COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

August 25, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 13, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Reconstruction of Altschul Avenue from Camino A Los Cerros to Camino De Los Robles – West Menlo Park Area (Project No. RC700, F-36 [113])

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Public Works to use the approximate center of the existing road as the center of the minimum improvements that are proposed to be constructed on this section of Altschul Avenue.

Vision Alignment

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government.

Goal(21): County employees understand, support and integrate the County vision and goals into their delivery of services.

Authorizing the Director of Public Works to use the approximate center of the existing road as the centerline of construction of the minimum improvements, will allow us to accede to the wishes of the majority of property owners who petitioned to have the improvements constructed.

Background

Previous Board Action

1.

Adopted resolutions establishing minimum road standards and a priority list for road improvements in the West Menlo Park Area.

2.

Adopted procedures to be used by Public Works in determining if property owners wished to have minimum improvements constructed on their street.

History

Altschul Avenue from Camino A Los Cerros to Camino De Los Robles is the next street on the West Menlo Park road priority list adopted by your Board, that is proposed for reconstruction. The street standard to be used is based on the results of our survey of the adjacent property owners.

We also notified the property owners that the existing pavement centerline is approximately 5-10 feet south of the centerline of the right-of-way and that the centerline of the road right-of-way is typically used as the centerline for new improvements.

However, due to the location of landscaping and fencing, 15 out of 17 property owners on Altschul Avenue from Camino A Los Cerros to Camino De Los Robles have signed a petition requesting that the improvements proposed to be constructed on this portion of Altschul Avenue, be centered on an alignment which approximates the existing pavement centerline.

Discussion

We reviewed the property owners’ request and determined that approximating the existing road centerline will have the following benefits:

1)

existing drainage patterns will not be changed significantly.

2)

current landscape and frontage areas may only be minimally impacted.

3)

grading requirements will be minimized resulting in better conforms with the adjoining property.

4)

the wishes of the majority of the property owners will be met as eighty-eight percent (88%) of the property owners are in favor of maintaining the existing center of the road.

5)

the proposed improvements will be within the road right-of-way.

The petition was not unanimous as one property owner was out of the country when the petition was circulated and one property owner prefers the centerline of the improvements to be on the centerline of the road right-of-way.

A copy of our report has been sent to the property owner who organized the petition and to the two property owners who did not sign the petition as explained above, and we have notified them of the date when your Board is scheduled to consider our recommendation.

A resolution has been approved as to form by County Counsel.

Fiscal Impact

The cost of constructing improvements centered on the existing road will be somewhat less expensive than constructing the improvements on the center of the right-of-way, as we believe the cost of conforming to the adjoining properties will be less. We have not invested the staff time to do a specific estimate as the costs are lower and the recommendation is in keeping with the request of the majority of the property owners. The cost of improvements will be financed with Road Funds.

There is no impact to the General Fund.