City Council
MEETING DATE: 11/12/2014
TITLE:
Title
Road Maintenance Agreement - Messenger Annexation
End
FROM:
Leisa Lukes, Economic Development Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Road Maintenance Agreement with Riverside County for the North City Extended annexation area.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On September 25, 2014, the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approved the annexation application submitted by Mr. Bill Messenger for annexation of the North City Extended Specific Plan (NCESP) area to the City. The approval is subject to several terms and conditions that must be completed prior to recordation of the annexation Certificate of Completion. These terms and conditions require that the City: 1) Enter into an agreement with the County to assume responsibility for maintenance of the full width of Varner Road within the annexation area; 2) Assume responsibility for maintenance of the decorative features on the Bob Hope overcrossing structure within the annexation area; and 3) Secure an easement for, and maintain, the temporary detention basin adjacent to the intersection of Varner Road and Rio Del Sol/Bob Hope Drive.
A draft Agreement for Provision of Road Maintenance has been prepared through a cooperative effort between City and County staff.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed Agreement between the City and County for the provision of road maintenance sets forth the provisions for City maintenance of approximately 2.6 miles of Varner Road located generally west of Rio Del Sol Road and generally east of DaVall Drive, including that which is within City jurisdiction and that which remains within unincorporated County jurisdiction post annexation. In so doing, the potential inefficient maintenance pattern resulting from a staggered ownership between the City and the County for the subject portion of Varner Road would not occur.
The northern half of the Bob Hope Drive and Interstate 10 interchange that is within the City jurisdiction as a result of the annexation contains aesthetic features, including intricate bridge fencing and decorative colored patterns on concrete features on both the northern and southern half of the interchange. These are currently maintained by the County through a maintenance agreement with Caltrans and a funding agreement with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. For efficiency purposes, the proposed Agreement specifies that the County will retain responsibility for maintenance of these decorative features within the boundaries of the annexation area due to the funding agreement that the County already has with the Tribe. This will prevent bifurcation of any claims for reimbursement and will satisfy the intent of the LAFCO condition for maintenance of the aesthetic features within the annexation area.
The condition that the City secure and maintain the temporary detention basin at the intersection of Varner Road and Rio Del Sol Road is not necessary to include in the Agreement as its transfer from the County to the City is covered through the provisions of Gov. Code Section 57329. This Section specifically addresses the transfer of streets and highways during the annexation process. However, the definition of "highways" in the California Streets and Highways Code (which is included by reference to Streets and Highways Code Section 941 by Section 57329) includes "drains" and all works incidental to highway improvement. Therefore, the detention basin/easement will transfer automatically from the County to the City upon annexation. County staff is currently remediating this detention basin as it was significantly impacted during recent rainstorms.
NEXT STEPS
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors will consider the proposed Agreement on November 25, 2014. The Board will also consider the First Amendment to the Fire Service Agreement for provision of fire services in the North City Extended annexation area at that same meeting.
Pending approval of both the amended Fire Service Agreement and the Maintenance Agreement, LAFCO staff will perform the administrative action of conducting the required Protest Hearing on December 11. Subsequent to these actions, the Certificate of Completion will be filed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Upon annexation, maintenance costs will initially be funded out of the City's existing Street Maintenance budget to include General Fund, Measure A, and Gas Tax.
ATTACHMENTS:
Draft Agreement for Provision of Road Maintenance