Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: Acceptance of Jamie Lane Public Improvements
Date: May 23, 2023
Written by: Craig Scott, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Recommendation
It is recommended the City of Cotati City Council adopt a resolution accepting the Jamie Lane Subdivision Public Improvements and authorizing the City Clerk to record the notice of completion and to release any Subdivision Improvement Agreement Securities upon the passage of 35 days of noticing with no protests.
Background
As part of the orderly development of the City, the City considers and approves subdivision plans then typically enters into Subdivision Improvement Agreements for the installation and eventual acceptance by the City of public improvements. This process is to ensure the development meets the City’s land use and infrastructure requirements presented in the General Plan, codified in the Municipal Code, and prescribed in guidance documents including the Engineering Design Standards, Standard Plans, and Construction Specification Manual and Building Permit forms and procedures. The Jamie Lane Subdivision has followed these procedures and the public improvement portion of the constructed development is ready for City Council acceptance.
Analysis/Discussion
On June 9, 2020, the City Council accepted the recommendations of the Design Review Committee and Planning Commission and approved the Vesting Tentative Map and Design Review to allow the construction of five single family deed restricted homes on the Jamie Lane Property.
Subsequent to City Council approval of the project, the Housing Land Trust of Sonoma County (HLT or Developer) submitted the Improvement Plans (“Plans”), draft Final Map, and related subdivision documents for City review. The City Engineer, Community Development Director, Police Chief, and the Fire District Chief reviewed the Improvement Plans and determined them to be in conformance with the entitled Project. The Final Map contains the mapping and notation information for the Developer to dedicate land for public purposes consisting of public roadways, sidewalk and utility easements.
On February 23, 2021, City Council approved the Subdivision Improvement Agreement, Improvement Plans, Final Map, related agreements, and accepted the dedications and construction work began. The work is now complete and has been inspected and approved by the Developer’s Engineer and the City’s Engineers and is recommended for acceptance by the City.
Following City Council action, the City Clerk is to record the Notice of Completion, then, after the 35-day noticing period with no protests received, the City Clerk is to release any remaining Subdivision Securities. Typically, a maintenance bond is required by the City in the event that the developer is unresponsive to correcting any deficiencies in the public improvements for a period of one year following City acceptance of the Public Improvements. However, HLT continues to own and operate the project directly, and any maintenance bond premium would be paid by the City as a partner in this affordable housing development. Therefore, staff is recommending that the City Council waive this requirement on this joint project. Following City Council’s acceptance, the purpose of the Subdivision Improvement Agreement has been fulfilled.
Financial Considerations
In accepting the public improvements, the City is taking responsibility for the long-term maintenance of these improvements. The development is within the Community Facilities District (CFD) so a special assessment is collected by the City for maintenance of streets, lighting and public safety. Interior improvements including Jamie Lane, on-site storm water system, landscaping and lighting are the responsibility of the property owner(s).
Environmental Issues
The Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15332 of the CEQA Guidelines, In-Fill Development Projects, as the Project is consistent with the General Plan and zoning as modified by the Planned Urban Development (PUD), is less than five acres, has no value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species, can be served by existing utilities and public services, and will have no significant traffic, noise, air or water quality effects.