To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Storm Damage Repairs to Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the attached plans and specifications for the Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project; and
2. Find that the Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Sections 15269(a) and 15302 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to advertise the Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project as required by Section 22037 of the California Public Contract Code, with bids to be opened on Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan:
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
On March 7, 2017, the Governor of the State of California declared a disaster for Humboldt County due to severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides. Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 in the southeastern portion of Humboldt County, experienced roadway settlement and shoulder failure. Emergency temporary repairs were done at the time of the disaster to maintain essential traffic flows.
On May 26, 2021, the Humboldt County Department of Public Works (“Public Works”) received Federal Highway Administration funding approval to construct the Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project. GHD, Inc. subsequently prepared the attached plans and specifications for the project based on topographic survey of the damaged area prepared by Chaudhary and Associates, Inc. and geotechnical studies prepared by Crawford and Associates, Inc. The work proposed in the attached plans and specifications consists of clearing and grubbing, re-constructing the embankment with geosynthetic reinforcement, sub-drainage, surface drainage, restoring the roadway to the original width and adding sediment and erosion control items.
The Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project involves the replacement and reconstruction of existing road infrastructure in the same location as it existed prior to suffering damage within the scope of the disaster declaration made by the Governor of California on March 7, 2017. Such work is considered exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Sections 15269(a) and 15302 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
Accordingly, Public Works recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve the attached plans and specifications for the Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project; find the Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Sections 15269(a) and 15302 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; and direct the Clerk of the Board to advertise the Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project as required by Section 22037 of the California Public Contract Code, with bids to be opened on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Humboldt County Road Fund (1200-321); Federal Highway Administration; California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1200-321) |
FY25-26 |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$131,938.00 |
$3,000,000.00 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$131,938.00 |
$3,000,000.00 |
|
Funding Sources (1200-321) |
FY25-26 |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
Road Fund |
$3,720.65 |
$84,600.00 |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$128,217.35 |
$2,915,400.00 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$131,938.00 |
$3,000,000.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
There is no financial commitment until the Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project is awarded. This project is being funded by Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Funds (88.53%), California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services funding (8.65%) and the Humboldt County Road Fund (2.82%). The engineer’s cost estimate for the project is Three Million, One Hundred Thirty-One Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Eight Dollars ($3,131,938). The Humboldt County Road Fund will be responsible for Eighty-Eight Thousand Three Hundred Twenty Dollars Sixty-Five Cents ($88,320.65) of the costs associated with the Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project. Expenditure appropriations related to completion of the Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project are included in the approved fiscal year 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 budget for budget unit 1200-321.
Projects are paid in arrears with anticipated funding coming from the FHWA as mentioned above. The fiscal year 2024-2025 Annual Road Report, completed by the State of California, reflected an estimated negative fund balance of $15,181,638 in the Humboldt County Road Fund. Even after allocating nearly $6,800,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Road Fund in order to reduce the negative fund balance, the current estimated fund balance remains negative by approximately $18,007,465.
This negative balance is partially due to the timing of FEMA reimbursements, which can take years for the County of Humboldt to receive. The current total of outstanding repayments is approximately $7,500,000. Public Works utilizes other state and local funding, such as Regional Surface Transportation Program funds, for the Humboldt County Road Fund match for reimbursable projects. Despite those additional funding sources, Road Fund projects are underfunded and will very likely have a negative impact on the General Fund if additional revenue sources are not secured.
Humboldt County adopted a county-wide local transactions and use tax (sales tax) through an affirmative vote on a local measure known as Measure O. Public Works will use Measure O funds for the grant match portion of the project.
STAFFING IMPACT:
The recommended actions will not impact current staffing levels.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Federal Highway Administration; California Department of Transportation; California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to approve the attached plans and specifications for the Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30 Storm Damage Repair Project. However, this alternative is not recommended since the project will restore the roadway to pre-disaster conditions using funds that would not otherwise be available to the County of Humboldt.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Plans for Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30
2. Special Provisions for Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30
3. Notice to Bidders for Alderpoint Road (F6B165) Post Miles 42.20-42.30
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: None
File No.: None