REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 8, 2019
FROM
KEVIN BLAKESLEE, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
California Environmental Quality Act Finding for the Americans with Disabilities Act Ramp and Sidewalk Project in the Montclair area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the Americans with Disabilities Act ramp and sidewalk project on various roads in the Montclair area (Project) is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act, Class 2, Section 15302(c) (replacement or reconstruction) and Class 3, Section 15303(d) (street improvements).
2. Approve Project as defined in the Notice of Exemption and direct the Clerk of the Board to file and post the Notice of Exemption.
(Presenter: Kevin Blakeslee, 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 Department of Public Works (Department) is funded by Gas Tax revenues, fees and other state and local funding. The Project is funded with Gas Tax and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The requested actions are administrative in nature with no financial impact. Sufficient appropriation is included in the 2019-20 Road Operations budget (6650002000 20H14980).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Project involves replacing existing curb ramps and constructing new curb ramps at various locations along Grand Avenue, Ninth Street and Mission Boulevard in the Montclair area, in accordance with current design standards and pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as repairing or reconstructing spandrels and cross-gutters. The Project also includes a small segment of road widening on Grand Avenue with the installation of curb, gutter and sidewalk to fill the gap between the new curb ramp at the southwest corner of Grand Avenue and Pipeline Avenue and the existing sidewalk to the west. The Project will require the acquisition of additional right-of-way which will be presented to the Board of Supervisors (Board) as a separate item in the future. This Project aligns with the County and Chief Executive Officer’s goals of ensuring development of a well-planned, balanced, and sustainable County and providing for the safety of County residents by improving access for all pedestrians, including those with disabilities.
Annually, the County receives an allocation of CDBG funds for expenditure on projects that benefit low-income areas. The Project to construct the subject curb ramps to the most current ADA design standards was identified as a priority project eligible to receive CDBG funds. Also, this Project was selected because the subject curb ramps and sidewalks will be constructed within the Safe Route to School Plan in the Montclair area.
Environmental staff of the Department has 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 15302(c) and 15303(d) is appropriate. This 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.
Pursuant to delegated authority from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), on August 13, 2018, the County’s Department of Community Development and Housing reviewed the Project for compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and determined the Project is Categorically Excluded pursuant to Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 58.35(a).
PROCUREMENT
The Department anticipates bringing the Project’s plans and specifications, as well as a recommendation to advertise for competitive bids to the Board for consideration in March 2020, with the bid opening in April 2020, and the award of contract in May 2020.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 13, 2019; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on September 18, 2019; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on September 19, 2019.