Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project (PW01012)
Summary
SCH Number
2022100168
Public Agency
City of Fresno
Document Title
Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project (PW01012)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/10/2022
Document Description
The City of Fresno, Public Works Department, is proposing a project involving both infrastructure and non-infrastructure components.
The infrastructure component of the project will benefit the community by replacing aging infrastructure, introducing urban greening, improved walkability, enhanced amenities along the Belmont Avenue corridor and at five existing bus stops. The non-infrastructure elements will provide youth service opportunities and help build a sense of pride among residents.
The infrastructure component will reconstruct the existing median on Belmont Avenue from Abby Street to Millbrook Avenue to include the removal of median AC, saw cutting, adjustment of water valves and manhole lids to grade, and installation of curb, gutter, concrete, landscaping and irrigation in the reconstructed median. Sidewalk tree wells and irrigation will be installed along the proposed corridor. Pedestrian ramps, signage and striping will be upgraded to meet current ADA requirements.
Five existing FAX Bus stop locations within the project area, will be updated to a include a new shelter, lighting, trash receptacles and seating.
The non-infrastructure components include the commissioning of eight murals to be painted by eight local artists, at five locations along SR-180 at Blackstone Avenue, Abby Street, Fresno Street, First Street and at the Romain Community Center (First Street and E. Harvey Avenue).
The project includes the hiring of a vendor to provide weekly litter cleanup within a 0.75 square mile area until June 2024. The vendor contract will reduce litter within the project area and may provide employment opportunities for the community.
The project will establish ‘Beautify Fresno’ Clubs at Webster and Hidalgo Elementary Schools. The Beautify Fresno Clubs will organize a cleanup or beautification event to be held each semester at each school, for a total of eight Beautify Fresno Club-organized cleanup events.
The City of Fresno’s ‘Beautify Fresno’ program will also organize four volunteer-based cleanup events to be held at Webster (two events), Hidalgo and Anthony Elementary Schools.
The City of Fresno’s ‘Beautify Fresno’ program will also create and launch two, twelve-week long Anti-litter campaigns to include bus wraps, billboard ads and online social media outreach. One campaign will launch in 2023 and the second in 2024.
Contact Information
Name
Jason Miller
Agency Name
City of Fresno
Job Title
Supervising Professional Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Fresno
Counties
Fresno
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Belmont Avenue, Abby Street, Millbrook Avenue, SR-180, Blackstone Avenue, First Street,Fresno St
Zip
93701
Total Acres
360
Jobs
15
Parcel #
N/A
State Highways
SR-180, SR-41, SR-99
Railways
UPRR, BNSF, SJVR
Airports
FYI
Schools
Webster, Anthony, Hidalgo, Muir, Lowell, Yokami Elementary
Waterways
Mill Ditch, Herndon Canal
Township
13S
Range
20E
Section
34
Base
MDB&E
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines, Class 1, Section 15301 & Class 2, Section 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15301/Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines exempts from the provisions of CEQA, projects consisting of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination. The types of "existing facilities" itemized below are not intended to be all-inclusive of the types of projects which might fall within Class 1. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use. An example of this exemption includes existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (this includes road grading for the purpose of public safety).
Section 15302/Class 2 consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced, including but not limited to: water main, sewage, electrical, gas, and other utility extensions, including street improvements, of reasonable length to serve such construction.
The proposed project is consistent with Class 1 and Class 2 exemptions because the project is proposing to make improvements to existing landscaping medians, sidewalk, reinstall signage and striping. The proposed improvements, including the non-infrastructure components of the project, are minor, do not constitute an expansion of use, and will improve the public right-of-way without increasing road capacity. The proposed project involves negligible expansion of the existing use and will have substantially the same purpose.
Based on staff analysis, it was determined that no adverse environmental impacts would occur as a result of the proposed project and none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Therefore, a categorical exemption, as noted above, has been prepared for the project.
County Clerk
Fresno
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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