REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
March 12, 2024
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Emergency Declaration for Repairs and California Environmental Quality Act Finding for the National Trails Highway Sombra Ditch Bridge 77 Repairs Project in the Amboy Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that there is substantial evidence that damage to the Sombra Ditch Bridge 77 caused by storm events during February 2024 in the Mojave Desert, in the community of Amboy, created an emergency pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22050, requiring immediate action to prevent and mitigate the loss or impairment of life, property, and service to the public and will not permit a delay resulting from a formal competitive solicitation of bids to repair the damage (Four votes required).
2. Find that the National Trails Highway Sombra Ditch Bridge 77 Repairs Project in the Amboy Area is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations Section 21080(b)(4); 15269 subdivisions (c) and (d) (emergency projects), and section 15301(c), Class 1 (existing facilities).
3. Approve the National Trails Highway Sombra Ditch Bridge 77 Repairs Project in the Amboy Area, as defined in the Notice of Exemption.
4. 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 additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Department of Public Works (Department) estimates approximately $150,000 in damage consisting of debris cleanup and related bridge damage. Additional bridge evaluations by the Department may further refine the bridge repair estimate. The National Trails Highway Sombra Ditch Bridge 77 Repairs Project (Project) will be funded with Discretionary General Funding allocated to the Department from fiscal years 2014-15 through 2018-19 for use on National Trails Highway bridge projects. Sufficient appropriation and revenue for the Project is included in the Department’s 2023-24 Road Operations budget (6650002000 22H14788) and will be included in future recommended budgets for the ongoing efforts to rehabilitate or replace all of the 1930’s era timber bridges on National Trails Highway.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In February 2024, the Sombra Ditch Bridge 77 (Bridge) in the Amboy area sustained major damage due to thunderstorms and flooding. The extensive damage occurred along National Trials Highway where Bridge timber elements, such as support piles and bent caps were damaged, and the Bridge and roadway, as water levels exceeded the structure’s capacity rising and flowing over the Bridge. This resulted in significant debris on the roadway, erosion, and damage to the structure of the Bridge. Due to the significant damage to the Bridge caused by the storms and flooding, emergency repairs and cleanup are required. In the interest of public safety, National Trials Highway, between Amboy Road and Kelbaker Road, is closed pending emergency roadway repairs and Bridge evaluations.
A delay to solicit competitive bids for the work is not feasible, as the subject road and Bridge need to be immediately repaired in order to provide the public and emergency responders a safe route of travel. As a result, the Department recommends that the Board of Supervisors (Board) finds there is an emergency pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22050 that requires immediate action to prevent and mitigate the loss or impairment of life, property, and service to the public, and which will not permit the delay resulting from a formal solicitation of bids, as such emergency action is necessary to respond to the emergency. Department crews have been performing work to clear debris since the storm event occurred and will perform the necessary emergency Bridge repairs.
Due to the nature of the Project, the Department has determined that the emergency repair of the roads and Bridge is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) section 21080 (B)(4); 15269 subdivisions (c) and (d); and section 15301 (c). This CEQA section outlines emergency projects including, but not limited to, the repairs of public-owned service facilities necessary to maintain service essential to the public’s health, safety, and welfare. A CEQA Notice of Exemption (NOE) has been prepared for the emergency project and the Department recommends the Board adopt the CEQA finding of an emergency project and to direct the Department to file the Notice of Exemption in accordance with the CEQA.
The Project aligns with the County and the Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives to ensure the development of a well-planned, balanced, and sustainable county and to provide for the safety of county residents. Emergencies related to Public Contract Code section 22050, once ordered, must be affirmed at each subsequent meeting until terminated.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 1, 2024; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on February 28, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on February 29, 2024.