REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 17, 2019
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Interim Director, Department of Public Works -Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Sunburst Avenue Class I Bike Path and Class II Bike Lane Project in the Joshua Tree Area
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Sunburst Avenue Class I Bike Path and Class II Bike Lane Project, from State Route 62 to Calle Los Amigos, in the Joshua Tree area (Project).
2. Adopt the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Project.
3. Approve the Project as defined in the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration.
4. Direct the Clerk of the Board to file and post the Notice of Determination for the Project.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Interim 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 Senate Bill 1 (SB1) Road Maintenance Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funds, the State Active Transportation Program (ATP) and Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 funding. The actions to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and file and post the Notice of Determination have minimal financial impact. Sufficient appropriation is included in the 2019-20 Road Operations budget (6650002000 20H14975 and 20H14976).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines require that an environmental document be prepared, circulated for public review and comment, and adopted by the Board of Supervisors (Board) prior to the Board’s approval of the Project. By adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration pursuant to CEQA, the Board is finding that the Project will not have a significant effect on the environment after implementation of the mitigation measures identified in the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND). The purpose of the aforementioned document is to disclose and incorporate mitigation measures to avoid any potentially significant effects to the environment resulting from the proposed Project. Satisfaction of the CEQA requirements will allow the Department to apply for the environmental permits needed to construct the Project.
The Project consists of rehabilitating the existing Class I bike path located along the east side of Sunburst Avenue from State Route 62 to Oleander Avenue (approximately 0.5 miles); constructing a new Class II bike lane on the east side of Sunburst Avenue from termination of the existing Class I bike path north to Calle Los Amigos (approximately 1.5 miles); and constructing a new Class II bike lane on the west side of Sunburst Avenue from State Route 62 to Calle Los Amigos (approximately 2 miles). The bike lanes will provide increased pedestrian and cyclist safety for students and local residents in the area and to the new Joshua Tree Elementary School. Construction activities consist of earthwork, including minor excavation and grading; paving with asphalt concrete; installation of signage; and painting of pavement striping and pavement markings. The Project aligns with the County and Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives to ensure the development of a well-planned, balanced, and sustainable County and maintain public safety by constructing dedicated bike lanes.
The IS/MND is the environmental document prepared in accordance with the provisions of CEQA. CEQA requires that the appropriate environmental review be completed prior to initiation of a project. The County is the lead agency on the Project for purposes of CEQA review. As a result, the Board is the appropriate authority to act on the adoption of the state environmental document.
The IS/MND was prepared by a County consultant under the supervision of the Department. A Notice of Intent (NOI) for the Project was published in the Desert Sun newspaper on September 18, 2019. Copies of the IS/MND were circulated to responsible and trustee agencies and interested parties and were also made available at the Department’s Headquarters (825 E. Third Street, San Bernardino) and the Joshua Tree Library (6465 Park Boulevard, Joshua Tree). The IS/MND was also submitted to the Office of Planning and Research, State Clearinghouse for state agency review for a period of 30 days beginning September 23, 2019, (State Clearinghouse No. 2019099068).
The Department received three responses during the public review period: a property owner on Sunburst Avenue, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and the State Clearinghouse. These responses are noted in the final copy of the IS/MND and resulted in no additional environmental impacts that would necessitate recirculation of the IS/MND. Since all of the potential environmental impacts can be adequately mitigated during Project construction, the Department recommends adoptions of the IS/MND and a filing of the Notice of Determination with the Clerk of the Board.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 13, 2019; Finance (Jessica Trillo, Administrative Analyst, 387-4222) on November 25, 2019; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on November 26, 2019.