027 (Exhibit 4), between the California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA), with execution of agreement contingent on the City of Camarillo’s (City) conveyance of a 40 -foot-wide road easement to the County.
3. Approve an Agreement for Construction of Improvements (Exhibit 5), between VCPWA and AMCAL Terra Campagna Fund, L.P ., (AMCAL) , with execution of agreement contingent on the City’s conveyance of a 40-foot-wide road easement to the County.
4. Approve a Project Specific Maintenance Agreement (Exhibit 6), between Caltrans and VCPWA, with execution of agreement contingent on the City’s conveyance of a 40 - foot-wide road easement to the County.
5. Authorize the Public Works Agency Director (Director) or designee to execute any Amendments to the Agreements provided that such Amendments are Cost-Neutral to Board of Supervisors
May 20, 2025
Hall of Administration L #1600
800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009 • (805) 654-2018 • FAX (805) 654-3952 • www.VCPublicWorks.org
the County, contingent on the City’s conveyance of a 40 -foot-wide road easement to the County.
Fiscal Impact(s):
FY 2024-2025 FY 2025-2026
Revenue $ 110,742 $ 60,000 Costs $ 110,742 $ 60,000
Total Cost $ 0 $ 0 Funding Source(S): AMCAL Terra Campagna Fund, L.P.
Funding Match Required: None
Executive Summary:
On February 2, 2021, your Board approved the discretionary land use entitlements for the Somis Farmworker Housing Complex Project. The project is comprised of 360 farmworker dwellings located at 2787 Somis Road north of and adjacent to the City of Camarillo as shown on Exhibit 1 (Vicinity Map) and Exhibit 2 (Location Map).
On February 2, 2021, your Board also certified the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Somis Farmworker Housing Complex Project. Conditions of Approval for this project required widening of State Route 34 (SR-34) between mile markers 15.8 to 16.3 to accommodate two new bus stops and enhancing driveway entrances to the development. The driveway entrances will include two new right t urn lanes, one new left turn lane, and a traffic signal at the northeast entrance location.
The Somis Farmworker Housing Off -Site Improvements (Project) along SR -34 will primarily occur on the California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) road right of way . A small portion of the proposed offsite improvements will be constructed in a 40 -ft wide road easement which the City will quitclaim to the County prior to the construction phase. Because of your Board support and project location, the Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) will continue to facilitate this project on the State H ighway System, as a result, VCPWA will remain lead applicant for all activities needed for the Project in lieu of the developer AMCAL Terra Campagna Fund, L.P. (AMCAL).
On July 23, 2024, your Board approved a Cooperative Agreement between Caltrans and VCPWA to proceed as the lead applicant and provide oversight for the environmental permitting, design plan s preparation and right of way processes and found this project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines sections 15301 and 15303, and a Notice of Exemption was filed at that time .
VCPWA has been actively working with the City of Camarillo and AMCAL, including their civil engineering firm Jensen Design & Survey, Inc., to complete the required documents in this first cooperative agreement.
Board of Supervisors
May 20, 2025
Hall of Administration L #1600
800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009 • (805) 654-2018 • FAX (805) 654-3952 • www.VCPublicWorks.org
Now, a second Cooperative Agreement between Caltrans and VCPWA is needed to facilitate the construction administration for the Project . Since th e construction is on SR-34 the VCPWA team has transferred the construction, maintenance, and all obligations to build the proposed offsite improvements from the County to AMCAL. The design plans are final, various agreements are in place, and a surety bond has been executed with AMCAL to ensure the developer builds the new bus stops, turn lanes and traffic signal to Caltrans’s satisfaction in the Caltrans road right of way and a portion of the adjacent road easement.
Discussion:
Since authorizing the first Cooperative Agreement, Ventura County Public Works Agency (VCPWA) has worked closely with AMCAL Terra Campagna Fund, L.P. (AMCAL) to complete the environmental clearance, construction drawings, and right of way needed to obtain the California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Encroachment Permit. To assist in this effort, AMCAL has hired Jensen Design & Survey, Inc., (Jensen), a local civil engineering firm, to prepare the required Caltrans documents for the Somis Farmworker Housing Off-Site Improvements (Project) which include two new bus stops, turn lanes and one new traffic signal for the farmworker housing development. The Project improvements will be constructed along State Route 34 (SR-34) just outside Caltrans right of way. This section of the right-of-way is under the jurisdiction of the City through an existing road easement.
A 40-ft wide road easement which spans the westerly side of SR -34 is annexed in the City boundary limits. This road easement will be transferred from the City to the County to build the proposed offsite improvements. Several meetings have occurred between the City, VCPWA and AMCAL staff regarding conditions set forth by the City before this right-of-way easement can be conveyed to the County via quitclaim deed. The County will temporarily hold this right-of-way easement until construction of the Project is complete, at which time the County will convey the easement to Caltrans in accordance with the first Cooperative Agreement as the proposed offsite improvements will be part of the State Highway System.
The construction drawings for the Project are complete. Jensen’s design plans show two bus stops along SR -34: 1) one in-line curbside bus stop going northbound and 2) one bus stop turnout going southbound. In addition, there is minor roadway widening for the right turn and left turn lanes into the driveways, minor drainage improvements extending the culvert, a new traffic signal for the northerly driveway entrance/exit, and minor signing and striping to include a bike lane. The design plans have been reviewed and approved by Caltrans to release the encroachment permit. A copy of the design plans is shown in Exhibit 3.
Your Board is now being asked to approve a second Cooperative Agreement (Construction Agreement) between Caltrans and VCPWA. This Construction Agreement is required to set conditions for each party related to the construction administration for the Project. Conditions include, but are not limited to, construction support and oversight, compliance with storm water provisions, and maintenance of the proposed offsite improvements. A copy of the Construction Agreement No. 07-5335, Project No. 0724000027 is shown in Exhibit 4. All costs incurred by VCPWA identified in this Construction Agreement will be reimbursed by
Board of Supervisors
May 20, 2025
Hall of Administration L #1600
800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009 • (805) 654-2018 • FAX (805) 654-3952 • www.VCPublicWorks.org
AMCAL like the first Cooperative Agreement. Your Board is being asked not to sign this Construction Agreement unless and until the City conveys the required 40 -foot easement to the County, which is currently expected to occur on May 28, 2025.
Your Board is also being asked to approve a developer agreement with AMCAL. The offsite improvements to SR -34 are not a public work s project and are therefore not subject to the bidding requirements of the Public Contract Code because the improvements are part of, and necessary to, AMCAL’s construction of the housing complex, for which neither the County nor Caltrans is paying. Instead AMCAL will build the proposed offsite improvements and will be fully responsible and liable for the Project. In the Developer Agreement between the County and AMCAL , the County’s construction-administration obligations in the Construction Agreement will be transferred to AMCAL . This Developer Agreement ensures the construction, maintenance, and all obligations for building the Project lie with AMCAL as part of the overall Somis Farmworker Housing development. A copy of the Developer Agreement is shown in Exhibit 5. This Developer Agreement has been reviewed and signed by AMCAL.
AMCAL has also secured a performance and payment bond in advance to guarantee construction of the Project as VCPWA has released the Certificate of Occupancies for the remaining buildings. As with the Construction Agreement, y our Board is being asked not to sign this Developer Agreement unless and until the City conveys the required 40 -foot easement to the County, which is currently expected to occur on May 28, 2025.
Your Board is also being asked to review and approve the Design Plans in Exhibit 3. Under the Developer Agreement, AMCAL will be required to build the offsite improvements according to those Design Plans, which have been developed in cooperation with AMCAL and Caltrans. Your Board’s review of the Design Plans will ensure that the offsite improvements are built with the County’s full approval and that the improvements will be more readily transferable to Caltrans after the Project’s completion.
Your Board is also being asked to approve a Project Specific Maintenance Agreement (Maintenance Agreement) between Caltrans and VCPWA. This Maintenance Agreement will be intact until the proposed offsite improvements have been constructed and all documents necessary to transfer the right-of-way easement from the County to Caltrans have been completed. Maintenance activities include, but are not limited to, landscaping, graffiti removal, weed abatement, and sidewalk upkeep. AMCAL will be responsible and liable during this maintenance period as out lined in the Developer Agreement. VCPWA will continue to maintain the bus shelters and trash receptacles for the new two bus stops along SR -34 in conjunction with an approved Caltrans and VCPWA agreement. A copy of the Maintenance Agreement is shown in Exhibit 6. As with the Construction and Development Agreements, your Board is being asked not to sign this Maintenance Agreement unless and until the City conveys the required 40 -foot easement to the County, which is currently expected to occur on May 28, 2025.
With the various agreements and Design Plans described above, VCPWA will have satisfactorily transferred the construction, maintenance , and other obligations for the proposed offsite improvements. The construction is planned to begin in Summer of 2025.
Board of Supervisors
May 20, 2025
Hall of Administration L #1600
800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009 • (805) 654-2018 • FAX (805) 654-3952 • www.VCPublicWorks.org
Strategic Plan:
This item contributes to the Board of Supervisors (Board’s) 2024 -2027 strategic priority to provide:
III. Reliable infrastructure and sustainability through
1. Maintain and improve dependable public resources to serve the needs of our diverse communities.
2. Preserving our agricultural land and natural environment while ensuring housing availability for all residents.
3. Investing in sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and preservation of our natural resources.
This item has been reviewed by the County Executive Office, the Auditor-Controller’s Office, and County Counsel.
If you have any questions concerning this item, please contact Anitha Balan at (805) 654- 2077
Sincerely,
Anitha Balan, PE
Director, Roads & Transportation
Attachments:
Exhibit 1 – Vicinity Map
Exhibit 2 – Location Map
Exhibit 3 – Design Plans
Exhibit 4 – Caltrans Cooperative Agreement No. 07-5335 Exhibit 5 – Agreement for Construction of Improvements Exhibit 6 – Project Specific Maintenance Agreement