DATE: October 17, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: United States Forest Service Standard Form 299 for Italian Bar Project
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Director of Public Works and Planning, subject to approval by the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector as to accounting form and by County Counsel as to legal form, to execute a United States Forest Service Standard Form 299 Special Use Application and pay the associated fee, of $1,170, for Transportation and Utility Systems and Facilities on federal land pertaining to the Italian Bar Bridge Project.
2. Approve and Authorize the Director of Public Works and Planning, subject to approval by the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector as to accounting form and by County Counsel as to legal form, to execute a final United States Forest Service Special Use Permit upon completion of the project, and pay the associated fee, currently estimated to be $1,852.
REPORT
The recommended actions authorize signature of a special use application and, upon completion of the project, the execution of a permit for the Italian Bar Bridge across the San Joaquin River at Redinger Lake.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If Recommended Action 1 is not approved, the project will not be constructed and funds received for the project will need to be returned to the Federal Highway Administration.
If Recommended Action 2 is not approved, the Department would have to return to the Board for execution of the Special Use Permit, thereby incurring additional staff costs and delaying final acceptance of the Project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The costs for the permits will be 100% funded by the Federal Highway Bridge Program. Sufficient funds for the permits will included in current and subsequent fiscal years Public Works and Planning - Roads Org 4510 Budget/Account 7265. The Special Use Application cost is $1,170. The final Special Use Permit cost will be finalized upon project completion. The fee is currently $61.74 per year, making the planned 30 year permit cost $1,852.20
DISCUSSION:
The County, in cooperation with the County of Madera and the California Department of Transportation, is proposing to replace the existing one-lane, 5-span steel girder and steel truss structure on Italian Bar Road over the San Joaquin River at Redinger Lake in the Sierra National Forest. Both Fresno and Madera Counties currently operate and maintain Italian Bar Road and the associated bridge under a combination of 1948 and 1955 special use permits from the United State Forest Service for portions in Fresno County, and a 1954 special use permit for portion in Madera County.
Since Fresno County is the lead agency, the County will file the initial Standard Form 299 Application on behalf of both counties. The term of the initial application is three years. Upon competition of the project, each county will be required to file its own Special Use Permit. The Special Use Permit has a term of up to thirty years.
The Final Special Use Permit allows occupancy, use, and maintenance of the structure. The Special Use Permit requires the County to indemnify and hold harmless the United States of America for any costs, damages, claims, liabilities and judgements arising from the past, present, and future acts or omissions of the holder in connection with the use or occupancy authorized by this permit.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #36, January 8, 2013
BAI # 54, September 13, 2016
BAI #44, November 15, 2016
CAO ANALYST:
John Hays