UPDATE: Beaumont Council Votes 4-1 to Approve Potrero Project Agreement

Update 9:03 p.m. The Beaumont city council voted 4-1 Tuesday night to approve an agreement with Caltrans for phase one of the Potrero Boulevard Interchange project without an environmental report.

Projected costs for the first phase are $16 million to $18 million, of which about 40 percent is federally funded, Jason Bennecke, Caltrans project manager for the Potrero Interchange, said earlier.

"This agreement is for the phase one improvements, which covers the overpass and bridge segment, and this will take us over Highway 60," City Manager Alan Kapanicas told the council, after the item was pulled from the consent calendar for discussion.

"We are going to go from Oak Valley, through the two bridges to this point, on the north side of the 60, this will take us over the 60," Kapanicas said. "This segment of roadway is a critical link in the city's circulation infrastructure, as well as for the regional roadways system. . . .

"The purpose of this agreement is to set the framework so the city and Caltrans can move forward in a partnership with construction of this portion of the interchange," Kapanicas said.

Among the stipulations in the agreement is the following:

"City is sponsor for 100% of project."

Beaumont resident Judy Bingham, a member of Beaumont Citizens for Responsible Growth, asked questions before and after the council voted.

"I can't believe that this item, an item of such magnitude, was put on the consent calendar," Bingham said. " . . . How can the city council make an intelligent, informed decision on this amount of money that will be incurred by the taxpayers of Beaumont without an environmental impact review?

"I am just stunned that you are going to vote on this tonight. . . . When will the EIR be ready? . . . Who designed the bridge? Who is in charge of construction management? . . . If this is a regional project why are Beaumont taxpayers 100 percent responsible?"

Councilmembers Jeff Fox, Roger Berg, Brian De Forge, and David Castaldo voted to approve the agreement, and Nancy Gall voted against.

Posted 3:48 p.m. City of Beaumont staff have urged the city council to approve an agreement with Caltrans for phase one of the Potrero Boulevard Interchange project without an environmental report.

The $65-million, two-phase project could take up to 10 years to complete.

The first phase involves building a six-lane bridge over Highway 60 by 2013, according to city officials. The bridge is planned to improve connections between San Timoteo Canyon, Oak Valley Parkway and Highway 60, and it will also connect Fourth Street to Highway 60 and Interstate 10.

Projected costs for the first phase are $16 million to $18 million, of which about 40 percent is federally funded, Jason Bennecke, Caltrans project manager for the Potrero Interchange, said in a phone interview.

Caltrans and the city intend to have a Mitigated Negative Declaration environmental report ready in the near future, Bennecke said.

"The city and the state have been working together about four years to put together this environmental document, and we expect to have it ready for public circulation in a couple of weeks," Bennecke said.

Approval of the agreement with Caltrans will "allow the city to be responsible for construction" of the first phase, Bennecke said.

The agreement with Caltrans is listed on Tuesday night's meeting consent calendar, which is designated for items that "do not require a public hearing or discussion," according to the agenda.

The title for item 3.f on the consent calendar is "Approval of Construction Cooperative Agreement with Caltrans for Potrero Blvd. Interchange (Phase 1)."

A project sheet from Southern California Association of Governments notes "Final environmental approval delayed and construction schedule adjusted accordingly."

Among the stipulations in the cooperative agreement is the following:

"City is sponsor for 100% of project."

The city's Community Development Department put together a report recommending the council approve the cooperative agreement with Caltrans.

"The City has a standing cooperative agreement with Caltrans with respect to the design and execution of the Potrero Boulevard Interchange at State Route 60 in two phases," Associate Planner Chris Tracy said in a staff report.

"The initial phase (Phase 1) includes the overpass/bridge segement, while the subsequent future phase( Phase 2) would construct the remainder of the interchange, including ramps, signals, auxiliary lanes and related improvements.

"This agreement is for the Phase 1 improvements, which covers the overpass/bridge segment of the intersection with Highway 60. This segment of roadway is a critical link for the City's circulation infrastructure, as well as, for the regional roadway system.

"Additionally, it will significantly improve the safety of drivers attempting to cross the highway, who currently have to navigate around on-coming vehicle movement. The purpose of this agreement is to set the framework, so the City and Caltrans can move forward in a partnership, with construction of this portion of the intersection. The estimated completion date for this phase is estimated to be by December 31, 2016.

"RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Construction Cooperative Agreement (Phase 1) with Caltrans and authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement."