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Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign the Landscape Maintenance Agreement ED 50 PM 14.2-15.6 with the State of California Department of Transportation for maintenance of landscaping and oak woodland and riparian habitat restoration, to be performed as mitigation for the U.S. Highway 50/Missouri Flat Road Interchange Improvements-Phase 1C Riparian Restoration Project, CIP 71346.
FUNDING: Missouri Flat Area Master Circulation and Funding Plan / Road Fund.
The landscaping and habitat restoration will be constructed and maintained for a 5-year establishment period utilizing Missouri Flat Area Master Circulation and Funding Plan funds. Upon the completion of the 5-year establishment period, the ongoing maintenance will be provided by the Road Fund.
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division (Transportation), recommending the Board authorize the Chair to sign the Landscape Maintenance Agreement ED 50 PM 14.2-15.6 (LMA) with the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), for maintenance of landscaping and oak woodland and riparian habitat restoration, to be performed as mitigation for the U.S. Highway 50 (US 50)/Missouri Flat Road Interchange Improvements-Phase 1C Riparian Restoration Project, CIP 71346 (Project).
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In 2004 the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors certified the US 50/Missouri Flat Road Interchange Environmental Impact Report (EIR). 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 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 LMA defines the roles and responsibilities of both the County and Caltrans for the establishment and maintenance of the landscape and habitat restoration. Entering into an LMA is a prerequisite to performing the work. The specific details and obligations are contained in the LMA; however, the general terms of the Agreement are for the County to install the landscaping, perform the habitat restoration and maintain it fully for a 5-year establishment period. At the completion of the 5-year establishment period, Caltrans will assume responsibility for maintenance of portions of the habitat while the County will assume maintenance of portions of the restoration and the bulk of the landscape generally consisting of weed abatement, litter removal, and removal of dead plants or hazards. 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 believes the terms of the LMA are reasonable, consistent with the intent of the Project and conform to the Caltrans policy for the maintenance of the facilities. As the landscape and habitat restoration is a mitigation measure for the Project, there are limited options available to the County to do less; however, there are options to do more should there be a desire and funding identified.
1) Should the County choose not to enter into an LMA, the requisite mitigation could not be completed. Under such a circumstance, alternative measures such as off-site mitigation, or other options would require amendments to the existing environmental document and resource agency permits and likely prove to be more costly.
2) The County could choose to perform additional Enhanced Landscaping to improve the aesthetics of the interchange, the maintenance cost of which would be increased beyond the current minimal amount required.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Caltrans
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding for the initial installation of landscaping and habitat restoration, along with the subsequent 5-year establishment period, is estimated to be approximately $1.5 million, to be funded by the Missouri Flat Area Master Circulation and Funding Plan. The Phase 1C Project is included in the 2016 Capital Improvement Program and will be presented to the Board at a later date, with the final anticipated cost of construction and establishment work.
The LMA ongoing obligation following the 5-year establishment period is estimated to be $5,000-$10,000 per year, to be accommodated in the annual Road Fund maintenance budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will have the Chair sign four (4) originals of the Agreement.
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward the four (4) originals of the partially executed Agreement to Transportation (Adam Bane), to send to Caltrans for signature.
3) Upon receipt of the fully executed original Agreement from Caltrans, Transportation will forward one (1) original to the Clerk of the Board for filing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
This LMA is consistent with the Infrastructure component of the Strategic Plan.
CONTACT
Bard R. Lower, Director
Transportation Division
Community Development Agency