To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Storm Damage Repairs to Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the attached plans and specifications for the Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 Storm Damage Repair Project; and
2. Find that the Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 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 Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 Storm Damage Repair Project as required by Section 22037 of the California Public Contract Code, with bids to be opened on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 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. Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 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 June 9, 2021, the Humboldt County Department of Public Works (“Public Works”) received Federal Highway Administration funding approval to construct the Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 Storm Damage Repair Project. Public Works subsequently prepared the attached plans and specifications for the project based on a topographic survey of the damaged area prepared by Public Works and geotechnical studies prepared by Crawford and Associates, Inc. The work proposed in the attached plans and specifications consists of re-constructing the embankment with geosynthetic reinforcement, sub-drainage, restoring the roadway to the original width and adding sediment and erosion control items.
The Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 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 Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 Storm Damage Repair Project; find that the Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 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 Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 Storm Damage Repair Project as required by Section 22037 of the California Public Contract Code, with bids to be opened on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 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 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$246,200.00 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$246,200.00 |
|
Funding Sources (1200-321) |
FY25-26 Projected* |
|
Road Fund |
$6,942.84 |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$239,257.16 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$246,200.00 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
There is no financial commitment until the Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 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 Two Hundred Forty-Six Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($246,200.00). The Humboldt County Road Fund will be responsible for Six Thousand Nine Hundred Forty-Two Dollars and Eighty-Four Cents ($6,942.84) of the costs associated with the Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 Storm Damage Repair Project. Expenditure appropriations related to completion of the Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 Storm Damage Repair Project are included in the approved fiscal year 2024-2025 budget for budget unit 1200-321.
The fiscal year 2023-2024 Annual Road Report, completed by the State of California, reflected an estimated negative fund balance of Seven Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($7,800,000) in the Humboldt County Road Fund. Even after allocating nearly Six Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($6,800,000.00) 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 Thirteen Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($13,900,000).
This negative balance is partially due to the timing of Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements, which can take years for the County of Humboldt to receive. The current total of outstanding repayments is approximately Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($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 the use of 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.
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 Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96 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 Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96
2. Special Provisions for Bell Springs Road (C8A010) Post Miles 2.20 and 4.96
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: None
File No.: None