Indio Fairgrounds Shalimar Building Renovations
Summary
SCH Number
2024120128
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Indio Fairgrounds Shalimar Building Renovations
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
12/4/2024
Document Description
On Saturday, June 8, 2024, Pickering Events our County Fairgrounds Operator (Operator), found that over the weekend, a restroom in the Shalimar Building (second floor) had been leaking for at least a day. The leaking caused flooding and damage throughout the west side of the building on both the upper and lower floors. The Operator’s staff took immediate action to extract the water.
The areas affected by the water damage include the first and second floor restrooms, offices, hallways, ticket areas, and the interview room. The Operator has been impacted by the flooding and is unable to conduct their daily operations in the facility. Without this facility in operational order, Pickering Events and the County of Riverside could see a negative impact to future events held at the Indio Fairgrounds, as this facility is a crucial part for their daily operations.
This action seeks to pursue the timely and necessary Shalimar Building Remediation and Repair Project (Project) to affect the necessary repairs in time for the upcoming Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival (Fair). The renovations to the Shalimar Building at the Indio Fairgrounds is identified as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The operation of the facility will continue to provide public services and will not result in a change or expansion of existing use. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.
Contact Information
Name
Mike Sullivan
Agency Name
Riverside County
Job Title
Facilities Operations Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Indio
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Zip
92201
Parcel #
614-040-006
State Highways
SR-111
Other Location Info
46263 Oasis, south of Highway 111
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301 Class 1 Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
This Class 1 categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site’s use. The project, as proposed, is limited to the renovations within the Shalimar Building at the Indio Fairgrounds to address water damage that occurred to the first and second floor restrooms, offices, hallways, ticket areas, and the interview room. The improvements are minor in nature and needed to restore the full functional use of the facility. The use of the facility would continue to provide public services and would not result in a significant increase in capacity or intensity of use. Therefore, the project is exempt as it meets the scope and intent of the Categorical Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061 (b)(3) Common Sense
Reasons for Exemption
In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the “general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.” State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate if “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or 'it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. With certainty, there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed renovations will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The improvements would occur within existing facility, would not alter the footprint and are being completed to create a compliant and safe health facility. The use of the facility for public services would remain unchanged. Therefore, in no way, would the project as proposed have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact and the project is exempt from further CEQA analysis.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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