To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: ANDREW WINJE, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TITLE
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APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 8 TO FUNDING AGREEMENT #MOU.MR312.20 WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY FOR THE AVIATION BOULEVARD AT ARTESIA BOULEVARD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, JOB NO. 40780, TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL $1,000,000 IN MEASURE R FUNDS APPROVED FOR FY 2024-25, AN ADDITIONAL $1,500,000 IN MEASURE R FUNDS APPROVED FOR FY 2025-26, AND TO EXTEND THE LAPSING DATE OF FY 2021-22 FUNDS TO JUNE 30, 2026.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Redondo Beach has received $15.748 million from Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in Measure R Highway Program funds for seven regional street improvement projects endorsed by the Infrastructure Working Group of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG). One of these projects, the Aviation Boulevard at Artesia Boulevard Intersection Improvements (Northbound Right Turn Lane Addition) Project, Job No. 40780, initially received $2.457 million in awarded funds for design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction. The acquisition of the property needed to complete the project required significant legal work and expense. Accordingly, at the City’s request, the Metro Board approved an additional $2.5 million in funding to cover the extra right-of-way acquisition costs, legal fees associated with property acquisition, and increased construction expenses estimated due to inflation. With approval of the proposed amendment, Metro’s commitment for the project to date will be $4.957 million.
Additionally, the Metro Board awarded the City $400,000 of construction contingency funding, but staff has not yet received the Funding Agreement for these monies. When the agreement for these funds is received, a ninth amendment will be presented to City Council for consideration, that if approved would bring the total project budget to $5.357 million.
Each project funding agreement has an initial term of two, three or five years. Extensions to the agreement are then processed on a year-to-year basis to allow for closer tracking of project progress by Metro and SBCCOG. The proposed amendment, extends the lapsing date of some of the Project’s earliest funds to June 30, 2026.
Regional highway street improvement projects often require multiple years to complete, especially when property acquisition is required to execute the work. The Aviation Right Turn Lane Project has been several years in the making, but is now entering its final stage, as approval of the Project’s construction contract is also part of the City Council’s August 5th meeting agenda.
BACKGROUND
Measure R is a one-half cent sales tax approved by Los Angeles County voters in November 2008 to meet transportation needs of Los Angeles County. The City of Redondo Beach previously received $15.748 million from Metro in Measure R Highway Program funds for seven regional street improvement projects endorsed by the Infrastructure Working Group and recommended by the Board of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG).
In 2012, the City Council awarded contracts for right-of-way acquisition services to Overland, Pacific and Cutler, Inc. and for design services to RBF Consulting, Inc, now Michael Baker International, Inc.
The right-of-way acquisition was fiercely contested by the adjacent property owner. Therefore, the City was required to go through a lengthy eminent domain process.
On May 19, 2020, the City Council, via Resolution No.CC-2005-034, adopted the Initial Study and Negative Declaration No. 2020-XX-IES-MND-OOX, complying with CEQA, for the addition of a northbound right turn lane from Aviation Boulevard to Artesia Boulevard in the City of Redondo Beach. On January 19, 2021, the City Council, adopted the Resolution of Necessity for eminent domain proceedings to acquire the right-of-way required for the Project.
On February 4, 2025, the City Council approved plans, specifications, and estimates for the project and instructed the City Clerk to advertise the project for construction as soon as the right-of-way settlement was reached.
The court assigned to the eminent domain case ruled in favor of the City regarding the right to take the property needed, and on May 13, 2025 the just compensation phase and settlement agreement with the property owner was finalized. As part of the Settlement Agreement, the City has 12 months to complete the construction, once begun. On May 29, 2025, the City Clerk advertised the project for construction.
On August 5, 2025, the City Council will consider awarding the project to the lowest competitive bidder. Construction of the project is scheduled to begin in September and is anticipated to take approximately 120 working days to complete.
Over the years, some of the early funding agreements have lapsed and had to be extended by amendments, with some requiring multiple amendments due to the extended timeline required to conclude the property acquisition phase of the project. This amendment will extend the lapsing date of FY 2021-22 funds for the Project to June 30, 2026. Staff anticipates completion of the project within this timeframe, now that the right of way issue has been resolved.
COORDINATION
The eighth amendment was coordinated with the SBCCOG and Metro. The City Attorney’s Office approved the amendment as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project will be fully funded by restricted transportation funding provided by Metro. Following approval of the amendment, Regional Measure R Grant funds available for the Project will total $4,957,000. An additional $400,000 will also be available for the Project following approval of the anticipated 9th amendment with Metro. There is sufficient funding to cover the total cost of the Project, including reimbursement for the design, right of way services, settlement costs and legal fees associated with property acquisition.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Amendment No. 8 to MOU.MR312.20 Aviation at Artesia RTO
• Budget and Expenditure Plan