REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
November 9, 2017
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
JASON A. CAMIT, PLS, Chief Surveyor
Public Works Department, Engineering Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt Resolution of Intention No. 1118-D to vacate a portion of North Carnegie Avenue between Union Pacific Railroad and West Bullard Avenue (Council District 2).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt Resolution of Intention No. 1118-D for the proposed vacation of a portion of North Carnegie Avenue between Union Pacific Railroad and West Bullard Avenue, and set the required hearing at 10:00 a.m. on December 7, 2017.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno Public Works Department is requesting to vacate a portion of North Carnegie Avenue between Union Pacific Railroad and West Bullard Avenue as a part of the Veterans Boulevard Grade Separation Project. Through coordination with the State of California High Speed Rail Project, the at-grade Carnegie Avenue crossing will be closed and replaced by the proposed Veterans Boulevard grade separation just to the north. The attached resolution to vacate will not be recorded and the existing at-grade railroad crossing at Carnegie Avenue will not be closed until Veterans Boulevard is open to traffic from Golden State Boulevard to Bullard Avenue.
BACKGROUND
The Veterans Boulevard/State Route 99 Interchange and Extension Project will construct public street and trail improvements on the approved Veterans Boulevard alignment between West Herndon Avenue and West Shaw Avenue. This project will improve accessibility to State Route 99 and circulation to roads adjacent to the proposed interchange in northwest Fresno. It will provide congestion relief and improve traffic flow in northwest Fresno. The project will also enhance the local circulation network to accommodate local development and provide consistency with existing and planned local and regional development. This project is being coordinated with the California High Speed Rail Project. The North Carnegie Avenue crossing at Union Pacific Railroad will be removed due to the rail project. A portion of North Carnegie Avenue will be reconstructed as a reduced local street to maintain access to the residents in the area, but will no longer cross the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
The Engineering Services Division, other City departments and utility agencies have reviewed the proposed vacation and determined that the portion of right-of-way proposed for vacation is unnecessary for present or prospective public street purposes as shown in Exhibit “A” of the attached Resolution of Intent, subject to the reservation of a public utility easement over the entire area proposed for vacation and also reservation of a landscape easement over that portion as shown on said Exhibit “A”.
City Attorney has approved the attached Resolution of Intention as to form.
The vacation, if approved by the Council at the public hearing, will become effective when the vacating resolution is recorded in the office of the Fresno County Recorder, but not until the City Engineer determines that the conditions listed in the attached resolution have been satisfied and accepted by the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
An initial study and EIR (SCH No. 2010021054) was prepared for this project and adopted on June 7, 2013. This approval is to implement a portion the 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.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference does not apply because the dedication of a public street and trail easement does not involve bidding or contracting.
FISCAL IMPACT
This action will have no impact to the General Fund. All cost associated with this action are covered in the Veterans Boulevard Interchange and Extension Project budget, which is included in the adopted City budget.
Attachments:
Carnegie Ave Vacation-Vicinity
Veterans Blvd Final EIR
Resolution of Intent No. 1118-D