Adoption of Resolution Approving an Amendment to Coachella Valley Portion of Transportation Expenditure Plan and Retail Transaction and Use Tax Ord. No. 88-1
Summary
SCH Number
2008118059
Public Agency
City of Coachella
Document Title
Adoption of Resolution Approving an Amendment to Coachella Valley Portion of Transportation Expenditure Plan and Retail Transaction and Use Tax Ord. No. 88-1
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/10/2008
Document Description
The Riverside County Transportation Commission Transportation ("RCTC") Expenditure Plan and Retail Transaction and Use Tax Ordinance, Ordinance No. 88-1 (the "Plan") was approved by 78.9 percent of the voters in Riverside County in 1988. The purpose of this Plan is to relieve traffic congestion, increase safety, improve air quality, and provide funding for essential countywide transportation improvements. The Plan listed the locations of anticipated improvements in Riverside County, including the Coachella Valley area. Due to unanticipated realignments in roadways and the relinquishment of State control over other roadways and highways in Coachella Valley, the Plan must not be amended to reflect current conditions and specify the current roadways segments which are eligible for funding. The resolution approving an amendment to the Plan adopted by the City on October 22, 2880 does not approve the construction of any transportation improvement, but instead approves an amendment to the Plan in order to make funding available for the planning and environmental review of future transportation improvements. The beneficiaries of these improvements include the residents of Riverside County, particularly those of the Coachella Valley area.
Contact Information
Name
Carmen M. Manriquez
Agency Name
City of Coachella
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Coachella
Counties
Riverside
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Sec 15378(b)(4);15004
Reasons for Exemption
Approval of the proposed amendment to the Plan does not approve the construction of any transportation improvements. The proposed amendment revises the Plan to accurately state current conditions and specify the transportation system improvements which are eligible for funding under the Plan. Only those improvements specified in the Plan are eligible for funding. The Plan states that "the scope of the highway commuter rail projects to be implemented is to be determined through required environmental analysis is required." Likewise, Public Utilities Code section 240302 states that the tax revenues available under the Plan are to be expended for the purposes of "planning, environmental reviews, engineering and design costs, and related right-of-way acquisition." Accordingly, the Plan must be amended before available tax revenues can be expended on the planning and environmental review of anticipated future transportation improvements. As such, amendment of the Plan is merely "the creation of [a] government funding mechanism or other government fiscal activity[y] which do[es] not involve any commitment to an specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment." (State CEQA Guidelines § 15004.) Accordingly, the amendment of the Plan is not a "project" and is exempt from environmental review under CEQA. Any future approval of specific transportation improvements would be subject to all required environmental review by the appropriate agencies.
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