To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Steve Madrone and Supervisor Rex Bohn
Agenda Section: Initiated by Board Member Received To Late for Review (TLFR)
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Maintenance Agreement between County of Humboldt and California Department of Transportation for Horse Mountain Historical Marker Sponsored by Citizen Group at Berry Summit Vista Point along State Route 299
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive a staff report from the Department of Public Works and hear public comment regarding the proposed historical marker at Berry Summit Vista Point along State Route 299 to commemorate the history of skiing at Horse Mountain;
2. Affirm that funds from the Humboldt County General Fund will be available to fund the maintenance responsibilities described in the attached Maintenance Agreement between the County of Humboldt and California Department of Transportation; and
3. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board, Public Works Director, and Clerk of the Board to sign, the attached Maintenance Agreement.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100)
DISCUSSION:
The Horse Mountain area, located primarily within Six Rivers National Forest near Willow Creek, has been a popular destination for skiing since the 1930s. A group of citizens with connections to the history of skiing at Horse Mountain propose to install a historical marker and picnic table at the Berry Summit Vista Point along State Route 299, which is owned and managed by the California Department of Transportation (“Caltrans”). The historical marker would be comprised of two sign kiosks. Caltrans recently completed renovations to the Berry Summit Vista Point which included a restroom, accessible parking space, electric vehicle charging station, picnic table, and trash receptacle. The historical marker would be located near, but separate from, the recent site improvements made by Caltrans.
Attachment 1 contains a site location map. Attachment 2 contains the proposed sign content for the historical marker. Attachment 3 contains draft plans for the kiosk structure. The citizen group has also submitted a design with a decorative archway that is being reviewed by Caltrans.
The citizen group proposes to purchase all materials and install all the improvements for the Horse Mountain historical marker at the Berry Summit Vista Point. However, according to State policy, Caltrans does not work directly with citizens on proposed improvements within the state highway system, but rather requires sponsorship by a local public agency. The citizen group supporting the historical marker requests that Humboldt County sponsor the proposed improvements at Berry Summit Vista Point. Attachment 4 contains the proposed Maintenance Agreement between the County and Caltrans. Pursuant to this Maintenance Agreement, the county would be responsible for maintaining the historical marker area, including sign kiosks, picnic table, and surrounding boulders. In addition, the county’s general liability insurance would need to provide coverage for occurrences involving the maintenance area. If the Maintenance Agreement is approved by the Board, Public Works would need to apply for and receive an encroachment permit from Caltrans and Caltrans would need to approve the final kiosk design prior to execution of the agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (Fund, Budget Unit) |
FY24-25 |
FY25-26 Projected* |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$1,000 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$1,000 |
|
|
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (Fund, Budget Unit) |
FY24-25 |
FY25-26 Projected* |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
General Fund |
$1,000 |
|
|
|
State/Federal Funds |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Funding Sources |
$1,000 |
|
|
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
The cost to complete the execution of the Maintenance Agreement with Caltrans for the Horse Mountain historical marker and to prepare the encroachment permit application is approximately $1,000 for Public Works staff time. There will be no cost to the county for installation of the proposed improvements because the citizens group sponsoring the historical marker will complete this work. The cost for ongoing maintenance is difficult to predict as it depends on the level of vandalism, dumping, and deterioration due to weather. The citizens group has offered to monitor the historical marker and perform basic maintenance, which will eliminate or reduce the county’s maintenance costs. If the citizens group is unable to perform basic maintenance in the future and maintenance needs arise, then the Humboldt County General Fund will need to fund those maintenance activities.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
The proposed action will not impact staffing.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Framework.
Core Roles: Choose an item.
New Initiatives: Build interjurisdictional and regional cooperation
Strategic Plan: N/A
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Department of Transportation
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
1 - Site location map
2 - Sign content
3 - Kiosk design
4 - Maintenance Agreement between County of Humboldt and California Department of Transportation
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A