REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 22, 2023
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
California Environmental Quality Act Finding for the Linden Avenue and Locust Avenue Project in the Bloomington Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the Linden Avenue and Locust Avenue Project in the Bloomington area 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 Linden Avenue and Locust Avenue Project in the Bloomington area as defined in the Notice of Exemption.
3. 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 Linden Avenue and Locust Avenue Project in the Bloomington area (Project) is funded with Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) revenue. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the Department of Public Works (Department) 2023-24 Road Operations budget (6650002000 14H15028) and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Project involves approximately two miles of pavement reconstruction on Locust Avenue and Linden Avenue and asphalt concrete dike, partial widening of road surfaces, in-fill sidewalk, driveway approaches, curb and gutter, a drainage structure, tree removal, bus stop and curb ramps in accordance with current design standards and pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 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 at a future date.
This Project was prioritized by the Board as part of the 2017-18 SB1 RMRA project list, which was approved December 19, 2017 (Item No. 40) and revised on April 30, 2019 (Item No. 53). Updates to existing ADA compliant curb ramps or installation of new ADA compliant curb ramps for the Project are required under the federal 2013 Department of Justice/Department of Transportation Joint Technical Assistance on the Title II of the ADA Requirements to Provide Curb Ramps when Streets, Roads, or Highways are Altered through Resurfacing guidelines.
The Department’s Environmental staff reviewed the 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, Class 1, Section 15301(c) and Class 2, Section 15302(c) is appropriate. The Class 1 exemption allows for repair and maintenance activities on existing highways and streets, 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 and providing for the safety of county residents by preserving and improving the structural integrity of existing road surfaces, improving traffic movement, and improving access for all pedestrians, including those with disabilities.
PROCUREMENT
The Department anticipates presenting the Project plans and specifications, as well as a recommendation to advertise for formal bids, to the Board for consideration at a future date, after right-of-way acquisition is completed.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 27, 2023; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on August 7, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 7, 2023.