REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Dave Kiff, Interim City Manager
PREPARED BY: Travis K. Hopkins, Interim Assistant City Manager
Subject:
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Approve and authorize execution of a Caltrans Maintenance Agreement for Wayfinding Sign Installations on Pacific Coast Highway and Beach Boulevard
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Statement of Issue:
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) requires that the City enter into a maintenance agreement for the installation and maintenance of Visit Huntington Beach (Visit HB) Wayfinding sign installations within Pacific Coast Highway and Beach Boulevard.
Financial Impact:
None. The City has a current agreement with Visit HB for the installation and on-going maintenance of the new wayfinding signs throughout the City. All costs for fabrication, installation and maintenance, and liability are transferred to Visit HB through the agreement.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve and authorize the Mayor and Interim City Manager to execute the “Project Specific Maintenance Agreement for Wayfinding/Guide Signs in the City of Huntington Beach” with Caltrans for wayfinding sign installations on Pacific Coast Highway and Beach Boulevard.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not authorize execution of the agreement and forego any wayfinding sign installations along Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway under the Visit HB Wayfinding project.
Analysis:
The City of Huntington Beach and Visit Huntington Beach (Visit HB) have been working in cooperation on the development and implementation of a citywide wayfinding sign program for the past 2 years. The two parties entered into an agreement in September 2017 to formalize the working relationship that the program will follow and essentially assigns the responsibility for all work pertaining to the design, installation and on-going maintenance, as well as liability, for a 10 year period to Visit HB.
The program has been proceeding forward and many sign installations have occurred throughout the City with several more elements still to be installed. One of the more challenging elements of the project has been the process of obtaining the appropriate clearance and permits from Caltrans for new installations within the State rights-of-way on both Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway. A key element in the completion of this process is the finalization of a maintenance agreement between the City and Caltrans that details the terms of the installation, maintenance and liability coverage of the signs. Caltrans will only enter into a maintenance agreement with the local agency and not with Visit HB or their contractor directly. They do allow the local agency to enter into assignment agreements with third parties.
The maintenance agreement has been developed in consultation with legal and technical staff from both Caltrans and the City and has been deemed acceptable by both parties. Authorization to execute the agreement will allow the City to obtain the necessary permits that will then allow Visit HB’s contractor to obtain their second level of permitting from Caltrans. These steps are necessary to complete the full citywide installation as planned.
Environmental Status:
Exempt.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Enhance and maintain infrastructure
Attachment(s):
1. Project Specific Maintenance Agreement for Wayfinding/Guide Signs in the City of Huntington Beach