CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: April 8, 2026 CONSENT CALENDAR
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF THE GENE AUTRY TRAIL WIND WALL, CITY PROJECT 18-14
FROM: Scott C. Stiles, City Manager
BY: Engineering
SUMMARY:
Construction of the Gene Autry Trail Wind Wall, City Project No. 18-14 (the “Project”), has been completed. Formal City Council acceptance of the Project is required to document the completion of public works improvements and to allow the City’s filing of a Notice of Completion with the Riverside County Recorder in accordance with Section 9200 of the California Civil Code.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Accept the public works improvement Project as completed in accordance with the plans and specifications; and
2. Authorize the City Engineer to execute and file for recordation with the Riverside County Recorder a Notice of Completion for the Project.
BUSINESS PRINCIPAL DISCLOSURE:
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND:
On April 23, 2025, the City Council awarded construction contracts in the amount of $2,195,800 to Deark E&C Inc. (the “Contractor”); $240,666 to Southstar Engineering & Consulting Inc., (Construction Management with material inspections); and $13,920 to The Solis Group (Work Force Agreement administrator) for the Project.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Construction of the Project started June 9, 2025, and was determined to be substantially completed on February 20, 2026. See Figures 1 & 2 for before and after pictures.
City Council Staff Report
April 8, 2026 -- Page 2
Acceptance of the Gene Autry Trail Wind Wall, City Project 18-14
Figure 1A Looking southbound, August 2012 Figure 1B Looking southbound, July 2019
Figure 2A Looking northbound, February 2026 Figure 2B Looking southbound, February 2026 Before the wooden fence was constructed in May 2013, sand would typically build up across all southbound lanes and most of the northbound lanes. After construction of the wooden fence, the sand build up was limited to the southbound No. 2 lane and partially in the northbound No. 2 lane. After completion of the concrete masonry unit (CMU) block wall in February 2026, the sand buildup on the pavement showed significant reduction with minimal cleanup needed. Visibility within the wall footprint has also greatly improved.
Staff will continue to monitor sand deposit patterns over the next year to assess the effectiveness of the newly constructed CMU block wall.
Staff recommends City Council accept the completed Project as required by Section 9200 of the California Civil Code and authorize the City Engineer to file and record a Notice of Completion to be submitted to the County. A copy of the Notice of Completion is included as Attachment A.
City Council Staff Report
April 8, 2026 -- Page 3
Acceptance of the Gene Autry Trail Wind Wall, City Project 18-14 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines Section 15301 Class 1(c) – “Existing Facilities” Class 1 projects consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible expansion of existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety), and other alterations that do not create additional automobile lanes). Therefore, the Gene Autry Trail Wind Wall, City Project No. 18-14, is considered categorically exempt from CEQA.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLANNING:
This item aligns with the following City Council Strategic Plan Broad Goal: Infrastructure and Facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
During construction, some additional work was required for completion and, conversely, some line items were not fully used, resulting in a credit to the Project. As a result, there is an overall project savings of $470,000, reducing the contract amount from $2,195,800 down to $1,725,800. The final balancing change order is included as Attachment B.
The City is holding retention funds in the amount of $86,290 for the Contractor pending acceptance of improvements and filing the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder’s Office.
REVIEWED BY:
Department Director: Joel Montalvo
Assistant City Manager: Flinn Fagg
City Manager: Scott Stiles
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Notice of Completion
B. Final Balancing Change Order