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Home My WebLink About2024-02-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - VISTA CYN BRIDGE PROJ S3037O Agenda Item: 1 1. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT PUBLIC HEARINGS CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: ' DATE: February 13, 2024 SUBJECT: AMEND CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR THE VISTA CANYON PROJECT AND CONSIDER ACTIONS PERTAINING TO THE VISTA CANYON ROAD BRIDGE PROJECT, S3037, AND WATER FACTORY DEPARTMENT: Public Works PRESENTER: Shannon Pickett RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council: 1. Conduct a public hearing to consider eliminating conditions of approval EN42 and EN43 of Master Case No. 07-127; requiring construction of the Vista Canyon Road Bridge. 2. Adopt a resolution which would do the following: a. Eliminate Condition Nos. EN42 and EN43 regarding construction of the Vista Canyon Road Bridge so that the City can construct the Bridge; b. Accept the Water Factory facility completed by Vista Canyon Ranch, LLC; c. Accept fencing, parking, and construction staging easements from Vista Canyon Ranch, LLC; d. Authorize the City Manager to execute agreements to acquire plans and specifications for design and construction of the Vista Canyon Road Bridge project in an amount not to exceed $999,661; and e. Authorize a loan from the General Fund (100) to the Eastside Bridge & Thoroughfare District Fund (301) in the amount of $1,100,000 and appropriate to expenditure account S3037301-516101. BACKGROUND On April 26, 2011, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 11-23, which approved the Vista Canyon project (Master Case 07-127), including the final Conditions of Approval (COA). The Vista Canyon project included up to 1,100 residential units, 950,000 square feet of commercial space, the Vista Canyon Multi -Modal Transit Center, a water reclamation plant (Water Factory), Page 1 Packet Pg. 8 O and over 21 acres of recreational amenities. In addition, Vista Canyon Ranch, LLC (Developer) was conditioned to construct the Vista Canyon Road Bridge over the Santa Clara River from the intersection of Soledad Canyon Road and Lost Canyon Road to the Vista Canyon development as shown on the attached Location Map. On October 25, 2018, the City of Santa Clarita (City) was allocated $20 million in Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Measure R funds for construction of the Vista Canyon Road Bridge. The allocation requires construction funds be spent by June 30, 2026, and the Vista Canyon Road Bridge to be constructed by the City. This project supports the Enhancing Economic Vitality theme of the City of Santa Clarita's five-year strategic plan, Santa Clarita 2025. The Developer has experienced significant financial difficulties given the current challenges of obtaining financing for real estate projects and is unable to pay for recent elements of the bridge design nor the completion of the design without significant delays to the project. The bridge design plans are currently at 90 percent completion. To facilitate the completion of the bridge design in a timely manner, City staff recommends that the existing bridge design contracts between the Developer and its consultants be assigned to the City. The scope of work for these contracts include design for bridge structural, civil, electrical, water resources and embankment protection, geotechnical, dry and wet utility, and landscape services required to prepare construction documents. These documents consist of complete plans, specifications, and engineer's estimates for construction of the bridge and the associated road improvements. The Developer's contracts have an aggregate total of $999,661 and include payments for work completed by the consultants that remain unpaid by the Developer, payment for work required to complete the design, and a 10 percent contingency. The requested contingency will cover the costs of unforeseen design constraints and potential design modifications requested by the City and other permitting agencies while finalizing the design phase. This includes potential adjustments to the structural drawings, engineered grades, and change orders made by either the design firms or the City. The design consultants currently working on the Vista Canyon Road Bridge project are the most knowledgeable and qualified to complete the design. Since these services are being completed by design professionals, they constitute "professional services" for purposes of the City's Purchasing Policy. Under these circumstances, where the design, plans, and specifications are 90 percent complete, it is unnecessary to seek different design professionals to complete these tasks. As part of the assignment of the contracts to the City, each consultant agreed to additional insurance and indemnification requirements to the satisfaction of the City Attorney. The bridge and associated road improvements will provide a connection from the intersection of Soledad Canyon Road and Lost Canyon Road to the Vista Canyon development including the recently completed Vista Canyon Multi -Modal Transit Center. The bridge improvements include a two-lane bridge with an emergency lane and shared -use sidewalk. The road improvements Page 2 Packet Pg. 9 O include a new traffic signal at the intersection of Soledad Canyon Road and Lost Canyon Road, and modifications to the roundabout south of the bridge to provide access to the Vista Canyon Multi -Modal Transit Center. Mitigation measures in the project's Final Environmental Impact Report require the bridge connection to increase access, improve traffic circulation, and transit services for the development and surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, the connection will provide emergency access for the development and provide an additional emergency evacuation route for the neighboring Sand Canyon community. The City reviewed the proposed actions in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Per Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations section 15168(c)(2), if a project is proposed which has been the subject of a prior certified Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and if the agency finds that pursuant to Section 15162, no new effects could occur or new mitigation measures would be required, the agency can approve the activity as being within the scope of the project covered by the EIR, and no new environmental document would be required. On April 26, 2011, the City Council certified the Vista Canyon project's final EIR (SCH No. 2007071039). Authorizing the proposed actions will not result in any new environmental effect not already considered in the final EIR regarding the project. Consequently, no additional environmental review is required. Comprehensive Resolution Staff recommends the City Council adopt the resolution, which would accomplish the following: A. Mod yAporoval Acting as the Planning Agency, the City Council would eliminate Condition Nos. EN42 and EN43. These conditions originally required design and construction of the bridge by the Developer. B. Accepting the Water Factory In May 2023, the City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate an operations agreement with PERC Water Corporation. Those negotiations are concluded; the parties are expected to execute an agreement in February 2024. Additionally, the facility is now ready to be accepted from the Developer. C. Accepting Real Property Easements As identified in Exhibit A to the resolution, the City requested easements on the Developer's property to complete the construction of various infrastructure improvements. These consist of a temporary construction easement located near the intersections of Vista Canyon Road and Humphreys Parkway (APNs 2840-031-020 and 2840-031-017) and Vista Canyon Road and Mitchell Drive (APN 2840-031-004); an easement for a fence located adjacent to the Vista Canyon Multi -Modal Center (APN 2840-031-004) and for a temporary parking lot for the Vista Canyon Metrolink Station (pending completion of a parking structure in connection with future development). This temporary parking lot easement is located on parcels south of the intersection of Mitchell Drive and Lincoln Place (APNs 2840-031-001, 2840-031-002, and 2840-031-003). D. Acquisition of Bridge Designs The City Manager would be authorized to acquire and pay for bridge design documents prepared by the design professionals; a total of nine contracts would be transferred to the Page 3 Packet Pg. 10 O City for the design of the Vista Canyon Road Bridge project in an aggregate amount of $908,784 and authorize a contingency in the aggregate amount of $90,877, for a total aggregate contract amount not to exceed $999,661 as follows: Consultant Design Services Fee Contingency Total Amount Contract Amount Dokken Bridge Engineering $460,000 $46,000 $506,000 Engineering R.T. Frankian & Soils Engineering $112,476 $11,247 $123,723 Associates Alliance Land Civil Engineering $150,200 $15,020 $165,220 Planning & Engineering, Inc. IDS Group Electrical Engineering $18,418 $1,841 $20,259 Dexter Wilson Water Utility $47,760 $4,776 $52,536 Engineering, Inc. BJ Palmer and Electrical Utility $15,300 $1,530 $16,830 Associates, Inc. Yamasaki Landscape $11,430 $1,143 $12,573 Landscape Architecture Pacific Advanced Water Resources and $63,700 $6,370 $70,070 Water Embankment Engineering, Inc. Protection Engineering Kimley Horn & Traffic Engineering $29,500 $2,950 $32,450 Associates, Inc. Total 1 $908,784 1 $90,877 1 $999,661 E. Interfund Loan To pay for the design professional's costs and anticipated project costs including staff time, project management, and permitting fees, the resolution would also authorize a loan from the General Fund (100) to the Eastside Bridge & Thoroughfare District Fund (301) in the amount of $1,100,000. The loan will be repaid with future Bridge & Thoroughfare fees generated by the Vista Canyon development project. ALTERNATIVE ACTION Other action as determined by the City Council. Page 4 Packet Pg. 11 O FISCAL IMPACT Upon approval of the recommended action, adequate funds will be available in expenditure account S3037301-516101 (Eastside B&T Fund) to support the recommended contracts and administrative costs. ATTACHMENTS Public Hearing Notice Location Map Resolution Page 5 Packet Pg. 12 1.a CITY OF SANTA CLARITA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Suite 302 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING APPLICATION: Vista Canyon Project — Master Case 07-127 PROJECT APPLICANT: City of Santa Clarita PROJECT LOCATION: Vista Canyon Specific Plan Area (generally bounded by State Route 14 to the north, La Veda Avenue to the east, the Union Pacific Railroad right-of- way to the south, and Lost Canyon Road to the west) PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The City of Santa Clarita Department of Public Works is requesting revisions to Master Case 07-127 (the Vista Canyon Project), including modifications to previously approved Engineering conditions of approval EN42 and EN43. These revisions address the construction of the previously approved bridge from the intersection of Soledad Canyon Road and Lost Canyon Road to the Vista Canyon development. The requested revision would permit the City of Santa Clarita to construct the bridge and would not change any of the physical improvements within the approved project. The City of Santa Clarita City Council will conduct a public hearing on this matter on the following date: DATE: Tuesday, February 13, 2024 TIME: At or after 6:00 p.m. LOCATION: City Hall, Council Chambers 23920 Valencia Blvd., First Floor Santa Clarita, CA 91355 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: On April 26, 2011, the City Council certified the Project's Final EIR (SCH No. 2007071039). Authorizing the proposed actions will not result in any new environmental effect not already considered in the FEIR regarding the Project. Consequently, no additional environmental review is required. If you wish to challenge the action taken on this matter in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearings described in this notice, or written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clarita at, or prior to, the public hearings. If you wish to have written comments included in the materials the City Council receives prior to the public hearing, it must be submitted to the Public Works Department by Thursday, February 8, 2024. For further information regarding this proposal, you may contact the project manager at the City of Santa Clarita, Permit Center, 23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 140, Santa Clarita, CA 91355. Telephone: (661) 255-4968. Website: https://santaclarita.gov/capital-improvement-projects/. Send written correspondence to: 23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 304, Santa Clarita, CA 91355. Project Manager: Shannon Pickett, Assistant City Engineer, spickett@santa-clarita.com. Packet Pg. 13 1.a Mary Cusick, MMC City Clerk Published: The Signal, February 3, 2024 and February 8, 2024 Packet Pg. 14 1.c RESOLUTION NO. 24- A RESOLUTION MODIFYING CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR MASTER CASE NO. 07-127; ACCEPTING EASEMENTS; ACCEPTING FACILITIES IDENTIFIED AS THE "WATER FACTORY" LOCATED ON REAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT 17365 HUMPHREYS PARKWAY; AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENTS WITH DESIGN PROFESSIONALS FOR VARIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS; AND AUTHORIZING A LOAN FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE EASTSIDE BRIDGE AND THOROUGHFARE DISTRICT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,100,000 The City Council of the City of Santa Clarita, California, does hereby resolve as follows SECTION 1: The City Council rinds and declares as follows: A. On April 26, 2011, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 11-23 approving Master Case No. 07-127 to annex and develop a 185 acre project identified as the "Vista Canyon Project" (the "Project"); B. Among other things, the Project was conditioned to construct infrastructure that would eventually be dedicated to the City for public use. Such infrastructure included, without limitation, bridge for vehicle traffic (the "bridge") and a wastewater treatment facility identified as the "Water Factory" (collectively, "Infrastructure Projects"); C. In December 2023, the Vista Canyon, LLC (the "Developer") informed the City Manager that it was unable to complete the Infrastructure Projects in accordance with the 2011 conditions of approval. The Developer further informed the City Manager that the Water Factory was complete and could be acquired by the City; it also informed the City Manager that design work for the bridge was substantially complete; and D. Based upon the entirety of the administrative record including, without limitation, the staff report submitted to the City Council regarding the Project, it is apparent that it is in the public interest for the City to assume control over the Infrastructure Projects. Failure of the City to assume control over the Infrastructure Projects could result in significant impacts to public health and safety since the bridges and the Water Factory were specifically designed to alleviate impacts to vehicle circulation and water quality. SECTION 2: Santa Clarita Planning Agency. Pursuant to Government Code § 65100, the City Council temporarily withdraws authority otherwise delegated to the Planning Commission set forth in the Santa Clarita Municipal Code ("SCMC") as to modifying the Project conditions of approval ("COA"). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the SCMC including, without limitation, SCMC Chapter 2.26 and SCMC § 17.02.030(C), the City Council will act as the Santa Clarita Planning Agency for all matters otherwise delegated to the Planning Commission as to the Project. Page 1 of 4 Packet Pg. 16 1.c SECTION 3: General Plan Findings. The City Council incorporates by references the General Plan findings set forth in Section 3 of Resolution No. 11-23, adopted April 26, 2011. The actions authorized by this resolution do not alter those findings other than changing the entity responsible for designing and constructing the Infrastructure Projects. Consequently, no additional findings are required to modify the conditions of approval in Section 4 of this resolution. SECTION 4: Modification of COA. Based upon the findings set forth in Sections 1, 2, and 8 of this resolution, the City Council amends Condition Nos. EN42 and EN43, as follows: A. "EN42. Intentionally Blank." B. "EN43. Intentionally Blank." SECTION 5: Acceptance of Water Factory. The "Water Factory," identified in the Project conditions (see, e.g., CEQA Mitigation Measures 4.21-1, 4.21-2, and 4.21-3) as the "Vista Canyon Water Factory," located at 17365 Humphreys Parkway, Canyon Country, CA 91387 (APN 2840-029-900), is accepted as a public facility. The City Manager is authorized to execute such documents that are needed to further memorialize that acceptance in a form approved by the City Attorney. SECTION 6: Acceptance of Easements. The City Manager is authorized to accept easements on real property as depicted in attached Exhibit "A," which is incorporated by reference ("Easements"). The Easements are generally required for parking, fencing, and construction staging. The City Manager may execute such documents that are needed to effectuate this acceptance, in a form approved by the City Attorney. SECTION 7: Assignment and Assumption Agreements; Bridge Design. The City Manager is authorized to execute assignment and assumption agreements, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with design professionals ("Design Contracts") responsible for completing plans for the bridge. The City Engineer's estimate is that such plans and specifications are currently at 90% completion; the Design Contracts will ensure that the City acquires all ownership rights to the bridge plans and specifications needed for design immunity, bidding, and construction. SECTION 8: Interfund Loan. Authorize a loan from the General Fund (100) to the Eastside Bridge & Thoroughfare District Fund (301) in the amount of $1,100,000 for the purpose of designing and constructing the bridge. The amount of the loan will be paid back at a future time when funds in the amount of $1,100,000 are available to repay the loan back to the City's General Fund. The loan will be paid back at an interest rate equivalent to the yield of the average monthly investment portfolio. SECTION 9: Environmental Assessment. The City Council reviewed this resolution in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq.; "CEQA") and the CEQA Guidelines (14 California Code of Regulations §§ 15000, et seq.). CEQA Guidelines § 15168(c)(2) states that if a project is proposed which has been the subject of a prior certified EIR, and "[i]f the [City] finds that pursuant to Section 15162, no new effects could occur or new mitigation measures would be required, the agency can approve the activity Page 2 of 4 Packet Pg. 17 1.c as being within the scope of the project covered by the ... EIR, and no new environmental document would be required." On April 26, 2011, the City Council certified the Project's Final EIR (SCH No. 2007071039). Based upon the findings in Section 1 of this resolution, adopting this resolution will not result in any new environmental effect not already considered in the FEIR regarding the Project. Consequently, the actions authorized by this resolution do not require additional environmental review. SECTION 10: Delegation of Authority. The City Manager is authorized to make clerical corrections; minor technical changes; and other non -substantive edits to any of the instruments identified in this resolution, in a form approved by the City Attorney. Unless substantive changes are required, no additional City Council action is required to ratify such changes. SECTION 11: Reliance on Record. Each and every one of the findings and determinations in this resolution are based on the competent and substantial evidence, both oral and written, contained in the entire record relating to the project. The findings and determinations constitute the independent findings and determinations of the City Council in all respects and are fully and completely supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole. SECTION 12: Limitations. The City Council's analysis and evaluation of the project is based on the best information currently available. It is inevitable that in evaluating a project that absolute and perfect knowledge of all possible aspects of the project will not exist. One of the major limitations on analysis of the project is the City Council's lack of knowledge of future events. In all instances, best efforts have been made to form accurate assumptions. Somewhat related to this are the limitations on the City's ability to solve what are in effect regional, state, and national problems and issues. The City must work within the political framework within which it exists and with the limitations inherent in that framework. SECTION 13: Summaries oflnformation. All summaries of information in the findings, which precede this section, are based on the substantial evidence in the record. The absence of any particular fact from any such summary is not an indication that a particular finding is not based in part on that fact. SECTION 14: If any part of this resolution or its application is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the City Council intends that such invalidity will not affect the effectiveness of the remaining provisions or applications and, to this end, the provisions of this resolution are severable. SECTION 15: This resolution will become effective immediately upon adoption. Page 3 of 4 Packet Pg. 18 1.c PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 131h day of February 2024. MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK DATE: STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA ) I, Mary Cusick, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution No. 24- was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 13th day of February 2024, by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Page 4 of 4 CITY CLERK Packet Pg. 19 1.c EXHIBIT A z (D U) w 0 LL O H z w z 0 U) Q 0 z Q z O J O U) W d' H d O Q M O M U) H U W O a L c� 0 m 0 Q O w z O z Q U Q H U) c 0 r 3 0 m r c m E t v c� r r Q Packet Pg. 20 c►'y°f SANTA CLARITA N Location Map for Feet o yr Temporary Construction o goo zoo z I i I Q r Easement z Street centerlines developed &maintained 0 l Legend by City of Santa Clarita GIs 0 Parcels The City of Santa Clarita does not warrant J the accuracy of the data and assumes no 0 liability for any errors or omissions. N 2840-031-020 Temporary Construction Easement Map prepared by: City of Santa Clarita � GIs Division F— • Q Vista Canyon Road Bridge Project Q:\PRCJECTS\PW\240118a1\Vista Canyon Bridge d 0 y � y y- �:' 2840-031-017'� r #"► • w 0 as LIS r SOL o •° O _Awl W z z � V EST v, `((�� o > L � � C.yEY� � ♦ Q, PPER yhL "YY * 0 CPNV°N � • 0 y' Fg MoO �g RUMGy4� s 2840-031-004 * �, C e % LEON° 8� • � y LYONS Y q—��+'t'ty ' WCERI RCN —ON p 'T� ONJYON ♦� � —� �E F r o r sue, �a Packet Pg. 21 City of N SANTA CLARITA Location Map for Feet Fence Easement 0 50 100 I i I Street centerlines developed & maintained Legend by City of Santa Clarita GIS The City of Santa Clarita does not warrant the accuracy of the data and assumes no Parcels liability for any errors or omissions. Map prepared by: City of Santa Clarita , f Fence Easement GIS Division Q:\PROJECTS\PW\240118a1\Vista Canyon Bridge % Vista Canyon RegionaIjransit enter+ 2840-031-004 - y14ry f�'s rt>R ST Vcwy� 4 F Y 5 ry 0 I i � e 1.c 7T7�� r 'A u" C O 2 0 OLED D N a. I_ r Q T A Packet Pg. 22 City of N SANTA CLARITA Location Map for Feet Parking Lot Easement 0 100 200 Legend Parcels Parking Lot Easement I i I Street centerlines developed & maintained by City of Santa Clarita GIS The City of Santa Clarita does not warrant the accuracy of the data and assumes no ' liability for any errors or omissions. Map prepared by: City of Santa Clarita GIS Division Q:\PROJECTS\PW\240118a1\Vista Canyon Bridge , � o Vist 1MRegional 1 \enters "�It Nil rt M oQ ,o e6 u S^. V JT to uJv LA H� 6DPPE0.N2�L+ C Y y3y� O Fg MpU CFLOPC � 3� PLUMC� 8 m h _ pYE a2fy i � 0 f yF� ry{gw� �yn^ � SOIEOPU N 2ep P C W r MO�NTaN "e 9 C� �� yaLVamNS $ ppCn�.. �ACERI �/Co cPT�y� € FA CANYON r $ F I Packet Pg. 23 1