REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF FRESNO AND THE FRESNO REVITALIZATION CORPORATION FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department MARLENE MURPHEY, Executive Director Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency BY: JILL M. GORMLEY, TE, Assistant Director Public Works Department, Traffic & Engineering Services Division JASON A. CAMIT, PLS, Chief Surveyor Public Works Department, Traffic & Engineering Services Division SUBJECT ..Title Actions by the Successor Agency to the Fresno Redevelopment Agency pertaining to the dedication of a portion of property owned by the Successor Agency to the Fresno Redevelopment Agency for the purpose of a public street easement on a portion previously vacated Santa Clara Street, between O Street and N Street: (Council District 3) 1. Adopt a finding of Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per staff determination, pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, Environmental Assessment Number 10429; 2. RESOLUTION - Dedicating a portion of Successor Agency-owned property for the purpose of a public street easement on a portion previously vacated Santa Clara Street, between O Street and N Street. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council adopt a finding of Exemption from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) "Common Sense Exemption" and adopt a resolution dedicating a portion of City-owned property for the purpose of a public street easement on a portion previously vacated Santa Clara Street, between O Street and N Street. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fresno is requesting the dedication of a portion of City-owned property for the purpose of a public street easement on a portion of previously vacated Santa Clara Street, between O Street and N Street. The purpose of this easement is to rededicate a portion of Santa Clara Street that was previously vacated. This portion of Santa Clara was never closed to traffic and functions today as a public street. BACKGROUND This portion of Santa Clara Street was originally dedicated by the Map of Town of Fresno record June 8, 1876. It has functioned as a public street since that date. On February 13, 2004, the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fresno vacated this portion of Santa Clara Street to provide a clear development site for a 9.72 acre commercial and mixed-use development by Old Armenian Town, LLC. The full development of this project never materialized. This portion of Santa Clara Street was vacated but it still functions as a public street. The Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fresno owns this land and a portion of the agency parcels. The Agency would now like to dispose of their adjacent parcels. The Agency would first like to rededicate this portion of public street to allow their parcels to be more marketable and return this portion of Santa Clara Street to the public for street purposes. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS CEQA Guidelines 15061(b)(3) states that the project is exempt from CEQA if it is "covered by the common sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA." CEQA Guidelines Section 15382 defines a "significant effect on the environment" as a "substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse change in any of the physical conditions within the area affected by the project including land, air, water, minerals, flora, fauna, ambient noise, and objects of historic of aesthetic significance." The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fresno (now the Successor Agency) has owned this portion of land since 2004. The Agency has allowed the public to use this portion of their land for a public street since they acquired it. There will be no new construction or development. This street will remain as it is today. The project will convert this land to a public street right of way and nothing more. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference does not apply because the dedication of public street does not involve bidding or contracting. FISCAL IMPACT This project is located in Council District 3 and will have no impact to the General Fund. Attachments: Vicinity Map EA 10429 Resolution