REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 12, 2023
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
California Environmental Quality Act Finding and Specifications for the Cedar Street and Other Roads Project in the Oak Hills and Hesperia Areas
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the Cedar Street and Other Roads Project in the Oak Hills and Hesperia areas is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, 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 Cedar Street and Other Roads Project in the Oak Hills and Hesperia areas as defined in the Notice of Exemption.
3. Approve the specifications for Phase I of the Cedar Street and Other Roads Project in the Oak Hills and Hesperia areas, as signed and sealed by a registered civil engineer.
4. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to advertise for Phase I of the Cedar Street and Other Roads Project in the Oak Hills and Hesperia areas for formal bids.
5. Direct the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to file and post the Notice of Exemption.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, 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 Cedar Street and Other Roads Project in the Oak Hills and Hesperia areas (Project) will be funded with Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the Department of Public Works (Department) 2023-24 Road Operations budget (6650002000 34H15173) and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This Project was prioritized by the Board of Supervisors (Board) as part of the RMRA project list approved on April 21, 2020 (Item No. 45) and consists of two phases. Phase I involves pavement rehabilitation of approximately 14.4 miles of roads west of Interstate 15 (I-15), including pavement striping and markings, curb replacement, and other work appurtenant thereto. Due to the proximity to the Ranchero Road Corridor Improvements Project, which is currently under construction, the remaining roads of the Project, located east of I-15, will be deferred to Phase II to relieve traffic in the area.
Phase II of the Project, which will occur after the completion of Ranchero Road Corridor Improvements Project, consists of pavement rehabilitation of approximately 13.5 miles of roads east of I-15, including pavement striping and markings, curb replacement, and other work appurtenant thereto. The Department anticipates bringing the Project’s Phase II specifications, as well as a recommendation to advertise Phase II of the Project for formal bids to the Board for consideration in Fall 2024. All work for the Project will be done within the existing right-of-way.
The Department’s environmental staff 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 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.
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.
The Project’s Phase I specifications include an allowance in the amount of $200,000 for unforeseen differing site conditions associated with utility conflicts and/or soil conditions.
PROCUREMENT
The Project’s Phase I will be advertised in accordance with Section 22037 of the California Public Contract code. The Department anticipates returning to the Board for an award of the construction contract in Winter 2023.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 17, 2023; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on August 25, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 27, 2023.