To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Kevin Campbell 547-1921
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Wohler Bridge at the Russian River Project - Grant of PG&E Easement
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Consideration of granting and authorizing Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to grant an easement to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company across a portion of Sonoma County Water Agency property to facilitate retrofitting the Wohler Road Bridge over the Russian River Project (Project) in Forestville to improve structural stability of the bridge during an earthquake.
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Executive Summary:
The County of Sonoma Department of Transportation and Public Works (County) is retrofitting the Wohler Road Bridge over Russian River in Forestville to meet current seismic code requirements. County has also requested Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) grant an easement to 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 as the Board’s second consideration of the granting of the easement. As the granting of the easement was considered by the Board at their August 6, 2019 Board Meeting, the Board can consider and authorize the General Manager to execute the easement.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
The County of Sonoma Department of 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.
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. The granting of the easement was considered by the Board at the Board’s August 6, 2019 Board Meeting. PG&E approved to the revisions to the easement required by County Counsel and Sonoma Water is being reimbursed Sonoma Water’s cost to process the easement. This item is being returned to the Board for its 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.
The grant of easement has been determined to be consistent with Sonoma County’s General Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend that the Board authorize Sonoma Water’s General Manager to grant an easement to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company across a portion of Sonoma County Water Agency property to facilitate retrofitting the Wohler Road Bridge over the Russian River Project in Forestville to improve structural stability of the bridge during an earthquake.
Prior Board Actions:
08/06/2019: Board authorized execution of Utility Agreement between Sonoma Water and County of Sonoma and considered the granting of easement to PG&E.
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.
Fiscal Summary
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FY 19-20 Adopted |
FY20-21 Projected |
FY 21-22 Projected |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Fiscal Year 2019/2020 budget appropriations in the amount of $10,000 to process the PG&E easement including the value of the easement were included in the Board’s first consideration of the granting of the easement (Board Item 11 on 8/6/2019). There is no additional fiscal impact. Easement costs will be reimbursed to Sonoma Water by the County.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
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Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
PG&E Easement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.