The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1998-02-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - MOU WSHUHSD PROPOSED NEW SITE (2)AGENDA REPORT NEW BUSINESS DATE: February 24, 1998 City Mana Item to be Jeffrey Lambert SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE WILLIAM S. HART SCHOOL DISTRICT REGARDING ALIGNMENT OF GOLDEN VALLEY ROAD AND PROPOSED HIGH SCHOOL SITE DEPARTMENT: Planning and Building Services RECOMMENDED ACTION Accept the proposed alignment of Golden Valley Road between Soledad Canyon Road and Sierra Highway. Approve Memorandum of Understanding and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract not to exceed $25,000 with Rincon Consultants for environmental services for Golden Valley Road and the proposed high school site grading subject to City Attorney approval. The City's General Plan Circulation Element identifies the ultimate roadway network for the build out of the General Plan. This network includes Golden Valley Road. This roadway is also identified in the Bridge and Thoroughfare District and would be an important additional roadway link to improve travel within the City. The William S. Hart Union School District is considering a new high school to be located at the intersection of Golden Valley Road and Via Princessa. The School District needs to gain access to this site along Golden Valley Road. The City has been in negotiations with the Santa Clarita Business Park Company regarding a business park development along Soledad Canyon Road at Golden Valley. This project is scheduled for a Planning Commission hearing on March 3, 1998. This applicant has discussed the construction of this portion of Golden Valley Road as its Bridge and Thoroughfare obligation. Staff is endeavoring to coordinate the road design and construction with the grading of the high school site in order to accomplish cost savings to the City and the School District. ANALYSIS The City and the District have a shared interest in improved roadways and educational opportunities within the City of Santa Clarita's boundaries. The Project represents a unique Appfloffl A�e�� Item: / �i opportunity to build an important link in the City's roadway network while at the same time furthering the development of a new high school. The City and District are committed to working together regarding the Project and to make every effort to cooperate throughout the processing of the Project through the City. The purpose of this MOU is to ensure that the City and the District have reached a non-binding understanding with respect to certain points that are fundamental to the two parties and without which, the time and effort that will go into the Project would not be warranted. The City and the District recognize that there are significant benefits to both parties to complete the construction of Golden Valley Road and new high school. GOLDEN VALLEY ROAD ALI =NMENT Attached to this report is a map showing the proposed alignment of Golden Valley Road between Soledad Canyon Road and Sierra Highway. An alignment study has been conducted and this roadway location has been determined to satisfy the General Plan and accepted engineering design principles. A small segment of the alignment crosses a portion of the Porta Bella site. This City can either accept a voluntary dedication of this land from the property owner or condemn and purchase the property in order to facilitate the construction of the road. Golden Valley Road was not considered as part of the.Porta Bella project approvals and does not serve this future project. Should the property owner wish to dedicate this site to the City, this would satisfy the project's obligation to dedicate 8 acres for public purposes. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS The City Council could take either of the following actions regarding this matter: Reject the MOU and allow Golden Valley Road and the high school site to be designed and reviewed independently without coordination. Other alternatives as determined by the Council FISCAL IMPACT The fiscal impact of this action is the City's proportionate share of the Rincon Consultants contract for environmental services not to exceed $25,000. Funds for these services are available in the Bridge and Thoroughfare District Account No. 302-6193. Memorandum of Understanding Map of Proposed Golden Valley Road alignment and high school site cd\council\hartmoujjl GOLDEN VALLEY ROAD MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Preamble This Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") is designed to summarize the basic elements of understanding between the City of Santa Carita ("City") and the William S. Hart Union High School District ("District") in the design, environmental review and possible approval of Golden Valley Road between the northerly boundary of Tract 42670 and Sierra Highway, the intersection of Golden Valley Road and Via Princessa, and grading for the proposed high school site (the "Project"). The City and the District have a shared interest in improved roadways and educational opportunities within the City of Santa Clarita's boundaries. The Project represents a unique opportunity to build an important link in the City's roadway network while at the same time furthering the development of a new high school. The City and District are committed to working together regarding the Project and to make every effort to cooperate throughout the processing of the Project through the City. The purpose of this MOU is to ensure that the City and the District have reached a non-binding understanding with respect to certain points that are fundamental to the two parties and without which, the time and effort that will go into the Project would not be warranted. The two parties also recognize that each of the points outlined below is essential to proceeding with the proposed Project. The City and the District recognize that there are significant benefits to both parties to complete the review of the Project. The Project consists of two components: (1) design, engineering and possible approval and (2) environmental review. Project Management and Oversight Design: The City will be the lead agency for the design and possible approval of the Project. The design of the Project will be conducted by William Rose and Associates. This design work will include all necessary boundary and topographic survey work and engineering design including final horizontal and vertical alignment, mass grading, and drainage facilities. Also included in the design work would be all necessary special engineering studies such as hydrology work to properly design the drainage devices necessary to construct the roadway. The design of the necessary traffic control devices, including the traffic signal to be installed at Sierra Highway and Golden Valley Road will be either designed by William Rose and Associates or another consultant mutually agreed upon. GeoSoils, Inc., who is providing geotechnical and geological investigations for the proposed school site and the road project will provide a break down of their work that is required for the road design and that portion will be included as eligible design costs. The review and possible approval of the road design and engineering will be managed by Lawrence Cushman, Subdivision Engineering, and appropriate City staff, including Subdivision Engineering, Traffic Engineering, and Planning. The design and engineering of the Project will be coordinated with the current effort to design and engineer Via Princessa/Magic Mountain Parkway by ASL Consultants. Environmental Review: The City will be the lead agency for the environmental review of the Project. The management of this process will be conducted by Jeffrey Lambert, Planning Manager, and Fred Follstad, Associate Planner, of the Planning Division. Planning staff will obtain a proposal from Rincon Consultants to provide the required environmental analysis of the Project in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). City staff will work diligently to expedite the design, engineering, environmental review and possible approval of the Project. The District's lead contact for the Project shall be Mr. Robert Lee, Superintendent, or his designee. Funding Responsibility/Process Design: Design funding will be provided by the Santa Clarita Business Park Company ("Company"). The Company shall apply the costs associated with Project design to their Bridge and Thoroughfare District obligation in accordance with City rules and regulations administered by the Subdivision Engineering Division. Environmental Review: The City will fund the preparation of environmental review documents for the Golden Valley Road portion of the Project through the B&T District. Additional costs for environmental review associated with the high school grading portion of the.Project will be funded by the District. The City shall require Rincon Consultants to provide a breakdown in their contract .for environmental services, describing the portion of the contract amount associated with the high school site grading. The District shall contribute its identified portion of the environmental review process and shall pay that portion of each invoice submitted by Rincon Consultants. Upon acceptance of the proposal for environmental services by the City and the District, the Districts share of the costs of this work will be deposited into a City account. All invoices submitted by Rincon Consultants will be immediately forwarded to the District and the District shall have 10 days in which to comment on these invoices before they are released for payment. Conclusion Neither the City nor the District intend this MOU to be a contract or to be bound by this MOU. Unless and until the Project is approved, either the City or the District at any time and for any reason, may refuse to proceed with and withdraw from the process. By executing this MOU, the City and the District again wish to confirm that what is set forth in this MOU represents the basic and fundamental elements of understanding regarding the basis for their going forward with the Project. The foregoing sets forth our Memorandum of Understanding as of CITY OF SANTA CARITA George A. Caravalho, City Manager ATTEST: City Clerk sApbs\adva cdgoldval.mou WILLIAM S. HART UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT Robert Lee, Superintendent APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney I SANTA CLARITA BUSINESS PARK GOLDEN VALLEY ROAD EXTENSION T.T. 61599 PORTA BELLA LEGEND .R Tract Boundary Slope FILE: e:N2670W2670.apr(Oversio 12/31^97 UU TR. 42670-01 MEN pivld ggen to eMW Q N 600 0 500 Feat FIGURE I SANTA CLARITA BUSINESS PARK GOLDEN VALLEY ROAD EXTENSION TR. 42670-01 Road z ' ✓•'Tq G T.T. 51599 PORTA BELLA LEGEND Tract Boundary Slope FILE: e:142670142670.apr (Overall) 12/31/97 FIGURE vle Via Princessa 1.2 mites i rRi� Antelope y Valley Fury 3.5 miles Placerita Canyon RQ. 1.5 miles //[ A N 500 0 500 Feet