REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 28, 2025
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
California Environmental Quality Act Finding for the Randall Avenue Sidewalk Project in the Unincorporated Area of Fontana
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Find that the Randall Avenue Sidewalk Project 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 Randall Avenue Sidewalk Project as defined in the Notice of Exemption.
3. 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 Randall Avenue Sidewalk Project (Project) will be funded with Gas Tax and Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (Federal Funds). Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the Department of Public Works (Department) 2024-25 Road Operations budget (6650002000 H15254).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Project involves the construction of a new concrete sidewalk, curb, gutter, driveway approaches, the installation of new and reconstruction of existing curb ramps, in accordance with current design standards and pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and paint crosswalks, along the north side of Randall Avenue between Beech Avenue and Poplar Avenue in the unincorporated area of Fontana. 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.
Updating of existing ADA-compliant curb ramps or installation of new ADA-compliant curb ramps in the Project area are required 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 August 12, 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 in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act is recommended.
The Project also received federal funding, which required review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). As part of this process, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) staff reviewed the Project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Caltrans staff determined that the Project is a Categorical Exclusion under 23 CFR 771.117(c): activity (c)(3) of the National Environmental Policy Act and will not have a significant effect on the human environment either individually or cumulatively. Caltrans adopted and issued a Categorical Exclusion for the project on October 01, 2024.
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 Department anticipates presenting the Project plans and specifications, as well as a recommendation to advertise for competitive bids, to the Board for consideration in Spring 2026.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on December 30, 2024; Finance (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on January 10, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on January 10, 2025.