TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Erick Lee, Public Works Director
Katherine Doherty, City Engineer
Marzena Laskowska, Senior Civil Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Resolution to Accept a Grant of Easement Deed and Temporary Construction Easement Deed for the Property at 1800 Rosecrans Avenue (APN 4138017016) for the Aviation Boulevard Sidewalk Gap Project (No Budget Impact) (Public Works Director Lee).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-0006
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-0006:
1) Accepting a Grant of Easement Deed for Real Property for 1800 Rosecrans Avenue, dated October 24, 2024, and made by Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a Washington corporation;
2) Accepting a Temporary Construction Easement Deed for Real Property for 1800 Rosecrans Avenue, dated October 24, 2024, and made by Recreational Equipment, Inc. a Washington corporation; and
3) Authorizing the City Manager and/or his or her designee to accept the Grant of Easement Deed and Temporary Construction Easement on behalf of the City and any other forms necessary, and to record said grant of rights.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is no cost associated with the acceptance of this easement. However, the City will be responsible for the improvements and maintenance of the easement area as it relates to public streets, utilities, sidewalks, and driveways and as detailed in the deed after acceptance. There are no additional fiscal implications at this time.
BACKGROUND:
On July 2, 2019, City Council adopted Resolution No. 19-0056 approving the submittal of a grant application to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 grant funds for the Aviation Boulevard Sidewalk Gap Project (Aviation Sidewalk Project). As part of Resolution No. 19-0056, City Council authorized the Public Works Director to execute all grant documents necessary to secure grant funds and implement the approved grant project, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments and requests for payments.
On July 31, 2019, the City submitted a competitive grant application for the FTA Section 5310 Program, Enhance Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities for the Aviation Sidewalk Project. The grant application was successful, and Metro approved the application and awarded $540,000 to the City. As part of this grant, the City agreed to provide the required minimum local match of $60,000. The funding agreement was fully executed by Metro on December 17, 2020.
On January 18, 2022, the City Council approved a design agreement with Glenn A. Rick Engineering and Development Company for the Aviation Sidewalk Project. The design team engaged with multiple stakeholders including three property owners, Southern California Edison (SCE) for transmission and distribution guy wire relocation, and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) for their future valve automation facility. This stakeholder engagement resulted in multiple iterations of the design in order to meet all requirements.
This project is centered in a busy corridor of the City and the missing sidewalk on the west side of Aviation Boulevard, just north of 33rd Street, poses a safety challenge for pedestrians attempting to access several nearby transit stops (pick-up and drop-off), major grocery stores, shopping, restaurants, fitness centers, and hotels. Pedestrians traveling on Aviation Boulevard who require access to surrounding transit stops (on the west side of Aviation Boulevard) are forced to walk in the street along or opposed to oncoming traffic, or they must cut through the parking lot of Northrup Grumman, both of which pose a safety threat. This concern is amplified for seniors and individuals with disabilities who may be limited in their mobility. The installation of a missing sidewalk will afford a safe access route for the community, especially seniors and individuals with disabilities, who travel by public transportation to reach these central destinations.
The design and subsequent construction take into account the need for a safe access route for all while considering the need for the lowest possible impact on the livelihood of the residents, visitors, and business owners. The project entails installation of sidewalk, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps, grading, retaining wall, fencing, driveway, and landscaping. Additionally, the project requires the removal of 11 conflicting trees that will be replaced onsite and elsewhere in the City at a 2:1 ratio.
DISCUSSION:
During the design of the Aviation Sidewalk Project, it was determined that easement dedications and temporary construction easements were required for the project from three properties. In April 2024, the Project received final comments from all stakeholders and as such provided the three property owners with proposed limits for the required easements for their review and consideration. Discussions are ongoing with two of the properties.
On October 24, 2024, the property owner for 1800 Rosecrans Avenue (APN 4138017016) authorized and approved the granting of the easement dedication and temporary construction easement at their property (see attachments). The easement is for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a public sidewalk and other related improvements for pedestrian ingress, egress and access upon, over and across that certain real property.
The Resolution allows the City to accept the easement dedication and temporary construction easement for the construction of the Project. If approved, the Grant of Easement Deed and Temporary Construction Easement Deed will be accepted, executed, and recorded with the Los Angeles County Recorder’s Office.
The Project team has completed design and is continuing right-of-way engineering for the proposed right-of-way acquisition of this and two other properties along the west side of Aviation Boulevard. If agreements are reached between those property owners and the City, City staff will submit those agreements for the City Council discussion and approval.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The Aviation Sidewalk Project has been discussed with the property owners within and adjacent to the Project area. The Project was also presented to the Parking and Public Improvements Commission (PPIC) on March 28, 2024.
Once the project progresses to the construction phase, public outreach will include construction update notices, coordination with property owners, message boards, social media coordination, and updates on the City’s website. Regional outreach will also occur to inform South Bay commuters of the potential impacts.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed acceptance of easement activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no further environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 25-0006
2. Grant of Easement Deed - 1800 Rosecrans Avenue (APN 4138017016)
3. Grant of Temporary Construction Easement - 1800 Rosecrans Avenue (APN 4138017016)
4. Budget and Expenditures Summary Report
5. Location Map