REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL June 8, 2017 FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department BY: ANDREW J. BENELLI, PE, City Engineer/Assistant Director Public Works Department, Traffic and Engineering Services Division RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Deputy City Engineer/Division Manager Public Works Department, Traffic and Engineering Services Division JASON A. CAMIT, PLS, Chief Surveyor Public Works Department, Traffic and Engineering Services Division SUBJECT ..Title HEARING - Regarding the vacation of a portion North Doolittle Drive, north of West Herndon Avenue. (Council District 2) 1. RESOLUTION - Ordering the vacation of a portion North Doolittle Drive, north of West Herndon Avenue. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council conduct the required public hearing and at the close of the hearing, adopt the attached resolution ordering the vacation of a portion North Doolittle Drive, north of West Herndon Avenue as described in Exhibit "A" and as shown on Exhibit "B" of the attached resolution. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On May 18, 2017, the City Council of the City of Fresno ("Council") adopted Resolution of Intent No. 1117-D to vacate a portion North Doolittle Drive, north of West Herndon Avenue as described in Exhibit "A" and as shown on Exhibit "B", reserve a public utility easement over the entire area proposed for vacation, and reserve an easement for a multipurpose trail as described in Exhibit "C" and as shown on Exhibit "D" of the attached Resolution of Intention. This is the noticed public hearing for this public street vacation to accommodate a public street improvement project for West Herndon Avenue. BACKGROUND The proposed vacation of a portion of North Doolittle Drive and reservation of a multipurpose trail easement is part of the Herndon Avenue Westbound Widening Project. This project includes replacing existing traffic signal loops, rehabilitation of pavement, repairing ramps to meet current standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and replacing some median island landscaping with drought-tolerant smaller shrubs and trees more compatible with the nearby Sierra Sky Park. In addition, the project will involve acquiring strips of land and vacating a portion of North Doolittle Drive to infill a missing segment of a multi-purpose trail, construction of that trail, and rehabilitation of the existing multipurpose trail segment on the north side of West Herndon Avenue. The project includes the closure of the existing right-in, right-out Doolittle Drive connection to Herndon Avenue, consistent with the expressway designation of Herndon Avenue in the City of Fresno 2035 General Plan. A portion of the public street right-of-way proposed for vacation was dedicated by the Sierra Sky-Park map recorded in Volume 13, of Plats at Page 27, Fresno County Records. An additional portion of North Doolittle Drive to be vacated includes a portion of two areas dedicated by separate deeds. The first is a deed of easement for public street purposes, recorded August 18, 1967, as Document No. 55870, in Book 5471, at Page 723, Official Records Fresno County. The second is a grant deed, acquired in fee by Document No. 48955 on June 29, 1966 in Book 5331, at Page 11, Official Records Fresno County. 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 proposed for vacation is unnecessary for present or prospective public street purposes as described in Exhibit "A" and as shown in Exhibit "B" of the attached Resolution of Intent, subject to the reservation of a public utility easement over the entire area to be vacated, and also reserving a multipurpose trail easement, as described in Exhibit "C" and as shown in Exhibit "B" of the attached Resolution of Intent. This action is being taken pursuant to the provisions of the Public Streets, Highways, and Service Easements Vacation Law (California Streets and Highways Code Sections 8300-8363). On May 18 , 2017, the Council adopted Resolution of Intention No. 1117-D, setting the time and place for the public hearing at 10:05 a.m. on June 8, 2017, in the Council Chambers at Fresno City Hall. The public hearing has been duly noticed in accordance with the Public Streets, Highways, and Service Easements Vacation Law. The City Attorney's Office has approved the attached resolution 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. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This project is exempt under Sections 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Environmental Assessment No. EA-15-028. 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 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 Local preference does not apply because the vacation of public right-of-way does not involve bidding or contracting. FISCAL IMPACT This $1.1 million project in District 2 is being funded by a combination of Federal Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) funds, Measure "C" Tier 1 regional transportation funds, Measure "C" Trails and Citywide Regional Street Impact Fees. Attachments: Vicinity Map Resolution