REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: PAUL AMICO, PE, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: AHMED ALY, PE, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
DEBBIE KHOUNSAVATH, Project Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to a sewer connection to serve Three Palms Mobile Home Park.
1. Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (SCH 2024070976) dated November 2024, for the Three Palms Mobile Home Park Wastewater Collection and Disposal Project, pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines;
2. ***RESOLUTION - Authorizing the Director of Public Utilities or designee to accept funds and execute the financial assistance agreement and any amendments thereto with the California State Water Resources Control Board on behalf of the City of Fresno for a sewer connection to serve Three Palms Mobile Home Park. (Council District 3) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council adopt a Notice of Declaration for the recirculated Mitigated Negative Declaration (ISMND) dated November 2024, for the Three Palms Mobile Home Park (TPMHP) Wastewater Collection and Disposal Project, pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; approve a resolution authorizing the Director of Public Utilities or designee to accept funds and execute the financial assistance agreement and any amendments thereto with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) on behalf of the City of Fresno (City) for a sewer connection to serve Three Palms Mobile Home Park (Project).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TPMHP is currently served by an aging septic system that could contribute to elevated nitrate levels in nearby domestic wells. The community has been found eligible for grant or principal forgiveness funding under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program for the planning, design, and construction of sewer infrastructure that will connect the community to the City’s sewer collection system and remove the aging septic system. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) submitted an application to the SWRCB to fund the Project. The next step to be awarded funding for the Project is the adoption of this resolution that will authorize the Director of Public Utilities to accept funds and execute the financial assistance agreement on behalf of the City.
BACKGROUND
The SWRCB administers the CWSRF program, which provides funding for projects associated with water quality protection. On July 1, 2008, the Board adopted Resolution No. 2008-0048 to assist in providing funding for disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged communities to address and remediate wastewater challenges, including failing septic systems that can lead to chemical and bacterial contamination of local groundwater supplies and degrade local aquatic environments.
The TPMHP community, located within Council District 3, qualifies as a Disadvantaged Community (DAC) per Board Division of Financial Assistance criteria. The community of approximately 300 residents is located between North Golden State Boulevard and the State Route 99, north of West McKinley Avenue and south of West Clinton Avenue. The community is currently served by an aging septic system and is not connected to the City’s sewer collection system.
The City has an eight-inch diameter sewer main adjacent to the property along North Golden State Boulevard with sufficient capacity to accept sewer flows from the community. The CWSRF program will provide the funding for the connection between TPMHP and the City’s sewer collection system, and for a contractor to remove the septic system and replumb sewer lines on the property. As onsite work is outside the purview of the City’s responsibilities, the contractor’s work will not be managed or supervised by the City.
The Project will be funded by the SWRCB CWSRF program. On January 27, 2022, the City Council approved Resolution 2022-020 authorizing DPU to submit a financial assistance agreement application to the SWRCB for a sewer connection to TPMHP. The City subsequently submitted a grant application in the amount of $1,781,798.
Prior to any potential award, the SWRCB requires that the governing body of the applicant submit a resolution that authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to accept funds and sign on behalf of the City to execute the financial assistance agreement and any amendments so that an award can be made. DPU has been working with SWRCB staff to prepare for the acceptance of the award. DPU is now requesting that City Council authorize the Director of Public Utilities to accept funds and execute the financial assistance agreement for funding this Project.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to Section 15063 of the CEQA, an ISMND was prepared for the City assessing the TPMHP Wastewater Collection and Disposal Project, describing the degree of potential environmental impacts of the Project. Pursuant to California Public Resources Code (PRC) § 15070 to 15075, this Project has been evaluated with respect to each item in the Environmental Checklist to determine whether this Project may cause any additional significant effect on the environment.
The City has assessed the potential environmental impacts of this Project and has determined that they will be less than significant, pursuant to CEQA § 15369.5.
Additional requirements include posting of a Draft ISMND for public review and comment for a period of not less than 20-days, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15105. The Draft ISMND was originally posted on July 25, 2024 and completed the review period on August 28, 2024. This original form tiered off the City of Fresno’s Program Environmental Impact Report. Due to substantial revisions and pursuant to CEQA § 15073.5 (a) (b), the ISMND must be and has been recirculated. Notice of recirculation has complied with CEQA § 15072 and 15073.
The recirculated Draft ISMND was posted from April 18, 2025, to May 18, 2025. During the public review period, no public comments were received that would require further environmental analysis, implementation of new or additional mitigation measures, or otherwise cause revisions to or recirculation of the Draft ISMND.
The Initial Study considers the actions associated with the proposed Project to determine the short-term and long-term effects associated with their implementation. The Initial Study finds that by implementing Project-specific mitigation measures, any potentially significant impacts will be avoided or reduced to less than significant.
The finding is, therefore, made that the proposed project will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment. Public notice has been provided as prescribed by § 15072 of the CEQA Guidelines and by § 21092 of the PRC Code (CEQA provisions).
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this action does not include a bid or an award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This Project has no impact on the General Fund. No matching funds are required under this financial assistance agreement.
Attachments:
Non-Confidential Recirculated Mitigated Negative Declaration
Authorizing Resolution
Resolution 2022-020
Vicinity Map