City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 28, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.H
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Christopher Dishlip, Director of Public Works, Engineering and Street Services Division
Subject: Adoption of a Resolution to Vacate and Quitclaim a Public Service Utility Easement for a Sewer Line Located within the Roosevelt Elementary School Campus
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and a finding of no significant effect pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Existing Facilities);
2. Adopt the attached resolution vacating the public service utility easement associated with a City-owned 8-inch sewer line, located between Alta Avenue and Montana Avenue, and traversing the Roosevelt Elementary School campus at 801 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90403 (APN 4280-022-900); and
3. Authorize the City Manager to approve and execute a Quitclaim Deed with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (“District”) vacating a Public Service Easement for an 8-inch City-owned sewer line traversing through Roosevelt Elementary School campus.
Summary
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (“District”) requests that the City of Santa Monica (City): 1) vacate a public service utility easement and 2) transfer ownership (quitclaim) of a segment of the City-owned 8-inch sewer line (“City sewer”) located between Alta Avenue and Montana Avenue and traversing the Roosevelt Elementary School campus. This sewer easement vacation and quitclaim is sought to accommodate the District’s Roosevelt Elementary School Campus Plan Project, which 2 of 5
includes construction of a new Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten (TK/K) classroom and library building.
The City sewer segment proposed to be transferred to the District is located entirely within Roosevelt Elementary School property and currently conveys City wastewater flow. Once the District completes the required sewer rerouting and campus improvements, the existing City-owned 8-inch sewer line traversing the campus would no longer be necessary for municipal purposes, and the City would have no future operational need for the line. Pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (Attachment B) executed between the City and the District on April 2, 2026, the District has agreed to design, construct, and maintain all rerouted and existing City sewer facilities within the Roosevelt Elementary School campus at its own cost. Staff therefore recommends the adoption of a resolution to vacate public service utility easement through the Roosevelt Elementary School campus and quitclaim the sewer line to the District.
Discussion
Roosevelt Elementary School, located at 801 Montana Avenue, is undergoing capital improvement projects as part of the District's Roosevelt Elementary School Campus Plan Project. The City owns an 8-inch sewer line (Sewer Line No. 1373), including the segment between Manholes 610 and 612, from Alta Avenue to Montana Avenue, that runs through the school campus (between Lincoln Boulevard and 9th Street). The existing City sewer segment predates the District's planned construction activities. In order to accommodate the campus improvements and establish the District’s responsibility for the City sewer infrastructure serving Roosevelt Elementary School, it is necessary for the City to vacate the associated sewer easement and quitclaim its interest in the sewer facilities to the District.
The area proposed for vacation is more particularly described in the attached Exhibit A (Legal Description) and depicted on the attached Exhibit B (Plat Map) part of Drawing 3 of 5
No. 4839 (Attachment A). The easement area encompasses approximately 16,500 square feet (0.379 acres) within the Roosevelt Elementary campus.
Following the vacation and once the quitclaim becomes effective, the District is required to complete the following steps pursuant to the executed MOU:
• Submit plans and specifications to the City to temporarily plug Sewer Line No. 1373 at Manholes 610 and 612 at Alta Avenue and Montana Avenue as necessary to complete construction tie-ins of the on-campus sewer lines. • Obtain all required City permits prior to activating any new service laterals connecting to the newly constructed manholes.
• Construct and maintain all rerouted on-campus sewer facilities at the District’s sole cost, in a manner that does not impair City sewer operations outside the campus
• Install a permanent plug at Manhole 610 at Alta Avenue following receipt of all necessary City approvals and completion of temporary construction activities.
City staff sent notices to public and private utilities (e.g., Southern California Edison) requesting information pertaining to current utilities within the proposed deeded area to be vacated. Staff received no comments during the 14-day comment period provided in the notice. There exist utilities owned by Southern California Edison who reserve their own easements under instrument 93-187783 and instrument No. 2180. The City has no current or prospective future uses for the public service easement proposed for vacation.
Legal Basis for Vacation
The vacation of the public service easement qualifies for summary vacation under California Streets and Highways Code (SHC) Section 8333(c). The easement has been determined to be excess by the easement holder. In accordance with SHC Sections 8335–8336, Council approval requires adoption of a resolution of vacation. The City 4 of 5
Clerk would then file a certified copy of the resolution of vacation with the Los Angeles County Recorder, and upon such recordation, the vacation would be complete.
Pursuant to SHC Section 8313 and Government Code Section 65402, the City's Mobility Division has reviewed the proposed vacation and found it to be in conformance with the City's 2010–2030 Land Use and Circulation Element.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
August 24, 1931
(Attachment C)
Ordinance No. 615 Ordered the vacation and closing of a 20- foot alley in Block B, Tract No. 2743, lying between Lincoln Boulevard and 9th Street, from Montana Avenue to Alta
Avenue. The ordinance determined no damage would result from the vacation and that no assessment was necessary.
Environmental Review
The proposed vacation of the public service easement and quitclaim of the sewer pipe is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines.
Section 15301 exempts Class 1 (Existing Facilities) projects from CEQA, which include the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The street vacation would not expand or materially change the existing easement area nor increase sewer operations. Therefore, this vacation is categorically exempt as set forth in Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines. Additionally, the vacation is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061 (b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, which states that CEQA does not apply, “where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility the activity may have a significant effect on the environment.” 5 of 5
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action. Staff will return to Council if specific budget actions are required in the future.
Prepared By: Boaz Chan, Civil Engineering Assistant
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Attachment A - Resolution of Vacation and Quitclaim
B. MOU_SMMUSD (1)
C. Street Series Ordinance No. 615