TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a quitclaim deed transferring the City’s interest, if any, in and to the four private utility and pedestrian access tunnels (Tunnels), located beneath Lakewood Boulevard between Carson Street and Conant Street, to The Boeing Company (Boeing). (District 5)
DISCUSSION
In the 1940’s, three tunnels were constructed underneath Lakewood Boulevard between Conant Street and Carson Street, for private utility and pedestrian access to the McDonald Douglas Corporation (predecessor of Boeing) facilities located east and west of Lakewood Boulevard. In 1963 a fourth tunnel was constructed to provide private pedestrian access to the facilities. At that time, Lakewood Boulevard was under jurisdiction of the State, and a State encroachment permit was issued to Boeing for the construction of these Tunnels.
Neither City staff nor Boeing could locate documentation to verify the ownership of these Tunnels. However, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the State as the owners of Lakewood Boulevard, agreeing that Boeing has sole ownership of the Tunnels.
In 1998, the State relinquished Lakewood Boulevard to the City. Boeing is now requesting that the City quitclaim its interest, if any, in and to the Tunnels in favor of Boeing. The areas of the proposed quitclaim are shown on the attached Exhibit A, and a site map is attached as Exhibit B. The Department of Public Works supports this request based on the following:
· All of the utilities within the Tunnels are private.
· The Tunnels serve no purpose for the City.
· All City departments including the Fire Department have reviewed the proposed quitclaim request, and have no objections.
· Boeing has, or will retain a structural engineering company to conduct annual inspections of the structural integrity of the Tunnels.
· A structural review letter from Nabih Youssef & Associates dated June 29, 2012, indicated that the deficiencies observed were addressed and...
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