HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 162-17RESOLUTION NO. 1 6 2- 17
RESOLUTION OF THE BAKERSFIELD CITY COUNCIL SUPPORTING
THE LOCALLY GENERATED ALTERNATIVE (LGA) ALIGNMENT OF
THE FRESNO TO BAKERSFIELD SECTION OF THE CALIFORNIA HIGH-
SPEED RAIL PROJECT.
WHEREAS, the City of Bakersfield has been selected as a station city for future
construction of a High -Speed Rail ( "HSR ") station; and
WHEREAS, in 2014, the California High -Speed Rail Authority ( "CHSRA ") certified
the Final Environmental Impact Report /Environmental Impact Statement ("Final EIR /EIS ")
for the Fresno to Bakersfield section of the HSR project, which designated a Truxtun
Avenue station location and the "Hybrid Alignment' that impacted many City assets,
including the corporation yard and the Rabobank Arena parking facilities, a hospital,
and a major commercial project; and
WHEREAS, the City sued the CHSRA arguing that the preferred alignment was
unacceptable and the Final EIR /EIS inadequately analyzed the impacts to the City's
facilities under CEQA; and
WHEREAS, the City reached a settlement agreement with the CHSRA in
December 2014 wherein the CHSRA agreed to engage in a new public process, in
coordination with the City, and prepare a subsequent environmental document to
study a new alternative to the Hybrid Alignment through Bakersfield, the "Locally
Generated Alternative" ( "LGA "); and
WHEREAS, the LGA, which had been developed as a concept by the City and
proposed to the CHSRA, follows an alternative route generally paralleling the Union
Pacific Railroad line, which travels through the intersection of F Street and Golden State
in downtown Bakersfield and identifies this F Street location as the site for a HSR station
in downtown Bakersfield; and
WHEREAS, the CHSRA regularly met with staff from the cities of Shatter and
Bakersfield, County of Kern, and Kern Council of Governments, to facilitate the
exchange of information and ideas during the course of the study. These meetings
assisted in the refinement of the LGA ( "Refined LGA ") by providing a forum to express
concerns and preferences and relay important project updates; and
WHEREAS, on November 9, 2017, the CHSRA released its Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Report /Environmental Impact Statement ('Draft Supplemental
EIR /EIS'), in compliance with the settlement agreement, evaluating the environmental
and community impacts associated with the Refined LGA; and
WHEREAS, the Draft Supplemental EIR /EIS has identified the Refined LGA as the
preferred alternative, when compared to the Hybrid Alignment, that is environmentally
superior and best satisfies environmental regulatory requirements and best minimizes
impacts on the natural environment, farmland, and communities; and
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WHEREAS, according to the CHSRA, the Refined LGA is the preferred alternative
because it would result in fewer impacts to agricultural lands, residential displacements,
special- status plant species, riparian areas, and jurisdictional waters; would cost less to
construct; would improve traffic, pedestrian, and bicycle safety and circulation in the
City of Shatter; and would reduce overall system -wide travel time compared to the
Hybrid Alignment; in addition to the fact that it has always been supported by the City;
and
WHEREAS, the station associated with the Refined LGA would be located at the
intersection of SR 204 and F Street in Bakersfield and would have lower capital costs
than the Hybrid Alignment; and
WHEREAS, the Refined LGA reflects the ability and willingness of the CHSRA to
work with local stakeholders to refine the HSR project to achieve positive outcomes for
affected communities and the natural environment, while still meeting the overall
project objectives consistent with the voter- approved Proposition IA; and
WHEREAS, the CHSRA has proactively sought to initiate meaningful dialogue with
stakeholders, including resource agencies, landowners, community leaders, the
agricultural community, and any interested member of the general public, going
above and beyond what is required for outreach activities for CEQA and NEPA in
development of the Draft Supplemental EIR /EIS to ensure the broadest possible
participation; and
WHEREAS, since approving the settlement agreement the City Council has also
adopted a resolution authorizing the City to enter into agreement with the CHSRA to
initiate the preparation of a High -Speed Rail Station Area Plan with grant funds from the
CHSRA; and
WHEREAS, per the contract with the CHSRA, the City of Bakersfield undertook a
Station Area Planning effort in Downtown Bakersfield using grant funds provided
through the CHSRA and in -kind local matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council desire to capitalize on the LGA alignment
and ultimately adopt the Downtown Bakersfield Station Area Plan, to help inspire
continued redevelopment of Downtown Bakersfield, encourage innovation, and pave
the way for new business, enhance the vibrancy of an already thriving Downtown
Bakersfield and make Downtown "high speed rail ready."
follows: NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Bakersfield as
1. The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by
reference.
2. For the reasons stated above, the Bakersfield City Council finds that the
Refined LGA is the overall preferred alignment for the City of Bakersfield and, therefore,
supports the ultimate selection of the Refined LGA by the CHSRA.
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ORIGINAL
HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the
Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on
DEC 1 1 7017 , by the following vote:
✓ r ✓
AY COUNCILMEMBER RIVERA, ✓ GONZALES. ✓ WEIR✓ , 5MITH, FREEMAN, SULLIVAN, PARLEIR
NOES: COUNCILMEMBER NOi �C
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBER Ng10
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER
APPROVED: DEC 13 1017
By -44n I/
KAREN GOH, Mayor
City of Bakersfield
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
VIRGINIA GENNARO
City Attorney
By -'or
ANDREW HEGLUND
Deputy City Attorney
eth .
CHRISTOPHER GEkRY
ACTING CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk of the
Council of the City of Bakersfield
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