HomeMy WebLinkAbout24201 RESOLUTION NO. 24201
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING AND
ORDERING THE FILING OF A MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION FOR THE SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE
BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OVER TAHQUITZ CREEK
CHANNEL, FEDERAL AID PROJECT NO. BRLS-5282(042),
CP 12-02.
WHEREAS, in 2009, Caltrans rated the existing South Palm Canyon Drive
Bridge with a low Sufficient Rating of 37.1 with a status flag of "Structurally Deficient",
which justifies for a total bridge replacement by using Federal Highway Bridge Program
(HBP) funds administrated by Caltrans Local Assistance; and
WHEREAS, On June 26, 2012, the City of Palm Springs ("City"), submitted a
request for funding from Caltrans for the South Palm Canyon Drive Bridge Replacement
at the Tahquitz Creek Channel, City Project No. 12-02; and
WHEREAS, the Project will result in the replacement of the existing structurally
deficient bridge (State Bridge No. 56C0408) on South Palm Canyon Drive at the
Tahquitz Creek Channel with a new bridge. The project will also include widening of the
north and south bridge approaches along South Palm Canyon Drive to correct an
existing traffic bottleneck. Cross sections of the replacement bridge will be sufficiently
wide to support a raised median, two standard twelve-foot wide lanes in each direction,
a shoulder that can accommodate a Class II bike lane and an ADA-compliant sidewalk
on both sides of South Palm Canyon Drive; and
WHEREAS, the proposed replacement bridge will provide sufficient vertical
clearance below the soffit to accommodate future trail crossings along the Tahquitz
Creek Channel. The project will improve traffic circulation on South Palm Canyon Drive
by providing a consistent roadway and sidewalk section along the project area, improve
the Tahquitz Creek Channel hydraulic capacity by providing a larger and consistent
channel section under the bridge; and
WHEREAS, the Project is consistent with the Circulation Element of the 2007
Palm Springs General Plan Update, which identifies South Palm Canyon Drive as a
"Major Thoroughfare"; and
WHEREAS, the Project implements the goals and policies of the General Plan of
the City of Palm Springs; and
WHEREAS, an Initial Study was prepared pursuant to the provisions of the
California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), Division 13 of the Public Resources
Code of the State of California, beginning with §21000 (hereinafter"Act"); and
Resolution No. 24201
Page 2
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 21152 of the Act, a public notice announcing
circulation and availability of the document and intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative
Declaration was published in the Desert Sun on December 4, 2016, and Notice of
Opportunity for Public Hearing, was filed with the Riverside County Clerk; and
WHEREAS, the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration ("IS/MND") was
circulated for public comment from December 5, 2016 through January 3, 2017; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 15202 of the CEQA Guidelines, Title 14,
Division 6, Chapter 3, Article 13 'Review and Evaluation of EIRs and Negative
Declarations", of the California Code of Regulations, CEQA does not require formal
hearings at any stage of the environmental review process, and public comments may
be restricted to written communications; and
WHEREAS, the IS/MND prepared for this project has concluded, and following
public review, it has been determined that the Project will not have a significant effect on
the environment with the adoption of avoidance and mitigation measures identified in
the MIND; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully reviewed and considered all of the
evidence presented in connection with the Project, including, but not limited to, the staff
report, the IS/MND, and all written and oral testimony presented.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: The above recitals are all true and correct.
SECTION 2: The City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, is hereby designated the
custodian of the documents and other materials which constitute the record of proceedings
upon which the City Council has based its decision. The custodian of the documents is
located at 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California.
SECTION 3: Pursuant to Section 15063 of the CEQA Guidelines, a Mitigated
Negative Declaration ("MND") of environmental impact was prepared and circulated for
a 30-day public review period ending on January 3, 2017. The Mitigated Negative
Declaration adequately analyzes the general environmental setting of the Project, its
potentially significant environmental impacts and mitigation measures related to each
potentially significant environmental impact of the Project, and has determined that
there are no potentially significant impacts associated with the Project.
SECTION 4: The Project implements the following goals and policies of the City
of Palm Springs General Plan:
Resolution No. 24201
Page 3
Goal CRi: Establish and maintain an efficient, interconnected circulation system that
accommodates vehicular travel, walking, bicycling, public transit, and other forms of
transportation.
Goal CR2: Establish improved levels of service for efficient traffic flow and provide a
safe circulation system.
As stated in the Project Description, the Project will accomplish the following:
• The project will improve traffic circulation on South Palm Canyon Drive by correcting
a bottleneck that occurs at both the north and south approaches, providing a
consistent roadway and sidewalk section along the project area.
Policy CR2.2: Make 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.
As stated in the Project's Statement of Need, the Project will resolve the following:
• Safety Deficiencies: The existing bridge is currently listed on the federal Eligible
Bridge List due to structural deficiencies. The proposed project will replace the
structurally deficient bridge, and improve traffic safety and traffic flow on the existing
river crossing by widening the narrow bridge and improving its roadway approaches.
• Traffic Deficiencies: The four-lane roadway and bridge currently creates a traffic
bottleneck situation as South Palm Canyon Drive narrows at the north and south
bridge approaches. As a result, the project area experiences undesirable traffic
congestion during peak hours and intermittently throughout the day.
• Channel Hydraulic Deficiencies: In addition to the bridge widening, the new
replacement bridge will be lengthened from the existing structure to eliminate the
channel bottleneck at the project site by providing a larger and consistent channel
section under the bridge.
SECTION 5: The City Council has carefully reviewed and considered all of the
evidence presented in connection with the Project, including, but not limited to, the staff
report, the Initial Study and public comments received, the proposed Mitigated Negative
Declaration, the proposed Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and all written
and oral testimony presented. The City Council further finds that on the basis of the
entire Project record, there is no substantial evidence that the Project will have a
significant effect on the environment and that the Mitigated Negative Declaration reflects
the City's independent judgment and analysis.
Resolution No. 24201
Page 4
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that based upon the foregoing, and
pursuant to Section 15074 of the CEQA Guidelines, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3,
Article 6 "Negative Declaration Process', of the California Code of Regulations, the City
Council adopts and orders the filing of a Mitigated Negative Declaration, and approves
the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, for the South Palm Canyon Drive
Bridge Replacement at the Tahquitz Creek Channel, City Project No. 12-02, Federal Aid
Project No. BRLS 5282(042).
ADOPTED THIS 5T" DAY OF APRIL, 2017.
David H. Ready, Esq., Ph. .
City Manager
ATTEST:
Kathleen D. Hart, MMC
Interim City Clerk
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) SS.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, KATHLEEN D. HART, Interim City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby
certify that Resolution No. 24201 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 April 5, 2017, by
the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Kors, Mills, Roberts, Mayor Pro Tem Foat, and
Mayor Moon
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
RECUSED: None
Kathleen D. Hart, MMC
Interim City Clerk