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Department of Transportation recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign the Landscape Maintenance Agreement 03 - ED 50, PM 1.50 - PM 2.50 with the State of California Department of Transportation for maintenance of landscaping to be performed as mitigation for the U.S. Highway 50/ Silva Valley Parkway Interchange - Phase 1 Landscape Project, CIP 36104003. (District 1)
FUNDING: Traffic Impact Fee - Silva Valley Interchange Set Aside Zone 8. (No Federal Funds)
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In 2011, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors adopted the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Silva Valley Parkway Interchange Project (Project) (Legistar# 11-0709). The document identified the improvements, impacts, and mitigation measures for the Project. Among these mitigation measures is the requirement to provide modest native landscaping and restore areas of oak woodland and stream side riparian habitat. Subsequent to the approval of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), multiple phases of the Project have been constructed to meet the transportation needs of the community, with the landscape and habitat restoration still to be completed.
This Landscape Management Agreement (LMA) defines the roles and responsibilities of both the County and Caltrans for the establishment and maintenance of the landscape and habitat restoration. Caltrans policy requires the execution of an LMA before Caltrans will issue the County an encroachment permit that will allow the County to put the Project out to bid. The specific details and obligations are contained in the LMA; however, the general terms of the LMA are for the County to install small areas of landscaping, perform habitat restoration, and maintain it fully in perpetuity. The landscaping and restoration is intended to revert to a natural landscape environment with minimal maintenance effort after the establishment period.
ALTERNATIVES
County staff has negotiated at length with Caltrans and b...
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