Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.D
Meeting Date: July 24, 2024
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Agreement with the City of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley Water District Regarding the Ramon Road Widening (from San Luis Rey Drive to Landau Boulevard) Including the Whitewater Bridge Widening, City Project No CIP 2500, Federal-Aid Project No. BHLS-5282(040).
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve an agreement with the City of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) for the construction of the Ramon Road Widening (San Luis Rey to Landau Boulevard) including the Whitewater River Bridge Widening, City Project No CIP 2500, Federal-Aid Project No. BHLS-5282(040); and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
BACKGROUND:
The Ramon Road Bridge Widening project over the Whitewater River (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 Channel which is under the jurisdiction of Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD).
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 widening of the bridge, there will be channel improvements made to the existing slope lining within the Whitewater River and construction of larger bridge pier walls, which impact CVWD stormwater facilities and will encroach on CVWD Property. The design team has worked closely with CVWD to meet the channel hydraulic requirements in their jurisdiction.
DISCUSSION:
CVWD requires a formal agreement for any construction within their jurisdiction along the Whitewater River channel. The 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. The locations and limits of the channel improvements are shown in Exhibit C, Channel Maintenance Responsibility Plan of the CVWD agreement, that is attached to this report for reference.
The City Council of the City of Palm Springs has approved their portion of the agreement with CVWD at their June 13, 2024, council meeting.
Staff, along with legal counsel, have reviewed the proposed agreement and support the approval by the Council.
Staff recommends the City Council approve the agreement regarding the Ramon Road Widening project over the Whitewater River with the City of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) for the construction of the Ramon Road Widening (San Luis Rey to Landau Boulevard) including the Whitewater River Bridge Widening, City Project No CIP 2500, Federal-Aid Project No. BHLS-5282(040); and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The approval of the agreement will have minimal fiscal impact when the construction of the bridge is completed. The improvements related to the bridge structure located 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.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL B: Community Investment
OBJECTIVE: Cathedral City roads, gateways, public spaces, and other city infrastructure are well planned, designed, constructed, and maintained.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. CVWD Ramon Road Bridge Widening Agreement