Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, August 06, 2024
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 24-072, APPROVING A FUNDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (METRO) AND THE CITY OF CARSON ACCEPTING MEASURE M FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $350,000; AND RECORDING A "NOTICE OF EXEMPTION" IN THE OFFICE OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CLERK AND WITH THE STATE CLEARING HOUSE PURSUANT TO SECTION 15301 OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES FOR PROJECT NO. 1667: UPGRADE EXISTING TRAFFIC SIGNAL - AVALON BOULEVARD AT GARDENA BOULEVARD (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
Project No. 1667 - Upgrade Existing Traffic Signal - Avalon Boulevard at Gardena Boulevard is included in the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list (Exhibit No. 1). Grant funds from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Measure “M” funds in the amount of $350,000 were awarded to the City of Carson (City) in accordance with the terms of the Funding Agreement for the construction phase (Exhibit No. 2). The Metro Board requires the execution of the Funding Agreement between the City and Metro, and staff now seeks City Council’s approval of the same to fund the project. The project plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) are available for review in the City Engineer’s Office. The estimated project construction cost is $500,000. Staff is also requesting City Council to make the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) finding that this project is categorically exempt and authorize staff to record this action with the Los Angeles County Clerk and with the State Clearing House at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following actions:
1. ACCEPT grant funds from Metro in the amount of $350,000.
2. WAIVE further reading and ADOPT Resolution 24-072, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING MEASURE M AGREEMENT 9200000000M550710 FOR PROJECT 1667: UPGRADE EXISTING TRAFFIC SIGNAL - AVALON BLVD. AND GARDENA BLVD., LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY PROJECT ID No. MM5507.10 AND FTIP No. LA9919284 (Exhibit No. 3).
3. AUTHORIZE the Mayor to execute the Funding Agreement following approval as to form by the City Attorney.
4. MAKE the California Environmental Quality Act finding that the proposed Traffic Signal Upgrade at Avalon Boulevard and Gardena Boulevard is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines.
5. AUTHORIZE staff to record the “Notice of Exemption” in the office of the Los Angeles County Clerk for Project 1667: Upgrade Existing Traffic Signal - Avalon Boulevard at Gardena Boulevard (Exhibit No. 4).
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III. ALTERNATIVES
1. DO NOT APPROVE the Funding Agreement, however, the City must execute this funding agreement to receive grant funds for this project. Invoices for reimbursement cannot be submitted to Metro until this funding agreement is fully executed.
2. DO NOT MAKE the California Environmental Quality Act finding that the proposed Traffic Signal Upgrade at Avalon Boulevard and Gardena Boulevard is categorically exempt and DO NOT AUTHORIZE staff to record the “Notice of Exemption” in the office of the Los Angeles County Clerk for Project 1667: Upgrade Existing Traffic Signal - Avalon Boulevard at Gardena Boulevard. However, staff will not be able to proceed with the construction of the project.
3. TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate consistent with the requirements of the law.
IV. BACKGROUND
The City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) calls for the construction of Project No. 1667: Upgrade Existing Traffic Signal - Avalon Boulevard at Gardena Boulevard. The Project includes the construction of roadway and traffic signal modifications at the existing traffic signal-controlled intersection of Avalon Boulevard and Gardena Boulevard in the City of Carson. Gardena Boulevard is an east-west collector and Avalon Boulevard is a north-south arterial, the intersection of which is located in the northern section of the City of Carson. Both streets experience significant travel delays, partially due to deficient levels of service at the intersection of Gardena Boulevard and Avalon Boulevard. The traffic signal at this intersection will be upgraded and improved to provide new left turn phases at the north and south approaches, a video detection system, emergency vehicle preemption operation, upgraded safety lighting, and pedestrian head upgrades. The traffic signal controllers will be programmed to ensure efficient and safer vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle travel; improve the level of service; and reduce delays at the project intersection.
Metro Measure “M” funds were awarded to the City to cover $350,000 of the anticipated $500,000 project cost in accordance with the terms of the Funding Agreement. Through City Council’s adoption of the proposed resolution, staff now seeks City Council approval of the Funding Agreement with Metro for the grant to the City in the amount of $350,000 to be made on a reimbursement basis.
Based on California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, the proposed project is categorically exempt according to Section 15301 of CEQA. The following sections apply to the Upgrade Existing Traffic Signal - Avalon Boulevard at Gardena Boulevard Project:
o Section 15301(c): Existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety).
o Section 15301(d): Restoration or rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment to meet current standards of public health and safety, unless it is determined that the damage was substantial and resulted from an environmental hazard such as an earthquake, landslide, or flood.
The Plans, Specifications and Estimates (PS&E) for Project No. 1667: Upgrade Existing Traffic Signal - Avalon Boulevard at Gardena Boulevard have been completed by the Engineering Services Division of the Public Works Department. A copy of the plans, specifications and estimates is available in the City Engineer’s Office.
It is requested that the City Council approve the Funding Agreement with Metro, authorize staff to advertise the project for construction bids, and to record the Notice of Exemption to satisfy the California Environmental Quality Act’s requirements.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
The Funding Agreement under consideration will provide the opportunity for the City of Carson to be reimbursed for an amount not-to-exceed $350,000 from Metro for CIP Project No. 1667: Upgrade Existing Traffic Signal - Avalon Boulevard at Gardena Boulevard. The Metro Measure M grant funds will be utilized this fiscal year and will be incorporated into the FY 2024-2025 special revenue funds budget, using revenue account 282-99-999-999-4513-PW1667 and expenditure account 282-80-820-904-8023-PW1667. There is no fiscal impact from making the CEQA determination that the proposed Traffic Signal Installation at Avalon Boulevard and Gardena Boulevard is categorically exempt or from authorizing staff to record the “Notice of Exemption.”
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Location Map (pg. 4)
2. Funding Agreement (pgs. 5-43)
3. Resolution 24-072 (pgs. 44-46)
4. Notice of Exemption (p. 47)
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Prepared by: Dr. Arlington Rodgers, Jr., Director of Public Works, Gilbert Marquez, P.E., City Engineer, and John C. Merrill, P.E., T.E, Traffic Engineer