To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Transportation and Public Works
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2231
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Resolution Of The Board Of Supervisors Of The County Of Sonoma, State Of California, Taking Jurisdiction Over The Proposed Monte Rio Bridge Project Environmental Impact Report
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve a Resolution to Take Jurisdiction Over The Proposed Monte Rio Bridge Project Environmental Impact Report (Fifth District)
end
Executive Summary:
The Department of Transportation and Public Works (“TPW”) has proposed the replacement of the existing Monte Rio Road Bridge (Bridge No. 20C0018) with a new bridge built to meet current design, safety, and environmental standards. The existing bridge is a designated County Landmark, which requires an Environmental Impact Report ("EIR") for its replacement. In order to maintain the project schedule and meet federal funding deadlines, TPW requests the Board expedite the project by assuming jurisdiction over review of the project’s EIR.
Discussion:
Replacement of the existing structurally-deficient, two-lane Monte Rio Road Bridge with a new two lane bridge built to meet current design standards is in the preliminary engineering, design, and environmental review phase. Because the existing Monte Rio Bridge is a designated County Landmark, preparation of an Environmental Impact Report ("EIR") is required for the replacement project under the California Environmental Quality Act. Currently, the engineering design consultant, Biggs Cardosa and Associates is working with the Permit and Resource Management Department (“Permit Sonoma”) on preparing the Project EIR in accordance with the County and State CEQA procedures and guidelines.
In addition, since 2018, TPW has conducted extensive community outreach and engagement to obtain public input on bridge alignment, type, appearance, and other design factors. Efforts have included a digital survey and a series of public workshops. TPW and Permit Sonoma have also presented the Project to the Sonoma County Landmarks Commission and the Sonoma County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee ("BPAC"). After careful review, both organizations have recommended moving forward with the Project as currently proposed.
In conjunction with the design efforts outlined above, TPW has also obtained federal funding under the Federal Highway Bridge Program and entered into a Cooperative Work Agreement (CWA) with the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The Federal Highway Bridge Program is administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and includes strict timelines in order to maintain eligibility for Federal funding. Currently, Caltrans is requiring completion of preliminary engineering, design, and environmental review by September 2022, and funding for the project could be lost if the County does not meet this deadline.
The County Code requires that an EIR be reviewed by the Sonoma County Planning Commission before coming to the Board of Supervisors for certification and approval. However, Sonoma County Code section 23A-23 also allows for public project environmental reviews to be designated and directed, by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, to a public body other than the Planning Commission. Upon such a resolution, the designated public body takes jurisdiction over environmental review and related public hearings for the project. The Resolution proposed in this Item designates the Board of Supervisors as the body with jurisdiction for environmental review of the Monte Rio replacement bridge project. This will streamline the process and the expedited review will allow TPW to keep this important bridge replacement project on schedule and not jeopardize the federal funding.
TPW and Permit Sonoma plan to return to the Board in the Spring of 2022 for the first public hearing of the Environmental Impact Report. If the Board does not approve the Resolution, the deadlines set for federal funding for this Project may be missed, putting grant funding in jeopardy. Loss of federal grant funding would result in project cancellation and potentially require the return of all Federal Highway Bridge funds received for the project to date. In such an event, the bridge would not be replaced.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly support the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 3: Continue to invest in critical road, bridge, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure.
Objective: Objective 4: Identify and retrofit bridges in County that are at high risk for damage during earthquakes.
Prior Board Actions:
10/24/17, award an engineering design contract to Biggs Cardosa and Associates.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Expenditures for this project have been programmed into the fiscal year 2021-22 Roads Capital budget (11051-34010103) and TPW does not anticipate any material financial impact resulting from approval of the recommended Board Resolution. No additional appropriations are requested at this time.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.