Agenda Item #13.3
For Council Meeting of June 3, 2025
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: ROBERT SPRINKLE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR - TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS SUBJECT: MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA FOR MENDOCINO AVENUE OVERCROSSING AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the Transportation and Public Works Department that the Council, by resolution, approve the Project Specific Maintenance Agreement between the State of California, acting by and through the Department of Transportation, and the City of Santa Rosa for the Mendocino Avenue Overcrossing.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Santa Rosa (City) has numerous Freeway Maintenance Agreements with the State of California (State), including the current one for the Mendocino Avenue Overcrossing dated January 7, 1964. The State has a project to retrofit the existing overcrossing to enhance the pedestrian and vehicle barriers and fencing to provide a greater level of protection for the public. The updated maintenance agreement addresses these modifications and the maintenance responsibility of the new and existing features.
BACKGROUND
The State requires maintenance agreements with local agencies to identify maintenance responsibilities of different components of a structure within their right of way. Historically, the State has been responsible for the bridge structure of the Mendocino Avenue Overcrossing and the City has been responsible for the roadway surface, barriers and railings for the Mendocino Avenue Overcrossing. This new agreement will not change those responsibilities but does modify the specific features that will be maintained due to the retrofit project.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
On September 25, 1962, the State of California entered into a Freeway Maintenance Agreement with the County of Sonoma outlining the maintenance responsibilities for the Mendocino Avenue Overcrossing.
Following annexation of certain areas around the Mendocino Avenue Overcrossing, on January 7, 1964, the Council, by Resolution Number 7181, approved a Supplemental Freeway Maintenance Agreement for the Mendocino Avenue Overcrossing (Supplemental Agreement), assigning the City to take over the responsibility of maintenance from the County.
On December 12, 2017, the Council, by Resolution RES-2017-240, approved a Maintenance Agreement addressing the maintenance responsibility of the retaining walls/barriers in the area associated with the US 101 widening project.
ANALYSIS
The City of Santa Rosa has worked in collaboration with the State to design and modify the bridge features on the Mendocino Avenue Overcrossing to provide a higher level of protection for pedestrians and to provide a more aesthetically pleasing bridge façade. This State funded project will incorporate the Santa Rosa rose motif on the structure façade and ornamental railing matching that which was completed on the Baker Overcrossing project two years ago and is currently being implemented on the Hearn Interchange project.
This agreement will supersede the earlier Supplemental Agreement between the City of Santa Rosa and State of California dated January 7, 1964, and provides limits to the maintenance areas. The limits are further defined and graphically indicated in Exhibit A and provide clarity as to the maintenance responsibilities.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no current impacts to the General Fund with this agreement, however, when maintenance to the structure appurtenances is needed, a funding source will be required. General Fund and Gas Tax funds would be eligible funding sources for maintenance.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the proposed action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. In the alternative, the proposed action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Freeway Maintenance Agreement (1962), Resolution 4125?, Resolution 7181 and Supplemental Freeway Agreement (1964) Resolution/Exhibit A – Project Specific Maintenance Agreement
PRESENTER
Rob Sprinkle, Deputy Director-Traffic Engineering
MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA FOR MENDOCINO AVENUE OVERCROSSING PAGE 3 OF 3