Agenda Item No. R
CITY OF YUCAIPA
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Fermin Preciado, Director of Development Services/City Engineer Benjamin J. Matlock, Planning Manager/City Planner
FOR: City Council Meeting of June 13, 2022
SUBJECT: County Line Road and Calimesa Boulevard Road Improvements Project Environmental Review
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
1. Approve and adopt the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) and Mitigation and Reporting Program (MMRP) for the County Line Road and Calimesa Boulevard Road Improvements Project; and
2. Direct staff to file a Notice of Determination; and
3. Authorize staff to collaborate with the City of Calimesa staff and proceed with the right of way acquisition for the Project.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
At the July 8, 2013 meeting, City Council approved the Citywide Miscellaneous Intersection Roundabout Study (Study) prepared by RBF Consulting. The Study identified strategic intersections (along arterial streets including Avenue E and County Line Road) in the City where vehicular traffic circulation would be improved and operate more efficiently in the long term with the construction of roundabouts. The Study also showed that potential single -lane roundabout intersections would improve operation and traffic flow along street segments between intersections along the arterial streets. As a result of the implementation of roundabout intersections into the City's General Plan Transportation Element, certain segments of the City's arterials would no longer require widening from two (2) lanes to four (4) lanes. These intersection improvements reduced the need for street widening and significantly reduce the amount of right-of-way (and associated costs) and street improvements required to accommodate future traffic conditions along these corridors. Additionally, roundabout intersections introduce significant intersection safety enhancements for both pedestrians and vehicles and represents a cost savings to the City when considering the long-term maintenance costs associated with traffic signal equipment and utility costs.
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City Council Meeting of June 13, 2022
County Line Road and Calimesa Boulevard Road Improvement Project Environmental Review
In early 2017, discussions were held with the City of Calimesa regarding joint participation for the improvements on County Line Road in order to improve operation and traffic flow through the intersections and improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Since both cities will mutually benefit from these improvements, an agreement was prepared in order to identify the responsibility and funding commitment of both cities for the various improvements along County Line Road. As Council is aware, the initial phases of these improvements are under construction with roundabouts along County Line Road between Bryant Street and Calimesa Boulevard as part of the County Line Road Transportation Corridor Project (Project) and were grouped together in their environmental review process and construction as a result of grant funding that was available to complete those improvements. The remaining intersection, Calimesa Boulevard, is a separate project eligible through different grant funding opportunities. To commence construction of this remaining work, the City of Yucaipa and Calimesa must complete the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental review for this intersection improvements. The approval of this review is also required to move forward with the right-of- way acquisitions required for the project.
Pursuant to Section 15063 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the Cities of Calimesa and Yucaipa (acting as co -lead agencies) prepared an Initial Study (IS) to determine if the Project may have a significant effect on the environment. The Initial Study is intended to be an informational document providing the City Council, other public agencies, affected property owners, and the general public with an objective assessment of the potential environmental impacts that could result from the implementation of the Project.
The Initial Study found that there is no substantial evidence that the Project would have a significant effect on the environment through adherence to City standards and practices. In addition, the Project's potential environmental impacts have been reduced to a less than significant level through the imposition of the Mitigation Measures that are contained within the Initial Study. Based on this finding, a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) is being recommended for adoption by the City Council along with the establishment and approval of a Mitigation Monitoring Program (MMRP).
In accordance with Section 15072 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the Cities of Calimesa and Yucaipa published a Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (NOI) for the Project in the local newspaper, sent the NOI to affected property owners within 300' of the project footprint, agencies affected by the Project, to other interested parties, and made available a copy of the IS/MND during the public review period from February 23, 2022, through March 24, 2022.
The NOI included an informational public outreach joint cover letter from both cities and is a part of a concerted effort to inform and engage the affected residents in the City of Yucaipa and the City of Calimesa.
Twenty -Four (24) comment letters were received regarding the Project during the public review period and a Responses to Comments was prepared.
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City Council Meeting of June 13, 2022
County Line Road and Calimesa Boulevard Road Improvement Project Environmental Review
At this time, both cities will continue with the engineering and design for the project. If approved, staff will then be able to proceed with the right of way acquisition effort for the Project. All property acquisitions (both full or partial) will be appraised by an appraiser certified by the State of California as a General Real Estate Appraiser. Additional compensation for moving/relocation expenses, displacement costs, etc. will be part of the negotiating process with the affected property owner.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no additional fiscal impact associated with this proposed Council action.
Attachments: County Line Road and Calimesa Boulevard Road Improvement Project MND (Available for review in the office of the City Planner and the City's website) Link here: littps://yLicaipa.org/environmental-review/`#tab-164513 S 101937-13-10 Approved by:
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