REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL September 22, 2016 FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department THROUGH: ANDREW J. BENELLI, PE, City Engineer/Assistant Director Public Works Department, Traffic and Engineering Services Division JILL GORMLEY, TE, City Traffic Engineer/Division Manager Public Works Department, Traffic and Engineering Services Division BY: JASON A. CAMIT, PLS, Chief Surveyor Public Works Department, Traffic and Engineering Services Division SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to Resolution of Intention No. 1108-D to vacate a portion of San Benito Street between the "F"-"G" alley and "G" Street, and the "F"-"G" alley between Santa Clara and San Benito Streets. (Council District 3). 1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Environmental Assessment No. EA-16-016. 2. Adopt the attached Resolution of Intention No. 1108-D to vacate a portion of San Benito Street between the "F"-"G" alley and "G" Street, and the "F"-"G" alley between Santa Clara and San Benito Streets. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council: 1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff determination, pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Environmental Assessment No. EA-16-016. 2. Adopt the attached Resolution of Intention No. 1108-D to vacate a portion of San Benito Street between the "F"-"G" alley and "G" Street, and the "F"-"G" alley between Santa Clara and San Benito Streets., and set the required hearing at 10:00 a.m. on October 13, 2016. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Fresno Rescue Mission and the Poverello House are requesting the vacation of a portion of San Benito Street between the "F"-"G" alley and "G" Street, and the "F"-"G" alley between Santa Clara and San Benito Streets as shown on Exhibit "A" of the attached Resolution of Intention. The proposed vacation is to accommodate the future relocation of a portion of the Rescue Mission's facilities due to High Speed Rail construction. No site plan has been submitted to date. BACKGROUND The area being proposed for vacation is to accommodate the future relocation of a portion of the Rescue Mission's facilities due to High Speed Rail construction. There are several existing utilities within the area being proposed for vacation. A public utility easement will be reserved over the entire area proposed for vacation. The public street and alley right-of-way easement being vacated is shown on Exhibit "A" of the attached Resolution of Intention. The right-of-way is described as that portion San Benito Street which is 80 foot wide and the 20 foot wide "F"-"G" ally as dedicated by the map of the Town of Fresno in Book 1 of Plats at Page 7, Fresno County Records. The Traffic and Engineering Services Division, other City departments and utility agencies have reviewed the proposed vacation and determined that the portion right-of-way easement proposed for vacation is unnecessary for present or prospective public street purposes as shown in Exhibit "A" of the attached Resolution of Intent, subject to the reservation of a public utility easement over the entire area proposed for vacation. City Attorney has approved the attached Resolution of Intention as to form. The vacation, if approved by the Council at the public hearing, will become effective when the vacating resolution is recorded in the office of the Fresno County Recorder, but not until the City Engineer determines that the conditions listed in the attached resolution have been satisfied and accepted by the City. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This project is exempt under Sections 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Environmental Assessment No. EA-16-016. Under the Section 15301/Class 1 exemption, the minor alteration of existing public facilities, such as streets, sidewalks, etc., involving no expansion of use beyond that existing at this time, are exempt from CEQA requirements. The vacation will remove unusable sidewalks and return the property's maintenance over to the adjoining private property owners. The proposed vacation of the above-described land meets the criteria noted above. No significant effects would occur as a result of the proposed project. Therefore, the above described project complies with the conditions described in Section 15301/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines. None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project. LOCAL PREFERENCE Not applicable because the vacation of public right-of-way does not involve bidding or contracting. FISCAL IMPACT There will be no City funds involved with this vacation. The adjacent property owners have paid all processing fees to cover staff cost in accordance with the Master Fee Schedule. Attachment: Vicinity Map EA-16-016 Resolution of Intent No. 1108-D