REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Contract Amendment for the Mary Avenue Overcrossing Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to Undertake Additional Work Required by CEQA, Approve Increase to Contract Contingency Amount and Approve Budget Modification No. 40 in the Amount of $47,556
Report
BACKGROUND
On October 4, 2016, Council awarded a contract to Kimley-Horn Associates to prepare the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Mary Avenue Overcrossing Project (RTC No. 16-0862). The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that an EIR evaluate the environmental impacts of a proposed "project" and then compare the project to a range of alternatives.
Due to the complexity of the issues surrounding the Mary Avenue Overcrossing Project, staff proposed to evaluate five different options each as a separate "project" within the EIR. Staff believed that this approach would benefit the public by providing the most comprehensive environmental analysis of each option before the Council is asked to choose an option. Although somewhat unusual, the guidelines to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) did not appear to prohibit an agency from analyzing multiple "projects" in an EIR.
The five options are as follows:
1. Four motor vehicle lanes, plus protected bike facilities and sidewalks.
2. Two motor vehicle lanes, plus protected bike facilities and sidewalks.
3. Two high-occupancy vehicle (HOV)/bus/shuttle lanes, plus protected bike facilities and sidewalks.
4. A bicycle and pedestrian overcrossing.
5. Removal of the extension from the General Plan.
During a study session on February 28, 2017 (RTC No. 17-0335), staff updated City Council on the project timeline, outreach efforts, and the five designs under consideration. Council requested that in addition to the CEQA analysis, staff should develop a framework of criteria to help Council select the preferred option at a later date.
EXISTING POLICY
Pursuant to Sunn...
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