REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 18, 2016
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: MICHAEL CARBAJAL, Division Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Water Division
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt an Addendum to the Metropolitan Water Resources Management Plan Update Environmental Impact Report (MEIR) (State Clearing House No. 2013091021) (Citywide, Fresno County).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council adopt an Addendum to the Metropolitan Water Resources Management Plan Update Environmental Impact Report (Metro Plan Update EIR) (State Clearing House No. 2013091021).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On February 26, 2015, the City Council adopted a five-year water utility rate plan to finance the construction of a five-year water capital plan totaling approximately $429 million. The five-year capital plan included the construction of the Kings River Pipeline (KRP) to allow the City of Fresno (City) to more effectively use its existing Kings River water allocations by delivering water directly to the Southeast Surface Water Treatment Facility (SESWTF). This Addendum is specifically directed at the KRP Project, however will be applicable to other projects conducted under the MEIR.
BACKGROUND
On February 26, 2015, the City Council adopted a five-year water utility rate plan to finance the construction of a five-year water capital plan totaling approximately $429 million. The five-year capital plan included the construction of the KRP. The Kings River Pipeline is a 13-mile 72-inch diameter pipeline that will convey raw water for treatment from a diversion on the Fresno Canal No. 3 to the SESWTF. The diversion facility will be located near the intersection of Trimmer Springs Road and the Fresno Irrigation District (FID) Fresno Canal No. 3 about 3,800 feet downstream of the Fresno Canal No. 3 headgates on the Kings River. The SESWTF is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Armstrong Avenue and Olive Avenue.
Design of the project is complete, the bidding process has been finalized and Garney Pacific Inc. has been determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible pre-qualified bidder for construction of the project.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The Metropolitan Water Resources Management Plan Update (Metro Plan Update) EIR (SCH No. 2013091021) was prepared and adopted by the Council on June 12, 2014. The Metro Plan Update EIR is a project level EIR pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15168 and is tiered from the MEIR (SCH NO. 2012111015).
This action is to adopt minor changes to the Metro Plan Update EIR. An analysis has been performed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15164 because only minor technical revisions are necessary in order to adjust work hours for project construction. It has been determined that all applicable mitigation measures of the MEIR and Metro Plan Update EIR have been applied to the project, and the project will not cause significant adverse cumulative impacts, growth inducing impacts and irreversible significant effects beyond those identified. In addition, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15162 staff has determined that no substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the previous environmental documents were certified and/or adopted, and that no new information, which was not known and could not have been known, has become available. As such, none of the conditions set forth in CEQA Guidelines §15162 are present for this project. Therefore, it has been determined based upon the evidence in the record that the project will not have a significant impact on the environment and that an addendum to the Metro Plan Update EIR is appropriate, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines § 15164.
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
There is no impact to the General Fund. Adoption of the Metro Plan Update EIR Addendum will have no fiscal impact to the Kings River Pipeline Project. Appropriations for the Kings River Pipeline Project were included in Water Division’s Fiscal Year 2016 Capital Improvement Program adopted budget within the State Low Interest Loan Kings River Pipeline Fund (40161). The loan repayments for the low interest loan were included in the water rate model used to create the five-year utility rate plan that was adopted by the City Council on February 26, 2015.
Attachment:
Fresno Metropolitan Water Resources Management Plan Update - Environmental Impact Report Addendum No. 1