REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 25, 2014
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
THROUGH: MARTIN A. QUERIN, PE, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Water Division
BY: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Supervising Professional Engineer
Department of Public Utilities - Water Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the acquisition of permanent pipeline right-of-way easements and temporary construction easements from Mary Lynn Haungs from APNs 580-040-03 (portion) and 580-040-04S
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that City Council:
1. Approve the acquisition of permanent pipeline right-of-way and temporary construction easements as shown in the table below for the construction of the Raw Water Pipeline from the Friant-Kern Canal to the Northeast Surface Water Treatment Facility.
2. Authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or his designee, to sign all documents on behalf of the City.
APN |
|
Grantors |
Easement Type |
Acres |
Value |
580-040-03 (PORTION) |
Mary Lynn Haungs |
Permanent |
1.82 |
$23,000 |
580-040-03 (PORTION) |
Mary Lynn Haungs |
Temporary |
1.05 |
$4,830 total 1 |
580-040-04S |
Mary Lynn Haungs |
Permanent |
0.24 |
$9,600 |
580-040-04S |
Mary Lynn Haungs |
Temporary |
1.13 |
$18,080 total 1 |
Totals |
4.24 |
$ 55,510 |
Notes: 1) The total of $4,830 and $18,080 includes two full years of rent. The first year will be paid in full and second year prorated for actual use. |
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Utilities, Water Division, is finalizing the design of the Friant-Kern Raw Water Pipeline to deliver raw water from the Friant-Kern Canal to the Northeast Surface Water Treatment Facility (NESWTF). With bidding scheduled to begin in late 2015, acquisition of easements for this pipeline project is necessary. The property owner Mary Lynn Haungs has agreed to the compensation of $32,600 for the acquisition of permanent pipeline right-of-way and $11,455/year for the acquisition of temporary construction easements.
BACKGROUND
Presently, the City's contract with the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) for Central Valley Project (CVP) surface water travels nearly 55 miles in open canals from Friant Dam (Millerton Lake) to the NESWTF. The proposed Project consists of the construction and operation of a 5.6-mile raw water pipeline. The new pipeline reroutes the CVP water directly to the NESWTF and will eliminate nearly 47 miles from the conveyance distance. The Project will convey water in an enclosed system and greatly reduce the threat to water quality in otherwise open canals which are exposed to contamination from environmental debris, and accidental or malicious acts. The pipeline will be constructed across numerous properties in unincorporated Fresno County and connected to the existing one-mile long segment of pipeline constructed in 2007. Additional benefits of the project include reduced power consumption, chemical utilization, and increased operational reliability at the NESWTF.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
An initial study and Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared and adopted on June 14, 2012 for this project. A Notice of Determination was subsequently filed with the Fresno County Clerk's Office on June 19, 2012. The Proposed Project consists of the construction and operation of a 5.6-mile raw water supply pipeline northeast of the City of Fresno, in unincorporated Fresno County, and a future hydropower plant at the City's existing Surface Water Treatment Facility (SWTF). The Proposed Project would be located between the SWTF near Chestnut and Behymer Avenues and the Friant-Kern Canal to the northeast. The purpose of the Proposed Project is to develop a reliable raw water conveyance system with reduced potential for water quality contamination that will bring the City's existing CVP contract supply water directly from the Friant-Kern Canal to the SWTF. This approval is to implement that project.
An analysis has been performed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines ยง 15162 to determine whether subsequent environmental review is required for the project. Based upon this analysis the following findings are made to support the determination that no subsequent environmental review is required:
1. No substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions of the previous Mitigated Negative Declaration due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. In this case there are no changes to the project.
2. No substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous Mitigated Negative Declaration due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. In this case, the proposed pipeline alignment has not changed.
3. There is no new information, which was not known and could not have been known at the time of the previous Mitigated Negative Declaration that the project will have significant effect not discussed in the Mitigated Negative Declaration.
Based upon these findings, it has been determined that no further environmental documentation is required for this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference was not considered because this action does not include a bid or an award of a City construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approving acquisition of these easements will not impact the General Fund. Appropriations for the acquisition of these easements are included in Water Division's FY 2015 Capital Improvement Program budget within the 2010 Water Revenue Bonds A-1 Fund (40118). Project construction is expected to start in mid-year 2016.
Attachments:
Vicinity Map
Purchase Agreement
Detailed Exhibits and Legal Descriptions:
Deed of Easement 03
Deed of Easement -04
Temporary Easement -03
Temporary Easement-04