BACKGROUND:
The Ramon Road Bridge Widening Project (Project) consists of widening Ramon Road to its full 6-lane width from San Luis Rey Drive to Landau Boulevard including widening the bridge over the Whitewater River. In this road section, the City boundary runs along the centerline of Ramon Road separating the City of Palm Springs to the south with the City of Cathedral City to the north. The bridge structure crosses the Whitewater River which is under the jurisdiction of Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (RCFCD).
The Project is being developed in coordination with the City of Palm Springs, who is acting as the Lead Agency, and is funded with federal funds from the Highway Bridge Program (HBP) administered by Caltrans, and with regional and local contributions from the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), the City of Palm Springs and the City of Cathedral City.
As a result of the bridge widening, there will be improvements along the western channel and levee of the Whitewater River, including larger bridge pier walls, which impact RCFCD jurisdiction. The design team has worked closely with RCFCD to meet the channel hydraulic requirements in their jurisdiction.
DISCUSSION:
RCFCD requires a formal License Agreement (Agreement) for any construction taking place within their jurisdiction. The License Agreement provides that the City of Cathedral City will be responsible for all construction, operation, and maintenance activities for channel improvements within the City of Cathedral City. A separate License Agreement between RCFCD and the City of Palm Springs is being processed concurrently.
Staff, along with legal counsel, have reviewed the proposed License Agreement and support the approval by Council.
City Engineering Staff is requesting City Council approve a license agreement with Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (RCFCD) for the Operation and Maintenance of the Ramon Road Bridge Widening Project; and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The approval of the Agreement will have minimal fiscal impact when the bridge is completed. The improvements related to the bridge structure when completed, within the City limits, will be maintained by the City’s Public Works Department. These maintenance responsibilities will be absorbed into the Public Works Department’s day- to-day responsibilities and associated costs will be included in the future maintenance budgets.