REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DENIX D. ANBIAH, PE, Director
Capital Projects Department
SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: NANCY BRUNO, Right of Way Manager
Capital Projects Department, Capital Administration Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the final relocation reimbursement claim submitted by Genuine Parts Company, doing business as NAPA Auto Parts, for expenses resulting from the Blackstone McKinley BNSF Grade Separation Project (Council Districts 1 and 7)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council grant authority to the City Manager, or designee, to sign and approve the final payment of Uniform Relocation Act nonresidential move and re-establishment benefits for the relocation of Genuine Parts Company, doing business as NAPA Auto Parts, associated with the Blackstone McKinley BNSF Grade Separation Project in the amount of $129,995.19 per the nonresidential relocation package, funded through the Measure C Grade Separation Program and a grant from the California Local Partnership Program (LPP).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Blackstone McKinley BNSF Grade Separation Project (Project) requires the acquisition of residential and commercial properties. Staff is requesting the Council authorize the City Manager, or designee, to sign and approve the final payment of Uniform Relocation Act nonresidential moving and re-establishment benefits for the relocation of Genuine Parts Company, doing business as (dba) NAPA Auto Parts. The Business Owner qualifies for relocation assistance pursuant to the Uniform Relocation Assistance (URA) and Real Property Acquisition for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs.
BACKGROUND
The Blackstone and McKinley Avenue corridors serve as primary routes for the community, the City’s Bus Rapid Transit system, and emergency vehicles. They also form part of the Blackstone Smart Mobility Plan, which will provide Class IV protected bicycle facilities along Blackstone Avenue within the Project area. The Project location has experienced the highest traffic volumes and the greatest number of accidents of any at-grade crossing on the BNSF corridor. The Blackstone McKinley BNSF Grade Separation Project will eliminate two existing at-grade crossings by grade separating North Blackstone and East McKinley Avenues beneath the BNSF Mainline Track. The City is progressing through the engineering design and right-of-way acquisition stages of the Project.
Genuine Parts Company, dba NAPA Auto Parts (the Business Owner), is the former tenant of Assessor’s Parcel Numbers (APNs) 446-232-36 and 446-232-40, which the City acquired with escrow closed on June 20, 2025. The Business Owner recently completed their relocation and has submitted the final claim for reimbursement of moving and re-establishment costs. These costs exceed the $125,000 authority previously granted to the City Manager by the City Council on May 23, 2024.
The formula used to calculate the compensable amount of relocation assistance for which each Business Owner is statutorily entitled under the URA includes personal and sensitive information that must remain confidential. To maintain the confidentiality of the Business Owner’s private information, City Staff recommend that the City Manager, or designee, be granted authority to review, approve, and execute the benefit package to expedite payment to the displaced Business Owner in a timely manner.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This Project was found to be statutorily exempt by Fresno City Council on June 25, 2020, pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 21080 .13(a) and 15282(g) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. The Notice of Exemption was thereafter recorded with the Fresno County Clerk on July 30, 2020. The statute of limitations for challenges to this exemption has run pursuant to CEQA Guideline Section 15062(d). This project will eliminate two railroad crossings and grade separate North Blackstone Avenue and East McKinley Avenue under the BNSF Mainline Track.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this item does not include a bid for or an award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Blackstone McKinley BNSF Grade Separation Project is within Council Districts 1 and 7. These acquisitions will have no impact to the General Fund. All project costs for the right of way phase are funded through the Measure C Grade Separation Program and a grant from the California Local Partnership Program (LPP). All funds necessary for the acquisition are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by the City Council.
Attachments:
Relocation Claim Package NAPA
Location Map
Vicinity Map