REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
December 18, 2014
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: ANDREW J. BENELLI, PE, City Engineer/Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Traffic and Engineering Services Division
BY: ALAN JAMES, Supervising Engineering Technician
Public Works Department, Traffic and Engineering Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the dedication of City owned property for public street purposes on the west side of N. Willow Avenue south of E. Teague Avenue (Council District 6)
1. Adopt the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration as the finding for Environmental Assessment (EA) No. EA-11-008 for the widening of N. Willow Avenue
2. RESOLUTION - Dedicating a portion of City owned property for public street purposes on the west side of N. Willow Avenue south of Teague Avenue
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the Council take the following actions:
1. Adopt the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration as the finding for Environmental
Assessment (EA) No. EA-11-008 for the widening of North Willow Avenue between 1600 feet south of East Nees Avenues to 1200 feet south of East Shepherd Avenue, and East Nees Avenue from North Willow Avenue to 1200 feet west.
2. Adopt the attached resolution dedicating a portion of City owned property for public street purposes on the west side of North Willow Avenue South of East Teague Avenue.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City owns portions of the 100-foot wide former railroad right-of-way lying on the west side of North Willow Avenue from south of East Teague Avenue to East Copper Avenue. A portion needs to be used for the widening of North Willow Avenue. In order to accommodate the next proposed phase of the widening of North Willow Avenue it is necessary that the City dedicate a public street easement over a portion of said former railroad property owned by the City south of East Teague Avenue. The portion to be dedicated for public street purposes is described in Exhibit "A" and shown on Exhibit "B" of the attached resolution.
BACKGROUND
In 1997, the City acquired the 100-foot wide former railroad right-of-way along the west side of North Willow Avenue from south of East Teague Avenue to East Copper Avenue from the Southern Pacific Transportation Company by a Quitclaim Deed recorded December 24, 1997 as Document No. 97169047, Official Records of Fresno County.
In 2006, the City of Fresno applied for and received Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) grant funding through the Fresno County Council of Governments (COG). This grant was for the widening of Willow Avenue from Shepherd Avenue to Decatur Avenue (0.25 miles south of Nees Avenue). This operational improvement project will reconstruct and widen portions of Willow Avenue within an existing corridor to fill in segments of single lanes between signals. The project will acquire minor to major portions of new right-of-way for turn lane channelization expansion. The work includes the installation of new streetlights, underground utility facilities, modification of traffic signal at the Willow Avenue and Nees Avenue intersection, placing new asphalt pavement, concrete curb and gutter, median curb, sidewalk, driveway approaches, and segments of pedestrian trail on the west side of Willow Avenue.
The remaining portion of the 100-foot wide former railroad right-of-way owned by the City will be used for multipurpose trail purposes.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff conducted an initial study of the project and it was determined to be a subsequent project that was not fully within the scope of the Master Environmental Impact Report No. 10130 ("MEIR") prepared for the 2025 Fresno General Plan (SCH # 2001071097) and Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for Plan Amendment No. A-09-02 (SCH #2009051016) (Air Quality MND). On June 3, 2011, the City of Fresno Development and Resource Management Department filed a Notice of intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for this project.
With the project specific mitigation measures imposed, there was no substantial evidence in the record that this project may have additional significant, direct, indirect, or cumulative effects on the environment that are significant and that were not identified and analyzed in the MEIR or Air Quality MND. After conducting a review of the adequacy of the MEIR and Air Quality MND pursuant to Public Resources Code, Section 21157.6(b)(1), the Development and Resource Management Department, as lead agency, found that no substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the MEIR was certified and the Air Quality MND was adopted and that no new information, which was not known and could not have been known at the time that the MEIR was certified as complete and the Air Quality MND was adopted, has become available. The project is not located on a site which is included on any of the lists enumerated under Section 65962.5 of the Government Code including, but not limited to, lists of hazardous waste facilities, land designated as hazardous waste property, hazardous waste disposal sites and others, and the information in the Hazardous Waste and Substances Statement required under subdivision (f) of that Section.
The purpose of the project is to improve circulation, safety and access at the above noted intersection. No adverse environmental impacts will occur as a result of the proposed project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Not applicable because the dedication of City owned property for public street purposes does not involve bidding or contracting.
FISCAL IMPACT
The General Fund will not be impacted because this action is paid for by the project funds.
Attachments: Vicinity Map
Environmental Assessment (EA) No. EA-11-008
Resolution