DATE:
January 16, 2024
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Mohamed Alaoui, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City of Emeryville Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Reimbursement Agreement With BRE-BMR Emeryville Center Of Innovation Holdco LP For The Purpose Of Spending Up To $47,500 To Provide Full Traffic Signal Infrastructure And Fiber Optic Connections On Horton Street And Appropriating $47,500 From Fund 250-Traffic Impact Fee To Fund The Cost Of The Agreement Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the above resolution.
Background
On August 15, 1995, the City Council approved Ordinance No. 95-006 adopting the Chiron Planned Unit Development/Preliminary Development Plan (“Planned Unit Development" or "PUD") for Chiron' s large life sciences campus. The PUD encompasses most of the area bounded by Hollis Street, 45th Street, Stanford Avenue and the railroad. The PUD called for construction of 14 new buildings, including 7 laboratory buildings, 3 office towers, structured parking, and support facilities over a 30-year period. The City Council also approved a Development Agreement by and between the City of Emeryville and Chiron Corporation dated September 14, 1995 and approved by Ordinance No. 95-007 ("Development Agreement" or "DA"). The DA was entered into to, among other things, foster orderly growth and quality development in the Project area, provide public services, improve public safety in the area, and address public infrastructure needs.
On February 25, 2021, the Planning Commission adopted Resolution No. FDP 19-002, BMR Emeryville Center for Innovation Final Development Permit subject to certain Conditions of Approval (“FDP”). The FDP approved the demolition of two existing buildings and surface parking and construction of four new multi-tenant research and development buildings and supporting parking garage as part of implementation of the PUD. These project approvals may be amended from time to time.
DISCUSSION
The project approvals require the Developer to construct a High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) signalized crosswalk between the two vehicular exits of the Building B13/14 garage structure to provide improved safety for bicycle and pedestrian traffic crossing through the northern garage exit and entrance. However, the Developer and City Engineer desire to install a full traffic signal in lieu of the HAWK signal. The HAWK signal would only prohibit a right turn using a sign, whereas a full signal has a higher probability of ensuring that drivers comply with the project-required right turn prohibition on exit from the parking garage. In addition, by upgrading to a full signal, it will allow coordination of the traffic flow with the project-required signal at Horton and 53rd Street. The fiber optic connection will also allow for ease of operation in the long term since the signal can be remotely accessed by the City’s Traffic Management Center.
Since the project approvals only require a HAWK signal rather than a full signal, and since the City desires to pay Developer the cost to upgrade the signal to a full signal and install the appropriate fiber optics, City staff proposes that the City reimburse Developer for the cost to upgrade from HAWK to full signal. City staff determined that the cost of this upgrade would be $47,500. City staff has also determined that the $47,500 cost to the City to have BMR construct and interconnect the signals is a reasonable expense to upgrade the signals’ functionality and operation.
Fiscal Impact
There is available funding in Fund 250 – Traffic Impact Fee to cover the cost of this interconnect infrastructure.
Staff Communication with the Public
Not Applicable
Conflict of Interest
Not applicable
Conclusion
Staff recommends that it is in the public’s interest for the City Council to adopt the above titled resolution.
PREPARED BY: Michael Roberts, Senior Civil Engineer
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution
Reimbursement Agreement
BMR Reimbursement Agreement
City Council Meeting | January 16, 2024
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM