Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.F
Meeting Date: May 14, 2025
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Resolution Adopting the City's FY 2025-26 SB-1 (RMRA) Projects RECOMMENDATION:
To approve a resolution to adopt the city’s FY 2025-26 Capital Improvement Program’s projects funded by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
BACKGROUND:
Prior to Senate Bill 1 (SB-1), cities and counties across the state delayed and even cancelled road improvement projects due to lack of funding; neglecting basic maintenance and repairs to their local streets. The 2016 California Statewide Local Streets and Roads Needs Assessment found the condition of these local streets, on average, were “at risk” or degraded to failing infrastructure.
On April 28, 2017, Governor Brown signed SB-1, known as The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, to address basic road maintenance, rehabilitation, and critical needs for both state highways and local streets and roads known as the local streets and roads program (LSRP). SB-1 generates funds through increased per gallon fuel excise taxes, diesel fuel sales taxes, vehicle registration fees and provides for inflationary adjustments on future tax rates.
Various portions of the funds generated are deposited into the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) fund. A percentage of the RMRA funding is apportioned to Cathedral City by formula for road maintenance, rehabilitation, and critical safety projects.
The RMRA requires all RMRA-funded projects to be included in the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Initiating RMRA, on September 13, 2017, the City Council approved Resolution No. 2017-43 adding the proposed RMRA projects to the 5-Year CIP.
On February 28, 2024, the City Council approved the recommendation to prioritize using FY 2024-25 RMRA funding for repairs and rehabilitation of arterial and residential streets within the area surrounded by Vista Chino, Date Palm Drive, Tachevah Drive and Avenida Maravilla to help restore roadways affected by Tropical Storm Hilary. This was presented in the FY 2024-25 SB-1 Resolution (Resolution No. 2024-10).
The city used RMRA funding to initiate and/or complete the following projects from Resolution No. 2024-10:
•Horizon Road Reconstruction Project
•Los Gatos Road Reconstruction Project
•Panorama Road Reconstruction Project
•East-West Public Alley Reconstruction Project
•North-South Public Alley Reconstruction Project
•Avenida La Vista Rehabilitation Project
•Adelina Road Rehabilitation Project
•Via De Anza Street Improvement Project Phase III
•Whitewater Area Street Rehabilitation Project Phase I
At the City Council special meeting for the Public Works Staffing and Budget Review, held on April 16, 2025, projects that are proposed to be funded with RMRA/SB-1 within the city’s 5-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) were introduced to the City Council for review and discussion.
DISCUSSION:
New SB-1 Projects for FY 2025-26
City staff are proposing the East Palm Canyon Drive widening project be funded with RMRA funds in FY 2025-26. This project is listed as Project 1 in Resolution No. 2025-XX attached to this staff report.
East Palm Canyon Drive Widening Project
The proposed project includes widening the southside of East Palm Canyon Drive from 32 feet to 47 feet, with the addition of a sidewalk on the section from Canyon Plaza (West) to the western city limits. The widening will accommodate east bound traffic and wider bicycle lane widths, improve safe pedestrian movement, and better the line-of-sight deficiencies that exist on the curve into Cathedral City.
The East Palm Canyon Drive widening project is a component of the East Palm Canyon Drive Widening, Master Underground Plan (MUP), and Traffic Signal at Cree Road project, which is currently under design. The only part of the project that is proposed to be funded with RMRA is the widening of East Palm Canyon Drive. The construction cost estimate for the roadway widening is $912,000 and it is proposed to be paid exclusively with RMRA funds.
Previously Adopted SB-1 Projects for FY 2025-26
Staff are proposing to use RMRA funding to start or continue previously proposed or adopted projects from Resolution No. 2024-10 in FY 2025-26. The following projects are listed in Resolution No. 2025-XX attached to this staff report:
Whitewater Area Street Rehabilitation Between 33rd Avenue and Ortega Road In FY 2024-25, the city proposed to reconstruct various residential streets in the Whitewater Area, bounded by 33rd Avenue to the north, Dinah Shore Drive to the south, Shifting Sands Trail to the west, and Cathedral Canyon Drive to the east.
Phase I of the Whitewater Street Rehabilitation project will be completed before the end of FY 2024-25 and is funded with RMRA and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. This phase of the project consisted of the removal and reconstruction of pavement on the following streets:
•Shifting Sands Trail from 33rd Avenue to Whispering Palms Trail •Sky Blue Water Trail from 33rd Avenue to Dinah Shore Drive •33rd Avenue from Shifting Sands Trail to Cathedral Canyon Drive Phase II of the Whitewater Street Rehabilitation Project is proposed to be constructed in FY 2025-26, also using RMRA and CDBG funding. The project will consist of the removal and reconstruction of pavement on the following street segments:
•Ortega Road from Shifting Sands Trail to Cathedral Canyon Drive •Navajo Trail from 33 rd Avenue to Dinah Shore Drive
•Pueblo Trail from 33 rd Avenue to Dinah Shore Drive
The estimated cost for Phase II of the Whitewater Street Rehabilitation project is $1,310,000.
This project is proposed to be funded with CDBG funds in the amount of $460,000 and RMRA funds in the amount of $850,000. This project is identified as Project 2 in the SB-1 Resolution No. 2025-XX attached.
Landau Boulevard Public Alleyway Reconstruction
For FY 2025-26, staff are proposing the complete design for the Landau Boulevard Public Alley Reconstruction Project. This public alley is bounded by Vista Chino to the north, 30th Avenue to the south, Landau Boulevard to the west, and Avenida La Paz to the east, and provides parking access to multifamily and single-family residences in the Panorama neighborhood.
The project will consist of the removal and reconstruction of pavement within the alley right- of-way between Vista Chino and 30th Avenue.
The design cost is estimated to be $160,000 and it is proposed to be fully funded with the RMRA fund in FY 2025-26.
The construction for the Landau Boulevard Public Alleyway Reconstruction project is proposed to be fully funded with RMRA funds within FY 2026-27. The preliminary estimated construction cost for the project is $1,010,000. The complete Landau Boulevard Public Alleyway Reconstruction is listed as Project 3 in the SB-1 Resolution No. 2025-XX attached and includes cost estimates and the project timeline for design and construction.
Future SB-1 Projects
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has directed city staff to include only the FY 2025-26 SB-1 projects that will be continued or started within the FY 2025-26 in the resolution. Staff further confirmed this direction with Caltrans.
The future projects proposed to be funded with RMRA funds not included in Resolution No. 2025-XX, which were presented in the 5-Year CIP to City Council for FYs 2026-27, 2027-28, 2028-29, and 2029-30 are listed below:
Avenida El Mundo and Avenida El Pueblo Pavement Rehabilitation In FY 2026-27, staff propose to remove and reconstruct the pavement on Avenida El Mundo and Avenida El Pueblo from McCallum Way to Baristo Road. The preliminary estimated cost for this project is $1,200,000. This project is proposed to be funded with $740,000 of RMRA funding and $460,000 of CDBG funding in the presented fiscal year.
Sunny Sands Neighborhood Pavement Rehabilitation
In FY 2027-28, staff propose to remove and reconstruct pavement on the following residential roadways segments:
•El Toro Road, Victor Road, and Nuema Drive from Ramon Road to Baristo Road •Baristo Road from the East End to San Eljay Avenue.
The preliminary estimated cost for this project is $1,340,000. This project is proposed to be funded using $900,000 of RMRA funds and $440,000 of MOE funds.
Panorama Park Area Street Reconstruction
In FY 2028-29, staff propose to reconstruct residential streets located within the Panorama Park Area. The project will consist of the removal and reconstruction of pavement on the following roadways segments:
•Tachevah Drive from Landau Boulevard to Date Palm Drive •Jarana Road from Avenida Maravilla to Avenida La Vista The preliminary estimated cost for this project is $1,455,000. This project is proposed to be funded with $900,000 of RMRA funds and $555,000 of MOE funds.
Landau Boulevard from Vista Chino to 30th Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation In FY 2029-30, staff propose to reconstruct a portion of Landau Boulevard after the completion of the Ramon Road Bridge Widening Project. The project will consist of removing and reconstructing the pavement on Landau Boulevard from Vista Chino to 30th Avenue.
The preliminary estimated cost for the project is $2,100,000. Staff are proposing to fund $900,000 of the cost with RMRA funds. The remaining $1,200,000 is currently unfunded.
Staff will pursue funding opportunities for the remaining balance.
Summary
City staff included the proposed SB-1 funded projects listed above in the 5-Year CIP that was presented to City Council on April 16, 2025. In addition, the City Council must approve an SB-1 resolution every year listing the proposed projects for only the upcoming fiscal year.
Once the resolution is approved by City Council, the city will submit an approved copy of this resolution to the California Transportation Commission (CTC) as required by the local streets and roads program (LSRP).
City staff recommends the City Council approve this resolution to adopt the city’s FY 2025- 26 CIP funded by Senate Bill 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, and to approve the list of projects selected.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommended action will have no immediate fiscal impact for confirming the proposed projects described in the attached Resolution, as each project will be brought separately to the City Council for SB-1 CIP funding approval.
Note: The city is required to maintain its existing commitment of local funds for capital improvements to remain eligible for RMRA funding apportionment. To be eligible in the SB-1 program, the city needs to spend no less than the annual average of its General Fund expenditures, as determined during the 2009-2010, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012 fiscal years for streets, road, and highway purposes from the city’s General Fund (or maintenance of effort (MOE) amount) of approximately $900,000 annually. If the city meets its MOE commitment, the city will receive approximately $900,000 annually in RMRA/SB-1 funding.
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. Resolution No. 2025-XX
2. 5-Year CIP SB-1 Project Maps