To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency, Russian River County Sanitation District
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency, Russian River County Sanitation District
Staff Name and Phone Number: Brad Sherwood 707-547-1900, Sandra Mota / 707-293-5199
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Second and Fifth
Title:
Title
Approve Grant of Easements to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and to the City of Petaluma for Access and Utility Rights
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Determine that the proposed easement agreements granting perpetual property rights to the City of Petaluma and Pacific Gas and Electric Company will not adversely affect Sonoma County Water Agency or the Russian River County Sanitation District; and
B) Determine that the conveyance is in the public’s interest, and that the interest in land conveyed will not substantially conflict or interfere with the use of the property; and
C) Determine that the approval of the easement agreements for the City of Petaluma’s Lynch Creek Multi-Use Trail/Crosstown Connector Project, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s placement of a push brace pole will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment; and
D) Authorize and delegate authority to the General Manager of Sonoma County Water Agency to execute easement agreements with the City of Petaluma, and with PG&E, along with any other related documents necessary to complete the transaction, in a form approved by County Counsel.
(Second and Fifth District) (4/5th Vote Requirement)
end
Executive Summary:
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has requested a perpetual, non-exclusive easement to install a push brace pole on a portion of Russian River County Sanitation District (District)-owned land at 17484 Riverside Drive, Guerneville (Assessor Parcel Number [A.P.N.] 072-200-075). The pole would provide lateral support to PG&E's existing infrastructure on adjacent land.
The City of Petaluma (City) has requested a perpetual, non-exclusive easement on a portion of Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water)-owned land at the confluence of Payran Street and the Petaluma River (A.P.N.s 136-100-028 and 136-100-041) to improve and maintain a portion of the City’s existing Lynch Creek Multi-Use Trail that lies outside the City’s current easement.
This item requests that the Board of Directors (Board) approve the proposed easements on the District and Sonoma Water land described above and delegate authority to the Sonoma Water General Manager to execute the easement agreements and any related documents needed to complete the conveyances, in a form approved by County Counsel.
Discussion:
Authority: California Government Code § 25526.6 provides that the Board may authorize a grant of easement to any public agency or public utility corporation upon a finding by the Board that the conveyance is in the public interest and that the interest in land conveyed will not substantially conflict or interfere with the use of the property.
Easement to PG&E:
Sonoma Water manages and operates a District-owned sanitation facility at 17484 Riverside Drive, Guerneville (A.P.N. 072-200-075). PG&E has requested the District execute an easement agreement which would allow PG&E use of approximately 105 square feet of the property to place a push brace pole and to excavate, construct, reconstruct, replace, remove, and maintain related PG&E appurtenances. The easement would allow PG&E to meet the County of Sonoma permit requirements for placing the push brace pole.
Easement to City of Petaluma:
Sonoma Water owns portions of Lynch Creek and Washington Creek at their confluence with the Petaluma River and also maintains the Washington Creek portion. Both creek segments provide flood protection within the City.
As part of the City's current project to revitalize the Lynch Creek Multi-Use Trail, an existing public trail on Sonoma Water property, the City found that a portion of the trail lies outside the boundary of the easement Sonoma Water granted to the City in 1997. The City therefore requests that Sonoma Water execute an agreement granting the City a perpetual, non-exclusive easement over this portion of the trail on Sonoma Water land. The easement would allow the City to lay down, construct, reconstruct, remove, replace, repair, maintain, and operate the existing public use trail in its entirety.
The City’s current project will replace the existing asphalt surface with concrete and update lighting, signage, and fencing. It will also install pedestrian-scale lighting and the related electrical infrastructure along portions of the trail. All work will stay within the existing trail footprint and will not expand the trail's current use or alignment. The goal is to make the trail safer, more accessible, and more usable for the public.
Review:
Sonoma Water staff have reviewed the Project plans outlined above and determined that granting easements for these individual projects is in the public interest, and that the interest in land conveyed will not substantially conflict or interfere with Sonoma Water’s use of the property. The City and PG&E understand and agree that any improvements constructed as part of their respective projects will be considered their sole property, and they shall be solely responsible for the maintenance of those improvements within the easement areas at their own cost and expense.
General Plan Consistency:
In accordance with Section 65402 of California Government Code, Sonoma Water requested the City of Petaluma Planning Division to determine whether the granting of an easement to City would conform with their General Plan for the project locations. As the City of Petaluma Planning Division did not respond within 40 days to the request, per Section 65402 of the California Government Code, the granting of the easement by this Board is deemed to be in conformance with their General Plan.
In accordance with Section 65402 of California Government Code, Sonoma Water requested that Sonoma’s County Planning Division determine whether the granting of an easement to PG&E would conform with their General Plan for the project locations. As Sonoma County’s Planning Division did not respond within 40 days to the request, per Section 65402 of the California Government Code, the granting of the easement by this Board is deemed to be in conformance with their General Plan.
California Environmental Quality Act
Easement to PG&E:
The Sonoma Water’s General Manager (also the District’s General Manger) has determined that the grant of easement is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(b), Existing Facilities, and 15303(d), New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, because the easement to construct and maintain a brace pole and appurtenances to support an existing utility pole is a minor modification of an existing utility facility involving negligible or no expansion of use. The project would not impact a scenic or historical resource or degrade the quality of the environment and would not result in any significant or cumulative adverse effect upon the environment. Staff prepared a Notice of Exemption in accordance with CEQA, the State CEQA Guidelines, and Sonoma Water’s Compliance Procedures for CEQA.
Easement to City of Petaluma:
The City has completed documentation in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for its project. A Notice of Exemption was prepared, the project was approved on September 14, 2026, and the City filed a Notice of Exemption on September 15, 2026. Sonoma Water, as responsible agency under CEQA, relies on the City’s CEQA Lead Agency findings pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.1(a).
Consideration:
City of Petaluma
Sonoma Water and the City have mutually agreed to grant easements between parties for similar projects without consideration to assist in processing the conveyance of property rights needed for one another’s projects.
PG&E
District has determined that the value of the easement is nominal, and reimbursement of District’s staff time and other related costs to process the easement is adequate consideration. PG&E has agreed to reimburse District for its costs to process the easement.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
None.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$18,564 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$18,564 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
$18,564 |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$18,564 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Easement to City of Petaluma:
Budgeted amount of $16,969 is available from FY 2026/2027 appropriations from the Sonoma Water General Fund. $8,031 was expended in FY 2025/2026. Sonoma Water and City of Petaluma have mutually agreed to grant easements between parties for similar projects without acquisition costs to assist in processing the conveyance of property rights needed for one another’s projects. Cost to Sonoma Water in staff time is estimated at $25,000, including administrative costs for the Board agenda items incurred in FY 2026/2027. No additional appropriation is required.
Easement to PG&E:
Budgeted amount of $1,595 is available from FY 2026/2027 appropriations from the Sonoma Water General Fund. $3,405 was expended in FY2025/2026. PG&E will deposit payment of $5,000 to offset the cost of staff time for this item estimated at $5,000. No additional appropriation is required.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - PG&E Easement Map
Attachment 2 - City of Petaluma Easement Map
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
ONFILE Draft City of Petaluma Easement Agreement
ONFILE Draft PG&E Easement Agreement