Agenda #: 5.9
Meeting Date: December 20, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Daniel Fox, City Manager
TITLE: GRANTING OF AN EASEMENT TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
EDISON OVER TWO STRIPS OF LAND IN HERITAGE PARK FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF
ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS (APN 8285-025-
900).
STRATEGIC
GOAL: Responsible Stewardship of Public Resources
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Determine that granting of the proposed easement is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Section 15301, 15303, and 15304; and
B. Adopt Resolution No. 2022-62 granting an easement to Southern California Edison over two strips of land within Heritage Park (APN 8285-025-900) and authorize the Mayor to execute same.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No financial impact. The construction of the facilities will be paid for by Southern California Edison from the City's Rule 20A Work Credits. The operation and maintenance of the systems will be the responsibility of their corresponding utility companies.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS:
On November 16, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-53, establishing the Brea Canyon Road Underground Utility District (UUD) on Brea Canyon Road between Cool Springs Drive and Cold Spring Lane. Subsequently, Resolution No. 2021- 53 was submitted to Southern California Edison (SCE) to activate the City's Rule 20A Program, the purpose of which is to facilitate the undergrounding of SCE's utilities. That action secured the City's work credit to be used for the Brea Canyon Road UUD. Over
the past year, staff has been working with SCE on the design of the UUD facilities to be installed underground and overground within the UUD, which partially includes the right of way adjacent to Heritage Park.
The City owns the property commonly known as Heritage Park, which property was transferred to the City by the County shortly after the City's incorporation in 1989. SCE has requested an easement over two strips of land within Heritage Park, as described and shown in the proposed Grant of Easement – Exhibit A (Attachment 2). Due to the design requirements and land constraints, a portion of the facilities and conduits designed for the project will need to encroach into Heritage Park with a total area of approximately 450 square feet (Attachment 3; Vicinity and Location Map). Per the current design, a pad-mounted (overground) equipment will be installed on Strip #1, and an underground conduit will be constructed in Strip #2.
Public Works Department and Parks and Recreation Department reviewed the Easement and did not find a conflict between the proposed Easement and the City's current activities and future plans at Heritage Park.
Environmental Review
The Community Development Department reviewed the Easement for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and determined that the City's granting of the Easement, as well as the subsequent improvements proposed within the Easement, are exempt from further environmental analysis under CEQA.
The proposed project involves minor alterations of existing public facilities, along with the construction of minor appurtenant structures, resulting in minor modifications to vegetated areas which do not impact healthy, mature, scenic trees. Also, the proposed project would include minor construction activities, consisting of minimal site grading and minor trenching for underground utilities, as well as installation of a pre-fabricated equipment cabinet on-site; such activities would result in a negligible expansion of use, and no possibility of significantly impacting the physical environment. Based on this assessment, staff has determined that the proposed action is Categorically Exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to Article 19, Sections 15301, 15303, and 15304 of the CEQA Guidelines.
LEGAL REVIEW:
City Attorney has reviewed and approved the Resolution and the Easement as to form.
PREPARED BY:
REVIEWED BY:
Attachments:
1. 5.9.a Resolution No. 2022-62
2. 5.9.b Grant of Easement - Exhibit "A"
3. 5.9.c Vicinity and Location Map