To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency, and Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency County of Sonoma Transportation and Public Works Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Anjenette Hayre / 521-1830 and Stevan Hunter / 565-4927
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Wohler Bridge at the Russian River Project
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency's General Manager and the Director of County of Sonoma Transportation and Public Works to execute an agreement for County of Sonoma Transportation and Public Works Department to Include Fiber Optic Improvements in the County’s contract plans for the construction of the Wohler Road Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project, in form approved by County Counsel, for either full reimbursement from the State of California or for an estimated amount of $90,000 in the event of no reimbursement.
B) Consider the granting of an easement to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company across a portion of Sonoma County Water Agency property to facilitate construction of the Project.
(Fifth District)
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Executive Summary:
The County of Sonoma Transportation and Public Works Department (County) is retrofitting the Wohler Road Bridge over Russian River in Forestville to meet current seismic code requirements. The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) has fiber optic cable, appurtenances and facilities attached to the Wohler Road Bridge. The fiber equipment is in conflict with the proposed retrofit improvements project. The County has agreed to include the Fiber Optic Improvements in its construction project as shown on the County of Sonoma Transportation and Public Works Department contract plans. To minimize construction impacts to the public, reduce costs, and avoid construction conflicts and delays with the County’s construction project, the departments wish to coordinate efforts and include the replacement work in the County’s construction project. County has also requested Sonoma Water to grant an easement to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to facilitate relocation of an existing PG&E overhead power line. As Sonoma Water’s enabling legislation requires that no easement be granted without being considered at not less than two regularly scheduled Board meetings, this Board action can be considered the Board’s first consideration of the granting of the easement. If the Board agrees to the granting of the easement, staff will return to the Board at a future scheduled Board meeting for further consideration and authorization to execute the easement.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
The County of Sonoma Transportation and Public Works (County) is in the process of retrofitting the Wohler Road Bridge over the Russian River Project (Project) in Forestville to improve structural stability of the bridge during an earthquake.
The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) has fiber optic cable, appurtenances and facilities attached to the Wohler Road Bridge. The fiber equipment is in conflict with the proposed retrofit improvements project. To minimize construction impacts to the public, reduce costs, and avoid construction conflicts and delays with the project, the County and Sonoma Water wish to coordinate efforts and include the replacement work in the County’s construction project.
The work consists of abandoning existing conduit mounted on the Wohler Bridge and rerouting fiber optic equipment. Work includes, but is not limited to, excavation, removal of a pull box, and installation of fiber optic cable, conduits, termination box, mounting brackets and appurtenances.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed agreement, the County will include the scope of work in the Sonoma Transportation and Public Works Department Wohler Bridge at the Russian River Project construction contract plans.
UTILITY AGREEMENT
The utility agreement will provide for full cost recovery of services rendered. Cost recovery will be either via reimbursement from the State of California (Caltrans) should pending discussions with Caltrans succeed, or through reimbursement from Sonoma Water in an amount estimated to be $90,000. Depending on determination of whether Caltrans will reimburse the relocation expenses, an appropriate utility agreement form (based on Caltrans standard forms) will be executed.
PG&E EASEMENT
Construction of the County’s project requires the relocation of existing overhead PG&E power lines. Relocation of the power lines will require clearing of the property underneath the power lines of trees and vegetation. Sonoma Water staff has determined that the grant of easement would not adversely affect Sonoma Water. Staff has also determined that the value of the easement is transactional and the value shall be the cost to Sonoma Water to complete the transaction. Sonoma Water’s enabling legislation requires that any grant of easement from Sonoma Water be considered at no less than two regularly scheduled Board meetings before being granted and that the easement must be granted to a private entity for adequate compensation. Subject to PG&E’s approval to the revisions to the easement required by County Counsel and reimbursement of Sonoma Water’s cost to process the easement, staff will return this item to the Board at the next scheduled Board meeting for additional consideration and for delegation of authority to Sonoma Water’s General Manager to execute the easement in substantially the form provided to this Board following approval from County Counsel to form.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
The Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department (Permit Sonoma) has completed environmental analysis in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Project. Permit Sonoma prepared an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND), which addresses the potential impacts related to the Project and measures to mitigate adverse effects of the Project. Permit Sonoma filed a Notice of Determination for the Project on November 24, 2014. The proposed relocations of the fiber optics and the existing power lines are minor, unsubstantial additions consistent with the approved Project and will have minimal, if any, environmental effects or impact on effects previously examined for the Project.
Sonoma Water has prepared a Notice of Determination in accordance with CEQA, the State CEQA Guidelines, and the Agency’s Procedures for the Implementation of CEQA. As a Responsible Agency under CEQA, Sonoma Water staff considered the MND as prepared by Permit Sonoma. With the incorporation of the mitigation measures identified in the MND, the Project would not have an adverse impact upon the environment. Granting of the easement will not adversely affect Sonoma Water’s ability to carry out its water supply responsibilities and will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend that the Board authorize Sonoma Water's General Manager and the Director of County of Sonoma Transportation and Public Works to enter into an agreement to coordinate efforts and include the fiber optic work in the County’s Wohler Bridge at the Russian River Project.
Prior Board Actions:
7/10/2018: Board approved Second Amendment to the agreement with Drake Haglan and Associates
5/24/2016: Board approved First Amendment to the agreement with Drake Haglan and Associates
9/24/2013: Board approved agreement with Drake Haglan and Associates for engineering design work
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$90,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$90,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
$90,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$90,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $90,000 is available from FY 2019/2020 appropriations to Sonoma Water for the Water Transmission Fund for the Utility Agreement. No additional appropriation is required. All costs to process the PG&E easement to include the value of the easement will be reimbursed to Sonoma Water from the County. The cost to procure this easement is expected to be covered as a project expense, reimbursable through Federal Highway Administration.
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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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N/A |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Draft Utility Agreement
Draft PG&E Easement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.