HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 14422 (Rice Drive Property Conveyances1
RESOLUTION NO. 14422
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
APPROVING A GRANT OF PUBLIC SANITARY SEWER EASEMENTS TO THE
SAN RAFAEL SANITATION DISTRICT ON PROPERTIES DESIGNATED
AS ASSESSOR’S PARCELS NO. 013-041-52, -55 (RICE DRIVE),
AND ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NO. 013-041-44
WHEREAS, the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) has
rehabilitated the existing Northern Pacific rail line through Marin and Sonoma Counties
for commuter rail service, and started actual passenger service in August 2017 from the
Santa Rosa Airport to Downtown San Rafael; and
WHEREAS, SMART is now pursuing the construction of the rail line from
Downtown San Rafael to Larkspur Landing (the “Larkspur Extension”); and
WHEREAS, the original rail alignment south of Second Street has a total of six
at-grade crossings, at Third Street, Second Street, Francisco Blvd West near Second
Street, Irwin Street at Francisco Blvd. West, Rice Drive, and Andersen Drive, and the
City of San Rafael and SMART have been working for several years on a plan to
eliminate the at-grade crossings at Francisco Blvd. West and Irwin Street by realigning
the City’s roadway and SMART’s railroad tracks; and
WHEREAS, SMART has developed plans for the realignment of Francisco Blvd.
West, proposing to move SMART’s double tracks as close to Highway 101 as possible
and the roadway further south, to eliminate the two crossings noted above. The
realignment plan includes a proposal for relocation of part of Rice Drive between the
railroad tracks and Francisco Blvd. West; and
WHEREAS, the proposed realignment of the roadway and the railroad tracks will
require several property transfers between different owners, both private and public,
including the conveyance of City-owned parcels designated as Assessor’s Parcel Nos.
013-041-52, -55 (Rice Drive) and Assessor’s Parcel No. 013-041-44, from the City to
SMART; and
WHEREAS, by agreement with SMART, in May 2017 the City formally notified
the local utilities with facilities on, under or over Rice Drive, PG&E and the San Rafael
Sanitation District, of the realignment of Rice Drive and the need to relocate their
facilities, and the City and SMART have been working with the utilities regarding the
relocation; and
WHEREAS, it now appears that it will be possible for the San Rafael Sanitation
District to leave its facilities in place, with the installation of some additional protective
sleeving; and
WHEREAS, a grant by the City of San Rafael to the San Rafael Sanitation
District of a public sanitary sewer easement over the City-owned parcels will permit the
San Rafael Sanitation District to leave its facilities in their present location, and therefore
will facilitate the Francisco Blvd. West roadway and rail line realignment needed for
SMART’s Larkspur Extension; and
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WHEREAS, City Council finds that the grant of easements approved herein is
exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to the State
CEQA Guidelines, as it comes under the Class 1 (15301[c]) categorical exemption for a
minor alteration of existing structures or facilities (14 Cal. Code Regs. Section 15301).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of San
Rafael as follows:
1. The City Council hereby approves and authorizes the Mayor or City
Manager to execute a deed granting to the San Rafael Sanitation District a perpetual
easement for public sanitary sewer purposes over Assessor’s Parcel Nos. 013-041-52, -
55 (Rice Drive) and Assessor’s Parcel No. 013-041-44, in a form approved by the City
Attorney.
2. The City Clerk is authorized and directed to record the executed deed in
the Office of the Marin County Recorder.
I, ESTHER C. BEIRNE, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the
foregoing resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting
of the Council of said City on the 4th day of December 2017, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Colin, Gamblin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk