TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to accept sidewalk grant of easement deeds for sidewalk widening purposes from the various property owners along Market Street, between the Los Angeles River and Cherry Avenue; and
Accept Categorical Exception No. CE-21-076. (District 8)
DISCUSSION
The Department of Public Works is preparing to construct sidewalk improvements along Market Street between the Los Angeles River and Cherry Avenue (the Market Street Corridor Improvement Project), to be funded by a federal grant. Along the Market Street project corridor, some areas of sidewalk pavements are on record as being private property. Dedicated sidewalk easements for public rights-of-way are required to improve these areas and provide for sidewalks that are ADA-compliant, and meet federal grant scope requirements (Attachment A). Public Works staff have not performed any outreach to impacted property owners specific to this issue, but will do so as a first step upon City Council approval of this item. Staff will also provide an update on the Market Street Corridor Improvement Project, which is in the final stages of the design phase and being prepared for public bidding.
In conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act CEQA), Categorical Exemption No. CE-21-076 was issued on February 26, 2021 (Attachment B). The Department of Public Works seeks authorization to accept the dedication of easements for sidewalk purposes along the Market Street Corridor Improvement Project and acceptance of Categorical Exemption No. CE-21-076.
This item was inadvertently brought forward and approved by the City Council on June 15, 2021, without the required CEQA Categorical Exemption. The present action is meant to supersede the previous action taken by the City Council.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Erin Weesner-McKinley on June 25, 2021 and by Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on May 26, 2021.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this matter is not time critical.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds to support the rights-of-way dedication processing are budgeted in the General Fund Group in the Public Works Department. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
ERIC LOPEZ
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER