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 PAC member Gary Golson and George Britton from RSG are committed to seeing this project to completion. Improvements to Kline Dr. The construction cost for the roadway improvement is $600,000; Undergrounding costs approximately $250,000 additional.   Update 02/04/09 George Britton Reports the engineering plans, including the changes to a few SCE electrical poles, for this project is virtually done. The legal documents are almost complete (these documents include the legal descriptions of where the road will be, release of the existing easements, etc.). Next step when the documents are ready is for a meeting to be held at which signatures from owners will be obtained, notarized and then the project will begin in the next several months. Update 10/3/08 The County has retained the firm of Stantec Consulting, Inc. of Irvine to proceed with preparation of a Project Report. The Project Report is a combination engineering and planning document intended to analyze a number of key project-related issues including drainage, road geometry, impacts to existing improvements, schedule, and cost. In addition, the planning process includes discussions with the Edison Company to determine where the existing utility poles will be relocated and what additional right of way (if any) is required, in order to make room for the proposed improvements to Kline Drive. The goal is to start construction in the spring or summer of 2009. Update 07/28/08 George Britton and group report…. Kline Drive engineering is continuing, with the drainage being conveyed to an existing storm drain in Orchard Drive, rather than draining south and west. County is also getting the precise real estate documents put together for use when the property conveyances are ready to be made. We, Keri, Dave Marshall and I, have been meeting with the individual owners to review specifics of the plans with the selected drainage solution. We still have a few to link up with.  update 6/4/08 KLINE DRIVE PROJECT UPDATE… As Reported by Keri Bullock As indicated in our February newsletter, there is total support for the road project, which is necessary given the nature of the existing easement. The County has retained the firm of Stantec Consulting, Inc. of Irvine to proceed with preparation of a Project Report. The Project Report is a combination engineering and planning documents intended to analyze a number of key Project issues including drainage, road geometry, and impacts to existing improvements, schedule, and cost. In addition, the planning process includes discussions with the Edison Company to determine where the existing utility poles will be relocated and what additional right of way (if any) is required, in order to make room for the proposed improvements to Kline Drive. Once the Project Report is complete and approved by the County and the City of Newport Beach, it is expected that Stantec will be authorized to complete final design engineering and prepare construction plans. The goal is to start construction in the spring or summer of 2009. This schedule is ambitious and is highly dependent on continued property owner cooperation and the dedication of necessary right of way. In addition to City and County approval, it will also require approvals by regulatory agencies and all affected utility companies. Over the next few months, it is expected that county staff and others will be in the area in order to complete the surveys and soils investigations necessary to complete the Project Report and final design. RSG is in the process of meeting with the property owners to discuss the next steps. There was not full support for undergrounding the utilities, so that part of the project will not be pursued. Rather, the plans will address the existing utility poles and their possible relocation. County staff, at the request of Mario Mainero of Supervisor Moorlach's office, is looking into potential tools that could allow the private costs to be paid by the property owners when their property is sold, or at some other, more convenient time. If a decision is made to offer such assistance, then undergrounding of utilities will be re-examined with the Kline Drive property owners. Update 12/10/07 During the months of October and November, RSG and RDMD met with all available property owners on Kline Drive to fully explain the ramifications of the road project. The property owners were shown just where the road will be constructed, in order to provide the most detailed impact on personal property possible. The property owners were also briefed on the fact that Kline Drive will be a public road, which will require a dedication of personal property to the County of Orange. Representatives from RSG then provided each property owner with an agreement and detailed maps. These agreements explain each property owners position on the project, and represent a good faith agreement to dedicate right of way for a public road at the appropriate time. In addition, the status of underground utilities was discussed with each property owner to gauge the level of support for those improvements. Due to provisions in California Redevelopment Law, the costs of undergrounding across each private lot cannot be paid by the Agency. Rather, they will be the responsibility of each owner. Depending on how up to date the electrical system is at each home (and some are quite old), these costs could involve more than just installing a trench and cable from the conduit in or adjacent to the street. There is total support for the road, which is necessary given the nature of the existing easement. As a result, the County will proceed with detailed engineering and will prepare legal descriptions and other documents to eliminate the easement and dedicate of necessary right of way. There was not full support for undergrounding the utilities, so that part of the project will not be pursued. Rather, the plans will address the existing utility poles and their possible relocation. County staff, at the request of Mario Mainero of Supervisor Moorlach�s office, is looking into potential tools that could allow the private costs to be paid by the property owners when their property is sold, or at some other, more convenient time. If a decision is made to offer such assistance, then undergrounding of utilities will be re-examined with the Kline Drive property owners. Mario Mainero reported: "As per the County Council, the County can perform work that, under ordinance, is the responsibility of the owner (such as connecting private property to the underground utility lines), and may then assess those costs against the property in the form of a lien. See California Civil Code Section 2881; Orange County Codified Ordinances Section 7-11-8(g)). The property owners could also enter into an agreement with the County that provides for the payment over time of the cost of the laterals and provides for securing that obligation with a lien against the property. However, this must be done with County funds, and NOT redevelopment (or OCDA) funds. In a letter dated February 21, 2005, redevelopment counsel, Goldfarb Lipman, stated that redevelopment funds cannot be used to connect private property to the underground utilities lines. If so, then it is likely that redevelopment funds cannot be advanced as loan to connect private property to the underground utilities lines, either. However, I need to contact Goldfarb Lipman to verify this." BV asked Mario if it was possible to put the cost of the hook ups on property taxes over a period of time as an alternative for homeowners. He replied " That one is not doable because there are statutes controlling what goes into property taxes and to whom they are paid. The lien, or a deal on an extended payback, get to the same place." Update 7/23/07 As you probably know, this project will involve the County�s constructing a paved street and cul-de-sac along the existing gravel road using redevelopment funds. Property owners will not be responsible for construction costs, but will need to dedicate the necessary property for the project. The County�s Resources Development and Management Department has completed refinements to the concept plan last discussed with property owners including calculations of just what right-of-way will be needed from each owner. Meetings are being held with each owner in order to explain exactly how the project will impact his/her property and to receive a �good faith� commitment for right of way dedication. Once these commitments have been received from all property owners, the County will undertake detailed engineering of the project and will finalize the right-of-way transfers. Construction will follow. The project should be complete, if all goes well, by the end of 2008 (or early 2009). Should you have any questions about the project, feel free to contact either George Britton or Keri Bullock at the Rosenow Spevacek Group, the County�s redevelopment consultants. They can be reached at (714) 541-4585. Reported By Ignacio Ochoa Asst. Public Works Director/Chief Engineer (714) 834-4377 The project will construct a paved public roadway, from Orchard Drive to approximately 650 feet southerly, serving 14 properties. Access to the lots is currently provided by an unpaved dirt road within a 30 foot wide private easement. In 2002, the County�s Housing and Community Services Department retained a Consultant to develop several street �Concepts� for consideration by the affected property owners in order to obtain voluntary dedication of right-of-way to construct the public street. Property owner meetings were held and surveys conducted and the Concepts were refined by the end of 2005. The area is currently under review for annexation by the City of Newport Beach. In August of 2006, RDMD was directed by the CEO to take the lead on project delivery. The project is currently being implemented through County RDMD/Road Division. The County Board of Supervisors has approved a contract agreement with an engineering firm on 9-12-06 and has retained a Project Manager to oversee the project. We anticipate this project to be a two-phase project that includes a Project Report as Phase I and Plans, Specifications, and Estimates as Phase II. Our Project Manager is expecting to complete a draft scope of work for a Project Report within the next few weeks, so that he can negotiate a contract with the engineering firm. The Project Manger for this project is Mr. Dave Marshall. Mr. Marshall is currently with us on a part-time basis and can be reached at 714-834-3803. All questions related to project implementation should be directed to Mr. Marshall. In the event that he can not be reached, you can contact me at 714-834-4367 should you have any questions. Steven Soo 714-834-4367 Key Issues: � Obtaining all property owner approval for voluntary dedication of right-of-way. � Identifying the preferred street �Concept�. � Obtaining approvals of OCFA, City of Newport Beach, and/or City of Costa Mesa. � Resolving engineering issues related to drainage, street geometry, and utility relocations. � Parking restrictions required due to substandard street width. � Undergrounding of overhead utilities (SCE and Telephone) Projected Milestones: � Conceptual approval by all affected property owners by May, 2007 � Decision on undergrounding of utilities by May, 2007. � Completion of Project Report by November, 2007. � Complete design and R/W acquisition by April, 2008. � Approval to advertise the project by June, 2008.* � Complete construction by October, 2008.* * These milestones are without consideration to undergrounding overhead utilities, which would require additional dedicated right-of-way, Agreements with Utility Companies, increase project costs, impact individual property owners during connection to underground system, and likely delay project delivery. |
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