BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:Title
Adopt Resolution Setting Time and Date of Public Hearing on the Engineer’s Report and CEQA Exemption Determination for the Water Treatment Plants Electrical Improvement Project, Project No. 93084004 (San Jose) (Districts 3 and 7).
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RECOMMENDATION:Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution SETTING TIME AND DATE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ENGINEER’S REPORT AND CEQA EXEMPTION DETERMINATION FOR THE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, to occur on February 8, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. by teleconference Zoom meeting.
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SUMMARY:
The objective of the Water Treatment Plants Electrical Improvement Project (Project) is to improve the electrical systems at Penitencia Water Treatment Plant and Santa Teresa Water Treatment Plant by upgrading aging switchboards and motor control centers, increasing power generation capacity, replacing monitoring and control devices, and installing harmonic filters. Completion of this Project will reduce the downtime caused by electrical failures, ultimately ensuring continuous plant operations.
Attachment 1 contains the resolution to set the time and place for the public hearing.
Engineer’s Report and CEQA Exemption Determination
Section 12 of the District Act requires the Board to conduct a public hearing to consider all written and oral objections to the proposed Project when: 1) the Project is new construction; and 2) the Project is funded by a single or joint zone of benefit. As the proposed Project meets condition number 2, staff has prepared an Engineer’s Report (Attachment 2) for the purpose of public disclosure.
In addition, staff has determined that the proposed Project would be exempt from CEQA review because it qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301; Existing Facility [Class 1 - operation, repair, maintenance, minor alteration of existing structures and facilities].
Staff is recommending that the Board set a public hearing for February 8, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. to hear public comments on Santa Clara Valley Water District’s (Valley Water) Engineer’s Report and CEQA exemption determination. Following the public hearing, the Board will consider the CEQA exemption determination before considering approving the Engineer’s Report and the proposed Project. The Notice of Public Hearing for the Engineer’s Report is provided in Attachment 3.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
There are no Environmental Justice Impacts associated with this item, but by setting the time and date for a public hearing, the Project team will begin conversation with the immediate community.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with approving staff’s recommendation to set a Public Hearing on the Engineer’s Report to consider the Project. The estimated cost to plan, design, and construct the above-described Project is $11.9 million (2021 dollars). The Project is included in the Five-Year 2022-26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Funds for the planned Project are included in the FY2021/22 board adopted budget. The proposed Project would be funded by the Water Utility Enterprise Fund, with 100% of the costs allocated to Zone W-2 (North County).
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a “project” under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have the potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
Attachment 2: Engineer’s Report
Attachment 3: Notice of Public Hearing
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:Manager
Heath McMahon, 408-630-3126