HomeMy WebLinkAbout23961RESOLUTION NO. 23961
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 VISTA CHINO LOW-WATER
CROSSING BRIDGE REPLACEMENT AT WHITEWATER
RIVER PROJECT, CITY PROJECT NO. 10-10, FtUERAL
AID PROJECT NO. NBIL (513).
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs ("City") proposes replacement of the
existing 4-lane "at grade" low-water crossing on Vista Chino through the Whitewater
River with a new elevated "all-weather" bridge to improve traffic circulation and
emergency access within Palm Springs and Cathedral City during storm events; and
WHEREAS, the project has been described as the Vista Chino Low -Water
Crossing Bridge Replacement, City Project No. 10-10, Federal Aid Project No. NBIL
(513), (hereinafter the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, the Project is listed on the 2010 Transportation Project Prioritization
Study (TPPS) and is therein listed as a backbone project; and
WHEREAS, the Project is listed on the Southern California Association of
Governments ("SCAG") 2015 Federal Transportation Improvement Program ("FTIP") as
Project ID# RIV090405, adopted by the Southern California Association of
Governments ("SCAG") on September 11, 2014, and approved for air quality conformity
by the Federal Highway Administration ("FHWA") on December 15, 2014; and
WHEREAS, the Project is consistent with the Circulation Element of the 2007
Palm Springs General Plan Update, which identifies Vista Chino as a "Major
Thoroughfare" and the 2009 Cathedral City General Plan, which identifies Vista Chino
as an "Arterial Highway'; and
WHEREAS, the Project implements the goals and policies of the General Plans
of the Cities of Palm Springs and Cathedral City; 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
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 21152 of the Act, a public notice announcing
circulation and availability of the Initial Study and intent to adopt a Mitigated Negative
Declaration ("MND") was published in the Desert Sun on July 15, 2015, and a Notice of
Opportunity for Public Hearing, was filed with the California Governor's Office of
Planning and Research —State Clearinghouse and Planning Unit, (the "State
Clearinghouse"), as SCH# 2015071038; and
Resolution No. 23961
Page 2
WHEREAS, the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration ("IS/MND") was
circulated for public comment from July 15 through August 13, 2015; and
WHEREAS, by close of the public comment period on August 13, 2015, there
were no requests for a Public Hearing submitted in response to the IS/MND; 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 the Project has concluded, and following
public review, it has been determined that the Project will not have a significant impact
on the environment with the adoption of avoidance, minimization, 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 15073 of the CEQA Guidelines, a Mitigated
Negative Declaration ("MIND") of environmental impact was prepared and circulated for
a 30-day public review period ending on August 13, 2015. The Mitigated Negative
Declaration adequately analyzes the general environmental setting of the Project, its
potentially significant environmental impacts, mitigation measures related to each
potentially significant environmental impact on the Project, and has determined that
there are no potentially significant impacts associated with the Project.
SECTION 4. The Project implements the following policy of the City of Palm
Springs General Plan:
Policy CR2.5: Construct all-weather bridge crossings along Indian Canyon Drive, Gene
Autry Trail, and Vista Chino and the Whitewater River to reduce traffic problems caused
by flooding and b/owsand.
Resolution No. 23961
Page 3
As stated in the Project's Statement of Purpose of Need, the Project will accomplish the
following:
• Provide an all-weather crossing for Vista Chino across the Whitewater River to allow
uninterrupted access into and out of the City when flooding and debris flows occurs
within the Whitewater River;
• Improve emergency access into and out of the City during flood events within the
Whitewater River which cause the other two at -grade crossings at Indian Canyon
Drive and Gene Autry Trail to be closed; and
• Decrease delays and improve travel time along Vista Chino and Ramon Road, which
is used an alternative route during flooding events when Vista Chino is closed. The
decrease in delays and improved travel time reduces travel cost.
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 impact on the environment and that the Mitigated Negative Declaration
reflects the City's independent judgment and analysis.
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 Vista Chino Low -Water
Crossing Bridge Replacement at Whitewater River Project, City Project No. 10-10,
Federal Aid Project No. NBIL (513).
ADOPTED THIS 13T" DAY OF JANUARY. 2016.
David H. Ready, City
ATTEST:
,/14mes Thompson, City Clerk
Resolution No. 23961
Page 4
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. 23961 is a tull, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on the 13th day of January, 2016,
by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember Kors, Councilmember Roberts,
Mayor Pro Tern Mills, and Mayor Moon.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
GJ�ames Thompson, City Clerk
City of Palm Springs, Californiaoz/aeJLof,-