REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 21, 2018
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
CRAIG L. HANSEN, Supervising Real Estate Agent
Public Works Department, Real Estate Services Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Veteran’s Boulevard Project (Council Districts 2 and 6)
1. Adopt a Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 as it relates to the billboard relocation
2. Approve a Billboard Relocation Agreement in the amount of $150,000 with Outfront Media, LLC’s for the relocation of the billboard located just south of 5965 N. Golden State Boulevard to 102 E. Herndon Avenue for the Veteran’s Boulevard Project
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), approve a Billboard Relocation Agreement with Outfront Media, LLC’s (Outfront) for the relocation of the billboard located just south of 5965 N. Golden State to 102 E. Herndon Avenue in the amount of $150,000, and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign all documents necessary to complete the transaction.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Since 2014, staff has been actively involved in acquiring the necessary right-of-way for the Veteran’s Boulevard Project (Project). The Project encompasses a stretch from Hayes and Herndon Avenue in a southwesterly direction to Shaw Avenue just east of Grantland Avenue. To date, staff has closed escrow on 37 of the 38 required parcels. The 38th parcel is currently in escrow and should close in the coming weeks. Prior to certifying the right-of-way to prepare for construction, the City \needs to remove a billboard owned by Outfront from a parcel that was acquired by the City for the Project.
The proposed Billboard Relocation Agreement defines the terms for the removal and relocation of the billboard. Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, approve a Billboard Relocation Agreement with Outfront, and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign all documents necessary to complete the transaction.
BACKGROUND
Outfront owns and operates billboards and other outdoor advertising media throughout California and the City of Fresno. The City acquired a portion of APN 505-080-37S from John Lawson Rock and Oil in January 2017 to accommodate the Veteran’s Boulevard/State Route 99 Project where Outfront has maintained a long term billboard lease (68080) on the subject property. The City employed Dave Girbovan, an appraiser who specializes in billboard valuations, to determine just compensation to Outfront in exchange for removing the billboard. Following lengthy negotiations, both parties have reached an agreement. The City will make a one-time cash payment of $150,000 to Outfront and pay for all necessary permits to relocate one side of the billboard to the westbound sign face of an existing billboard at 102 East Herndon Avenue just west of Freeway 41. In return, Outfront shall remove the impacted billboard (68080) within thirty days from either the date of payment or the issuance of permits, whichever occurs later.
The agreement has been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, approve a Billboard Relocation Agreement with Outfront, and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign all documents necessary to complete the transaction.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
An initial study and EIR (SCH No. 2010021054) was prepared for the Veterans Boulevard project and certified on June 7, 2013. This approval is to implement a portion of that project. An analysis has been performed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 to determine whether subsequent environmental review is required for this 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 to the EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects because the project is being implemented as planned.
2. No substantial changes occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the project was undertaken which will require major revisions to the EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. The project will not have any significant effects not discussed in the EIR, and there are no mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible that are now feasible.
3. There is no new information, which was not known and could not have been known at the time of the EIR that was not discussed in the EIR.
Based upon these findings, it has been determined that no further environmental documentation is required for this project.
Also, Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project as it pertains to the relocation of Billboard 68080 and has determined that it falls within the Class 1 Categorical Exemptions as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) which exempts the repair, maintenance or minor alteration of existing structures or facilities. Furthermore, Staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered this transaction does not include a bid or award or award of construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The $150 million Veteran’s Boulevard Project which is located in Council District 2 will have no impact on the General Fund. The Project is being funded through California High Speed Rail Authority, various types of Measure “C” funding, Regional Transportation Mitigation Impact Fees (RTMF), State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds and City of Fresno Development Impact Fees. The City continues to explore funding options to fully fund the Veteran’s Boulevard Interchange and Extension Project. This contract will be funded by the Measure “C” funding secured for the right of way acquisition phase of the project. The costs for this contract are anticipated in the adopted City budget for this fiscal year.
Attachments:
Vicinity Map
Location Map
Billboard Relocation Agreement