DATE: October 23, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Request by the City of Clovis to Obtain Right-of-Way
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
TITLE
Approve request by City of Clovis to acquire right-of-way, excluding eminent domain condemnation actions, from multiple parcels adjacent to existing County right-of-way in identified unincorporated areas of the County as needed in conjunction with the City’s road widening project along north Willow Avenue between east Shepherd and east Copper Avenues.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will approve request by the City of Clovis (City) to acquire additional road right-of-way along the easterly boundary of north Willow Avenue starting at the north side of east Shepherd Avenue and running north to east Copper Avenue, as identified in the Vicinity Map and Exhibit A (four parts). The City has been advised that your Board’s approval of the recommended action will not include approval to undertake eminent domain proceedings. The recommended action includes access drive connections to all existing developments within the County’s jurisdiction. This item pertains to locations in Districts 2 and 5.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no viable alternative action. If your Board does not approve the action, the City will be unable to construct the street improvements along north Willow Avenue.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The City initiated the request and paid $320 for processing in accordance with the Master Schedule of Fees. The City will acquire right-of-way in fee title from private property owners. The City will construct the road improvements with no fiscal impact to the County. Department of Public Works and Planning staff will provide oversight inspection of the improvements through application of an encroachment permit for work in County areas. The City will be responsible for maintenance of the completed improvements in accordance with the Master Agreement for Cooperative Road Improvement Projects executed between the two agencies.
DISCUSSION:
The City’s road widening is part of the Measure “C” Urban Tier I projects that have been assigned to the City for completion. The project work will take place within the County’s jurisdictional area, but the improvements are within the City’s sphere of influence and will be built to their standards.
The project will improve north Willow Avenue from east Shepherd Avenue to east Copper Avenue by providing three lanes in the northbound direction. Construction requires that additional road right-of-way be acquired to accommodate the proposed improvements. The City acquires right-of-way in fee title for their classified roads. The fee title acquisition of right-of-way will include the existing 30 feet of road easement and generally 32 feet of additional right-of-way for the extra lanes. Acquisition of right-of-way at the intersections will include approximately 11.5 feet of additional width to accommodate right turn lanes.
The proposed project will stop short of Copper Avenue because the signal and intersection design at the Copper and Willow intersection is currently being undertaken by the City of Fresno in conjunction with a subdivision development at the northwest quadrant of the intersection. However, the proposed right of way acquisition by the City will accommodate future improvements at the southeast corner of the Copper and Willow intersection.
Section 1810 of the Streets and Highways Code provides the basis for the City to request this action by the Board of Supervisors. The proposed right-of-way acquisition is consistent with the project improvement plans provided by the City. The Department of Public Works and Planning staff has reviewed the plans for the street improvements, and any work within the County road right-of-way will be processed through an encroachment permit.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
This item has been initiated at the request of the City. A copy of this Agenda Item has been provided to the City per their request.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #50, January 23, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Vicinity Map
Exhibit A (four parts)
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa