DATE: 08/06/2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Planning and Development Department
2025-165
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
RESOLUTION ORDERING THE SUMMARY VACATION AND CONVEYANCE TO
RCFCWCD OF RIGHT-OF WAY WITHIN A PORTION OF THE BEDFORD CANYON
CHANNEL LOCATED ON THE WEST AND EAST SIDES OF TEMESCAL CANYON
ROAD AND SOUTH OF CAJALCO ROAD
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to adopt a resolution ordering the summary vacation of various public easements and approve a quitclaim deed conveying to the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, a fee interest in the right of way located on the west and east sides of Temescal Canyon Road, south of Cajalco Road.
This action will facilitate the construction of the Bedford Canyon Channel, Stage 1, which will safely convey 100-year peak storm flows from Caltrans rights-of-way to the existing Temescal Canyon Road, and will reduce erosion and sediments generated in the Bedford Canyon Wash.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Adopt Resolution No. 2025-028, ordering the summary vacation of the public easements within a portion of the Bedford Canyon Channel, Stage 1, currently identified as Assessor Parcel Numbers 279-530-030, 279-530-028, 279-530-029, and 279-240-020.
b. Approve a quitclaim deed conveying to the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District fee title to right-of-way over property identified as Assessor Parcel Number 279-530-030.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
Between 2004 and 2011, the City acquired several public service easements for storm drain, slope, landscape, temporary construction and right-of-way purposes for the construction and maintenance of the Bedford Canyon Channel located on the west and east sides of Temescal Canyon Road, south of Cajalco Road. The public service easements are located on portions of APNs 279-530-030 and 279-240-020, which are owned by the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), and APNs 279-530- 028 and 279-530-029, which are owned by Arb Inc, and Larry R. and Kristine E. Haupert, respectively. The City also acquired a fee interest in certain right-of-way located within a portion of APN 279-530-030 on the west side of Temescal Canyon Road and certain right-of-way located within a portion of APNs 279-530-028 and 279-530-029 on the east side of Temescal Canyon Road.
The City and the Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (RCFCWCD), hereafter referred to as District, entered into a Cooperative Agreement on August 27, 2024, whereby the District agreed to design, construct, maintain and operate the Bedford Canyon Channel, Stage 1, which consists of approximately 2,206 lineal feet of concrete trapezoidal channel, rock-lined trapezoidal channel with soft-bottom invert, and maintenance access roads. The City, which currently owns, operates and maintains the existing concrete channel portion of the Bedford Canyon Channel, agreed to vacate the public service easements and convey the right of way owned in fee to the District to facilitate the construction, maintenance, and operation of the Bedford Canyon Channel, Stage 1, improvements. The City will continue to own and operate the channel structure and abutments located underneath Temescal Canyon Road Bridge and Temescal Canyon Road.
On April 7, 2025, the Planning and Housing Commission adopted Resolution No. 2662, determining that the proposed vacation of easements and transfer of the right-of-way fee interest within a portion of the Bedford Canyon Wash to the District is consistent with the City’s General Plan.
ANALYSIS:
California Streets & Highways Code Sections 8333(c) and 8334.5 authorize the summary vacation of public service easements determined to be excess, so long as no other public utility facilities located within the area to be vacated would be affected by the vacation.
City staff has reviewed the vacation of the public service easements and has determined that the easements are no longer needed by the City and are considered to be excess because the District will construct and maintain the improvements in the Bedford Canyon Channel, and will secure new easements and any other rights necessary to complete the construction and to operate and maintain this portion of the Bedford Canyon Channel, according to the Cooperative Agreement between the City and District. City staff has also confirmed that there are no public utility facilities that would be affected by the vacation of the public service easements.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The vacation of the public service easements and conveyance of the excess right-of-way will not have a financial impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. This action merely approves the vacation of public service easements that are no longer needed by the City and the conveyance of excess right of way, and there is no possibility that this action will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no further environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: MARIA MIRANDA, SENIOR ENGINEER
REVIEWED BY: JOANNE COLETTA, PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Resolution No. 2025-028
2. Exhibit 2 – Location Map
3. Exhibit 3 – Easement Vacation Request Letter