REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 20, 2024
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
California Environmental Quality Act Finding, Plans and Specifications for the Phelan Road Rehabilitation Project
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the Phelan Road Rehabilitation Project is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations Section 15301(c) Class 1 (existing facilities) and Section 15302(c) Class 2 (replacement or reconstruction).
2. Approve the Phelan Road Rehabilitation Project as defined in the Notice of Exemption.
3. Approve the plans and specifications for the Phelan Road Rehabilitation Project, as signed and sealed by a registered civil engineer.
4. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to advertise the Phelan Road Rehabilitation Project for formal bids.
5. Direct the Department of Public Works to file the Notice of Exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Phelan Road Rehabilitation Project (Project) will be funded with Measure “I” Local Streets Program - Victor Valley Subarea funds, Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds, and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) program funds for eligible costs. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the Department of Public Works (Department) 2024-25 Road Operations and Measure “I” Local Streets Program - Victor Valley Subarea budgets (6650002000 H15269, 6650002143 TX1823).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Project will take place along an approximately 8-mile stretch of Phelan Road, from 700-feet west of Beekley Road to 400-feet east of Baldy Mesa Road. The Project involves pavement reconstruction, pavement rehabilitation, curb and gutter, installing new and reconstructing existing curb ramps at various locations in accordance with current design standards and pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, traffic signal modification, traffic striping, signings, and pavement markers.
The Project was prioritized by the Board of Supervisors (Board) as part of the 2023-27 Measure “I” Local Street Pass-Through Funds Five Year Capital Improvement Plan (Plan) project list approved on August 23, 2022 (Item No. 42). The updating of existing ADA compliant curb ramps and installation of new ADA compliant curb ramps in the Project area are required for the subject road improvements under the federal “2013 Department of Justice/Department of Transportation Joint Technical Assistance on the Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements to Provide Curb Ramps when Streets, Roads, or Highways are Altered through Resurfacing” guidelines.
On May 29, 2024, the Department’s environmental staff reviewed this Project and determined that a categorical exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 15301(c) Class 1 and Section 15302(c) Class 2 is appropriate. The Class 1 exemption allows for repair and maintenance activities on existing roads, sidewalks, gutters, and similar facilities that involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination. The Class 2 exemption allows for the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. When the Board considers the environmental finding, the filing and posting of a Notice of Exemption is recommended.
This project was also prioritized by the Board as part of the 2024-25 SB1 RMRA project list approved on July 9, 2024 (Item No. 41).
The Project aligns with the County and the Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives of ensuring development of a well-planned, balanced, and sustainable County by preserving and improving the structural integrity of existing road surfaces and access for pedestrians, including those with disabilities.
PROCUREMENT
The Project will be advertised to invite formal bids in accordance with Section 22037 of the California Public Contract Code. The Department anticipates returning to the Board for award of the construction contract in Fall 2024.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 25, 2024; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on July 31, 2024; Guy Martinez, ARPA Compliance Officer, 387-5428) on August 2, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 5, 2024.