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ACQUISITION OF SANITARY SEWER AND WATER LINE EASEMENTS FOR THE VETERANS AFFAIRS MEDICAL FACILITY OFF-SITE UTILITIES IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution:
1) Authorizing the acquisition of a permanent sanitary sewer and potable water line
easement and temporary construction easement located at 817 West Yettner Road (APN 193-050-06) in the amount of $155,000 for the Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Off-site Utilities Improvements Project (M20026); and
2) Authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to take all the necessary and appropriate actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.
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SUMMARY
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is constructing a new medical campus at 6505 S. Manthey Road, French Camp California. To facilitate the design and construction of the sanitary sewer and water services in accordance with the City’s Utility Master Plans, the Municipal Utilities Department (MUD) took the project lead to design, permit, and construct connection-ready utility services for the VA Medical Facility (Attachment A - VA Facility Overview).
The Utility Master Plan alignment for the sanitary sewer pipeline runs through a walnut orchard owned by the Long Family at 817 W. Yettner Road (APN 193-050-06). A potable water pipeline will also run through the Long Family’s orchard to connect to the existing waterline on Wolfe Road to the proposed water line on Yettner Road, just south of the City’s water reservoirs at 738 W. French Camp Road (Attachment B - Vicinity Map and Attachment C - Aerial Map). The Project requires acquisition of both a permanent sanitary sewer and water line easement and a temporary construction easement to complete the final construction phase of the project.
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to acquire the sanitary and water line easements at 817 West Yettner Road in the amount of $155,000 for the VA Medical Facility Off-site Utilities Improvements Project (Project No. M20026).
DISCUSSION
In 2011, MUD issued a will-serve letter to provide potable water and sanitary sewer services for a new VA medical campus. The VA Facility will expand clinical services by constructing a Community Based Outpatient Clinic and Community Living Center on a 52-acre parcel just north of the San Joaquin County General Hospital.
The City and the VA have entered into a Funding Agreement to facilitate the construction of connection-ready water and sanitary utility services for the VA medical campus. The Funding Agreement, in part, provides that the City would assist the VA in acquiring sanitary sewer and water utility easements to construct the project. The project improvements include sanitary sewer and water pipelines running through a walnut grove at 817 West Yettner Road, San Joaquin County (APN 193-050-06).
Economic Development staff approached the parcel owner, the Long Family, about the City’s interest in acquiring a 30-foot permanent easement and 12.5-foot temporary construction easement on each side of the permanent easement, along an access road in the middle of the 125-acre parcel in order to provide water service to the VA Facility. An independent appraisal prepared by W.F. Bambas Appraisal Co. estimated the value of the easements at $155,000.
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the acquisition of a permanent sanitary sewer and water line easement and a temporary construction easement at 817 West Yettner Road, in the amount of $155,000 for the VA Medical Facility Off-site Utilities Improvements Project.
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE
It has been determined by the Community Development Department that this project within the scope of the project analyzed in the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report certified by the City Council on December 10, 2019, via Resolution No. 2019-12-10-1107 (Attachment D). No subsequent environmental review is required since there have been: (a) no substantial changes to the project; (b) no substantial changes to the circumstances under which the project is being undertaken; and (c) no new information of substantial importance, enumerated at California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Sec. 15162(a)(3), has become known.
In accordance with Section 65402 of the Government Code, it has been determined that this project or action conforms to the City’s General Plan designation for the site and with the General Plan Policy Document, as amended.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The $155,000 easement purchase cost, plus normal closing costs, will be paid from MUD CIP Account Numbers 434-7703-670 (Wastewater Sanitary System Expansion) at 65 percent and 424-7623-670 (Water Transmission Mains) at 35 percent under Project Number M20026. The VA reimburses the City for the cost of the easements.
There is no additional impact to the City’s General Fund or to any other restricted fund as a result of taking the recommended action.
Attachment A - VA Facility Overview
Attachment B - Vicinity Map
Attachment C - Aerial Map
Attachment D - Resolution No. 2019-12-10-1107