City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 2025 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: 3 AND 7
SUBJECT: FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM MITIGATION FEE PROGRAM AGREEMENT WITH WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,475,000 FOR A NEW TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $4,635,000 FOR THE VAN BUREN BOULEVARD WIDENING FROM JURUPA AVENUE TO SANTA ANA RIVER FOR THE PLANNING, ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUCTION PHASES – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUES:
Approve the First Amendment to the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee Program (TUMF) Agreement with the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) in the amount of $4,475,000 for a total contract amount of $4,635,000 for the Van Buren Boulevard Widening from Jurupa Avenue to the Santa Ana River; and authorize a supplemental appropriation of Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee Program funds for the planning, engineering, and construction phases.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the First Amendment to the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee Program Agreement with the Western Riverside Council of Governments for the Van Buren Boulevard Widening Project from Jurupa Avenue to the Santa Ana River Bridge for the planning, engineering, and construction phases in the amount of $4,475,000, increasing the total agreement amount to $4,635,000.
Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the First Amendment to the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee Program Agreement with the Western Riverside Council of Governments, including making minor and non-substantive changes; and With at least five affirmative votes, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenues and appropriate an equal amount in expenditures in the amount of $4,568,911.37 in the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee Fund, Van Buren Boulevard – Jurupa SAR Bridge project revenue and expenditure accounts.
BACKGROUND:
On May 10, 2011, the City Council determined that the proposed widening of Van Buren Boulevard between Jurupa Avenue and the Santa Ana River bridge would not have a significant effect on the environment, based on the analysis and mitigation measures outlined in the staff report. City Council adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and approved Case EPW-10-002.
In September 2012, the County of Riverside completed reconstruction of the Van Buren Boulevard Bridge over the Santa Ana River, accommodating three lanes in each direction between Riverside and Jurupa Valley. However, the roadway connecting to the bridge in both directions consisted of only two lanes so the bridge was striped accordingly.
On May 20, 2014, the City Council awarded a construction contract to widen northbound Van Buren Boulevard to provide the third travel lane, while widening of the southbound side was postponed due to insufficient funding.
On February 5, 2019, the City Council approved an agreement with the Western Riverside Council of Governments to provide the City $160,000 in Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee program funds for the planning and engineering phases for the Van Buren Boulevard widening in the southbound direction (Project). At that time, WRCOG also programmed $1,951,000 in TUMF funds for the project construction phase with the understanding that these funds would be appropriated by the City in the future as an amendment to this agreement.
DISCUSSION:
The Project will widen the westerly side of Van Buren Boulevard for the southbound direction to accommodate a third travel lane. The improvements include grading, asphalt paving; concrete curb, gutter, and sidewalk; storm drain modifications; partial reconstruction of the Santa Ana River Trail bikeway; retaining wall design and construction; signing and striping; and installation of new streetlights. The project is anticipated to result in operational and safety enhancements along this critical corridor. Currently, Van Buren Boulevard pinches down to a reduced width between the Santa Ana River and Jurupa Avenue. The new consistent cross section, which falls along a horizontal curve, is expected to provide a more uniform & smooth experience for motorists and bicyclists on Van Buren Blvd. Construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2028.
WRCOG develops and administers the TUMF funding program, which ensures that new developments pay their fair share for the increased traffic these projects generate. TUMF funds are held in trust by WRCOG to fund qualifying projects and the Van Buren Boulevard Widening Project has been identified as a project of regional importance.
After WRCOG programmed TUMF funds for the Project, all City projects were financially impacted by the significant rise of inflation, resulting in a large increase in construction costs in the subsequent years. As a result, the Project was placed on hold due to a shortfall in estimated construction funding. Because the project was delayed, the Finance Department disencumbered the remaining available TUMF funds from the Van Buren Boulevard Project account requiring the reappropriation of these funds at a future date when the project was reinitiated.
Additionally, because of the Project delay, the City anticipates additional Project costs associated with recertifying the environmental permits and potentially amending the adopted environmental document. Finally, additional engineering costs are required for the City to procure a structural engineer to design a structural retaining wall.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the First Amendment to the TUMF Agreement with WRCOG is an increase in revenues and expenditures of $4,568,911.37. The amendment to the agreement will increase the total contract amount to $4,635,000. The estimated total project cost including planning, engineering, and construction is itemized in Table 1. Upon City Council approval of the First Amendment and authorization of a supplemental appropriation as outlined in Table 2, sufficient funds will be available to complete the planning, engineering and construction phases for the Van Buren Boulevard Widening from Jurupa Avenue to the Santa Ana River bridge.
Table 1. Project Costs per the TUMF First Amendment
Task
Amount
Planning
$200,000.00
Engineering
$250,000.00
Construction
$4,185,000.00
Total
$4,635,000.00
Table 2. Supplemental Appropriation.
Fund
Project
Account
Amount
TUMF
Van Buren-Jurupa to SAR
Revenue
9840919-339100
$4,568,911.37
Expenditures
9840919-440315
$4,568,911.37
Table 3. Project Funding
Fund
Project
Account
Amount
TUMF
Van Buren-Jurupa to SAR
9598430-440313
$66,088.63(1)
Van Buren-Jurupa to SAR
9598430-440313
$4,568,911.37
Total
$4,635,000.00
1) Funds appropriated with the original TUMF Agreement executed in 2019.
Prepared by: Edward Lara, Engineering Manager
Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachments:
Project Location Map
First Amendment with WRCOG for the Planning, Engineering, and Construction Phases Presentation
Van Buren Widening Project – TUMF Amendment No. 1 ● Page 2