REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
October 11, 2018
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 Division - Chief Surveyor Section
Title
Actions pertaining to the dedication of a portion of City-owned property for the purpose of providing a public street easement to accommodate existing public streets on Kern Street and Mono Street between the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way and “H” Street. (Council District 3)
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 (existing facility) of the CEQA Guidelines
2. ***RESOLUTION - Dedicating a portion of City-owned property for the purpose of providing a public street easement to accommodate existing public streets on Kern Street and Mono Street between the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way and “H” Street. (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council adopt the attached resolution dedicating a portion of City-owned property for the purpose of providing a public street easement to accommodate existing public streets on Kern Street and Mono Street between the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way and “H” Street.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The project will perfect the current prescriptive public street right-of-way into a recorded dedication for public street purposes for the existing public streets on Kern Street and Mono Street between the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way and “H” Street.
BACKGROUND
Kern Street and Mono Street have been in public use for decades over the Railroad Reservation on the Official Map of the Town of Fresno, filed in Volume 1 of Plats, at Pages 1, 2, and 3, Fresno County Records. These two railroad crossings have existed for the public as a prescriptive right for public street purposes. The Union Pacific Railroad over the years have sold portions of the railroad reservation as shown on the Official Map of the Town of Fresno, but these two crossings have never been formally dedicated to the public for street purposes. The California High Speed Rail construction will eliminate these crossings at Kern Street and Mono Street and only portions of these two streets will remain, adjacent to and northeasterly of the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way. Cul-de-sacs will be constructed at these two areas of Kern Street and Mono Street. This project will formally dedicate the remaining portions of these two streets for public street purposes to accommodate the remaining existing streets as described in Exhibits “A”, “B”, “D”, and “E” and as shown in Exhibits “C” and “F” of the attached resolution.
The Engineering Services Division has determined that the proposed public street dedication as described in Exhibits “A”, “B”, “D”, and “E” and as shown in Exhibits “C” and “F” of the attached resolution is adequate for existing and future public street purposes.
The City Attorney's Office has approved the attached resolution as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed an Environmental Assessment (EA No. P18-02694) of this project and has determined that it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 which exempts projects for which there will be no change in existing use. Furthermore, Staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this dedication does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no City funds involved with this vacation. The State of California has paid all processing fees to cover staff cost in accordance with the Master Fee Schedule.
Attachments:
Kern-Mono Dedication - Vicinity
EA No. P18-02694
Kern-Mono Dedication - Resolution