CC - Item 4B - Rosemead Blvd. Legislative ProposalROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OLIVER CHI, CITY MANAGER &L'4SP'
DATE: JANUARY 13, 2009
SUBJECT: ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL
SUMMARY
On September 9, 2008 the City Council approved Resolution No. 2008-63 authorizing City staff
to begin work with local representatives regarding legislation that proposes the relinquishment
of State Route 19 (Rosemead Boulevard) in Rosemead City limits (Attachment A). Since that
time, staff has worked with Assembly Member Eng's office to understand the legislative process
as it relates to the proposed relinquishment of Rosemead Boulevard.
Initiating the legislative process does not bind the City to completing the relinquishment of
Rosemead Blvd. However, it does allow the City to continue to keep its options open related to
this issue.
Furthermore, staff has been informed by Assembly Member Eng's office that all legislative
requests must be submitted by January 30, 2009 in order to be considered during the upcoming
legislative session.
Altogether, staff estimates that review of the relinquishment process will take at least through
the 2009 calendar year to complete. Aside from the legislative process, staff still must work with
Caltrans to determine an appropriate value for any needed rehabilitation work for the roadway.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize staff to initiate with Assembly Member Eng the
legislative process for the relinquishment of Rosemead Boulevard in Rosemead City limits.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
There is no financial impact associated with initiating the legislative process for the
relinquishmen f,Rosemead Boulevard.
P e d ftM
by: Sub y:
Chris Marcarello B n S eki
Deputy Public Works Director AEkis;t t City Manager
Attachment A: September 9, 2008 Staff Report & Resolution No. 2008-63
ITEM NO. APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA:
ROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OLIVER CHI. CITY MANAGER
DATE: SEPTEMBER 9, 2008
SUBJECT: ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD RELINQUESHMENT
SUMMARY
On December 11, 2007, the City Council directed staff to look further into the possible
relinquishment of State Route 19 (Rosemead Boulevard) within city limits. In addition,
the City Council approved a capital project in the City's Fiscal Year 2009 budget to help
with the process, including updating a roadway condition assessment prepared in 2005
and possibly engaging an outside consultant to help assist in negotiations with the
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). As part of the City Council's
direction, staff has prepared a resolution that will authorize the City Manager to proceed
with the relinquishment process and engage Caltrans in negotiations related to the
process.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve Resolution No. 2008-63, authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to
ask our State Legislators to introduce legislation that proposes the
relinquishment of State Route 19 (Rosemead Boulevard) in the City of
Rosemead city limits.
2. Designate the City Manager, or designee, as the authorized representative to act
as the City's representative in all negotiations related to the relinquishment of
Rosemead Boulevard.
3. Authorize staff to solicit proposals to update the Rosemead Boulevard condition
assessment study prepared in 2005.
DISCUSSION
Background
State Route 19, also known as Rosemead Boulevard was originally built as part of the
network of highways prior to the construction of the federal interstate system. Along
with all State highways, Rosemead Boulevard has been under the control of the
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) which is responsible for all
APPROVED FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA:
City Council Meeting
September 9, 2008
Page 2 of 3
maintenance, repairs, improvements and liability associated with the roadway. As costs
to maintain these roadways have increased, Caltrans began the process of
relinquishing control over the state highways to cities and counties. As such, this has
given local agencies the opportunity to take control over the development, improvement
work, and maintenance of these roads.
Process
In order to proceed with the relinquishment of Rosemead Boulevard, the City Council
must initiate the process by legislative action. This includes the City Council's approval
of a resolution expressing an interest in pursuing the relinquishment process and
authorizing the City to engage Caltrans in discussions related to the relinquishment.
The resolution does not bind the City to anything - rather, it allows the City to continue
keep its options open related to the relinquishment. Upon approval of this resolution
(Attachment 1) staff will engage its state representative to help draft state legislation to
begin the process.
Along with legislative action, staff will also need to begin discussions with Caltrans over
the roadway condition. State law requires that prior to relinquishment a road must by in
a "state of good repair" prior to the effective transfer date. Staff will work with an outside
consultant to update the Rosemead Boulevard project report (Attachment 2) prepared in
2005. This report will include an updated pavement deflection study that identifies all
needed rehabilitation for the roadway and recommendations to bring Rosemead
Boulevard to a "state of good repair". Staff will use this report in negotiations with
Caltrans to develop a cooperative agreement between the City and the State. Once a
settlement is reached, Caltrans will provide a check to the City to compensate for
agreed upon improvements to the roadway.
Current Maintenance Issues
Although Rosemead Boulevard is a state owned highway, the City currently performs
maintenance work to areas adjacent to the road to supplement Caltrans maintenance
efforts. This work includes street sweeping, litter and debris removal, and landscape
maintenance. Since Rosemead Boulevard serves as such a visible entry point to the
City, it is necessary to continue these supplemental maintenance duties.
Next Steps
Altogether, staff estimates that the relinquishment process will take a minimum of one
year to complete. Staff has discussed the process with other agencies, including the
City of West Covina and the County of Los Angeles and they have confirmed that the
process can be somewhat lengthy. However, both agencies were able to reach an
agreement with Caltrans for their sections of state highway.
With the City Council's authorization to proceed, staff will begin discussions with both
our state representatives and Caltrans. After reaching an agreement with Caltrans for a
City Council Meeting
September 9, 2008
Page 3 of 3
settlement amount for roadway, staff will present a cooperative agreement for the City
Council's consideration.
Prepared by:
Chris Marcarello
Deputy Public Works Director
Submitted by:
Brian Saeki
Assistant City Manager
Attachments:
(1) Resolution No. 2008-63
(2) 2005 Condition Assessment Report
(3) City Council Minutes, December 11, 2007
CITY OF ROSEMEAD
RESOLUTION NO. 2008-63
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF CITY OF ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA,
REQUESTING THAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RELINQUISH THE RIGHT-OF-
WAY FOR STATE HIGHWAY ROUTE 19, ALSO KNOWN AS ROSEMEAD
BOULEVARD, WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
WHEREAS, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is responsible for
the construction and maintenance of certain highways deemed of major importance
throughout the State; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to State law, the California Transportation Commission (CTC),
upon request from Caltrans, may relinquish any portion of State highways; and
WHEREAS, Caltrans for many years has owned and operated all of State Highway
Route 19 known as Rosemead Boulevard within the City of Rosemead; and
WHEREAS, there may be benefit for the City to obtain that portion of Rosemead
Boulevard within the City of Rosemead from Caltrans in order to improve accessibility,
conduct improvements, and implement and manage a more efficient traffic flow through
the City; and
WHEREAS, on December 11, 2007, the City Council directed staff to look further into
the possible relinquishment of Rosemead Boulevard within City limits; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved the City's Fiscal Year 2009 Capital Improvement
Program budget which includes funding to prepare a condition assessment report of
Rosemead Boulevard within City limits.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CITY ROSEMEAD DOES
HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
1. That the City Manager, or designee, begin discussions with State legislators to
introduce legislation that proposes the relinquishment of Rosemead Boulevard
within City limits from the State of California.
2. That the City Manager, or designee, begin negotiations with Caltrans to
determine the feasibility of relinquishment based on the parameters of the
relinquishment process, the assumption of liability for the City, future City costs,
determining future community benefits and any other issues involved in
assessing whether the City should assume control over Rosemead Boulevard
within City limits.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS.
CITY OF ROSEMEAD )
I, Gloria Molleda, City Clerk of the City of Rosemead, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Resolution No. 2008-63 being:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD,
CALIFORNIA, REQUESTING THAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
RELINQUISH THE RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR STATE HIGHWAY ROUTE 19,
ALSO KNOWN AS ROSEMEAD BOULEVARD, WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS
OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
was duly and regularly approved and adopted by the City Council on the 9'h of
September 2008, by the following vote to wit:
Yes: Low, Nunez, Tran,
No: Clark, Taylor
Abstain: None
Absent: None
v b[ll~il 0~
Gloria Molleda
City Clerk