HomeMy WebLinkAbout21577 - RESOLUTIONS - 5/17/2006 RESOLUTION NO. 21577
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING AND ORDERING
THE FILING OF A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION,
AND APPROVING CASE NO. 5.0929-B, AN APPLICATION BY
THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO
GENE AUTRY TRAIL BETWEEN SALVIA ROAD/MICRO
PLACE AND THE UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD, INCLUDING
WIDENING THE EXISTING TWO-LANE BRIDGE TO A SIX-
LANE BRIDGE, AND WIDENING GENE AUTRY TRAIL TO
SIX-LANES FROM SALVIA ROAD/MICRO PLACE TO THE
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD, SECTIONS 30 AND 31,
TOWNSHIP 3 SOUTH, RANGE 5 EAST.
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs, in conjunction with the Coachella Valley Association
of Governments (CVAG), Caltrans, and the Federal Highway Administration, has filed an
application for improvements to Gene Autry Trail, from Salvia Road/Micro Place to the
Union Pacific Railroad, to include widening the existing two-lane bridge to a six-lane
bridge, and widening Gene Autry Trail to six lanes from Salvia Road/Micro Place to the
Union Pacific Railroad ("Project"); and
WHEREAS, the Project is included in the 2004 Regional Transportation Improvement
Program adopted by the Southern California Association of Governments; and
WHEREAS, the Project is also included in the 2004 Regional Transportation Plan
approved by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration; and
WHEREAS, the Project implements the goals and policies of the General Plan; and
WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing of the Planning Commission of the City of Palm
Springs to consider the Project, identified as Case No. 5.0929-B, and to review and
provide comment on the draft Mitigated Negative Declaration and Project was given in
accordance with applicable law; and
WHEREAS, on April 26, 2006, a public hearing to consider the Project was held by the
Planning Commission in accordance with applicable law; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 15063 of the California Environmental Quality Act,
an Initial Study was prepared and staff found that with the incorporation of mitigation
measures, the Project could not have a significant effect on the environment; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence
presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including, but not limited to, the
staff report, and all written and oral testimony presented.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS
FOLLOWS;
Resolution No. 21577
Page 2
Section 1: Pursuant to Section 15063 of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) Guidelines, a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impact was ,
prepared and circulated for a 30-day public review period ending on April 24, 2006. The
Mitigated Negative Declaration adequately analyzes the general environmental setting of
the proposed project, its potentially significant environmental impacts, and the alternatives
and mitigation measures related to each potentially significant environmental impact for the
proposed project; and has determined that there are no potentially significant impacts
associated with the project.
Section 2: The proposed project implements the following goals and policies of the
General Plan:
Policy 7.1.3 (b) Major Thoroughfares: High capacity streets, of four or more lanes, which
form the basic elements of the City's circulation system, connecting Palm Springs to
regional highways and tying together the sections of the City. They have a limited number
of cross streets and provide stacking and turning lanes and may have a landscaped
median, especially where it helps to maintain an appropriate level of service.
Policy 7.1.14: Encourage the use of Interstate 10 for inter-city traffic trips by improving
access to this route and by providing appropriate signage.
As stated in the project's Statement of Purpose of Need, this project would accomplish the
following purpose: '
• Accommodate existing and future traffic;
• Alleviate queues;
• Accommodate truck traffic;
• Increase public safety
The proposed project would improve access to Interstate 10 from Gene Autry Trail by
widening the existing two-lane bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad to a six-lane bridge,
including associated widening of Gene Autry Trail to six-lanes between Salvia Road/Micro
Place and the Union Pacific Railroad. Therefore, the project is consistent with the General
Plan policies and objectives.
Policy 7.2.5: Make selective street improvements at problem intersections and bottleneck
locations to improve specific traffic operations and safety, with all such improvements to be
considered selectively on the basis of specific studies of the affected intersection and
streets, and the impacts on the surrounding area and on pedestrian activity.
The project is being undertaken because the segment of Gene Autry Trail between Salvia
Road/Micro Place and the existing Gene Autry Trail Union Pacific Railroad Bridge cannot
safely accommodate existing or forecasted traffic volumes. Furthermore, due to the ,
previously approved widening of Gene Autry Trail south of the Union Pacific Railroad
Bridge, and the planned Gene Autry Trail/Interstate 10 Interchange project, the subject
segment of Gene Autry Trail would cause a bottleneck to traffic, severely affecting traffic
Resolution No. 21577
Page 3
flow into and out of the City from Interstate 10. Therefore, the proposed improvements will
specifically address Policy 7.2.5 and be consistent with the General Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that based upon the foregoing, the City Council
orders the filing of a Mitigated Negative Declaration and approves Case No. 5.0929-B, the
widening of Gene Autry Trail between Salvia Road/Micro Place and the Union Pacific
Railroad, including widening the existing two-lane bridge to a six-lane bridge, and widening
Gene Autry Trail to six-lanes from Salvia Road/Micro Place to the Union Pacific Railroad.
ADOPTED this 17t' day of May, 2006.
David H. Ready City,,Ma65ger
ATTEST:
la s Thompson, City Clerk
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that
Resolution No. 21577 is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on May 17, 2006, by the following
vote:
AYES: Councilmember McCulloch, Councilmember Mills, Councilmember Pougnet,
Mayor Pro Tern Foat and Mayor Oden
NOES: None
A13SENT: None
A13STAIN: None
/� mes Thompson, City Clerk
/ City of Palm Springs, California