Title
Supervisor Thomas recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Accept the donation of a sculpture in accordance with California Government Code, Section 25355, valued at approximately $50,000, to be placed in the roundabout in Camino at Pondorado and Carson Road;
2) Waive the Department of Transportation Utility Right of Way Encroachment Permit fees for the installation by Doug Veerkamp General Engineering, Inc. for the Camino roundabout sculpture; and
3) Approve and adopt the plan for the Pondorado Road Roundabout Monument and authorize the Chair to sign the plan.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
California Government Code, Section 25355 states, “The board may accept or reject any gift, bequest, or devise made to or in favor of the county, or to or in favor of the board in trust for any public purpose. The board may delegate to any county officer or employee the power to accept any gift, bequest, or devise made to or in favor of the county. The officer or employee shall file with the board each quarter a report that describes the source and value of each gift valued in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or any other amount as determined by the board. The board may hold and dispose of the property and the income and increase thereof for those lawful uses and purposes as are prescribed in the terms of the gift, bequest, or devise. In accounting for or inventorying gifts, bequests, or devises, the officer or employee shall follow the appropriate procedures contained in the State Controller’s manual entitled “Accounting Standards and Procedures for Counties.”
In 2020, CalTrans started the Camino Safety Project. One of the improvements was an undercrossing to provide traffic access from one side of the highway to the other and a roundabout was constructed to help with the flow of traffic. The benefit of the Camino Safety Project is that it has provided a critical safety improvement to a dangerous corridor. The downside is that it left an unadorned roundabout in the gateway to the Camino/Fruitridge Ag District which is a significant economic attraction for El Dorado County.
Approximately one year ago, local acclaimed artist, Terrie Bennett, approached Supervisor Thomas with an idea to beautify the area around the roundabout. Supervisor Thomas supported the idea and pulled together a small group of community members to develop and fund the project. Following a public engagement process, Terrie designed a sculpture based on community feedback. The sculpture, made of corten steel, will have four panels that reflect what the community loves about this unique and unparalleled agricultural region, all set in the framework of an iconic apple:
• PEAR PANEL: Represents the history of the region growing pears, ahead of the pear blight. The apple trees behind it represent what came after when the region became known as Apple Hill™.
• WINE/VINEYARD PANEL: Represents the many vineyards and wineries that have grown our area into the rich wine region it is today.
• MILL PANEL: Mill panel represents the logging history of the region which was responsible for much infrastructure and population to move into Camino. The Pino Grande is presented which brought logs and people across Slab Creek from the Divide to be milled.
• HARVEST PANEL: Represents the rich and abundant agricultural community that surrounds us. Christmas tree farms are represented, along with a tribute to the Miwok & Nisenan tribes that farmed this land before settlers arrived.
This community beautification sculpture has been privately funded by the community, with Arts and Culture El Dorado as the fiscal sponsor and project manager. Additionally, we have partnered with students from the El Dorado High School Natural Resource program in Camino to design and landscape the roundabout, which will occur in the next phase of the project.
The Department of Transportation is assisting with the Pondorado Road Roundabout Monument foundation plan and permit for this project. Supervisor Thomas is requesting a waiver of fees for the Utility Right of Way Encroachment Permit for the installation.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve accepting the donation of the sculpture and waiver of fees which would result in no community beautification to the Ponderado roundabout.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Department of Transportation
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to net County cost associated with this agenda item. The Department of Transportation staff’s hours for this plan and inspection effort are covered under the US50 Camino Safety, and Pondorado Road Extension Capital Improvement projects.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk will obtain the Chair's signature on the plan sheet for the slab foundation.
2) The Clerk will forward the original signed plan sheet to Transportation, Fairlane Engineering, attention Shanann Findley.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Infrastructure
CONTACT
Supervisor Wendy Thomas