HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.1 WeedsSRRDI-580WstbndCITY CLERK
AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: January 23, 1996
SUBJECT:
Report on Weeds Along I-580 Freeway at Westbound Offramp to
San Ramon Road
Report Prepared by: Lee S. Thompson, Public Works Director
EXHIBITS ATTACHED:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Map of area for possible landscaping improvements
Location Map
Budget Change Form (for Alternative 2 below)
Slides of the area will be shown at the City Council meeting
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive report and provide direction:
Alternative 1: Direct Staff to monitor the 1-580 weed
situation and remind Caltrans if the weeds get out of hand.
Alternative 2: Direct Staff to develop plans for landscaping
along the westbound 1-580 ramp to San Ramon Road and approve an
appropriation of $21,000 from unallocated reserves for installation
of landscaping, irrigation, and development of utilities to the site.
Alternative 3:
Other appropriate direction
FINANCIAL STATEMENT:
If the City installs a row of shrubs along the offramp, the initial cost
is estimated at $21,000, including water service charges. If the City
assumes maintenance of the shrubs, the estimated annual cost would
be $1,500, including water, electrical, and plant maintenance.
DESCRIPTION: The City Council recently directed Staff to investigate a weed
problem along the 1-580 offramp at San Ramon Road and provide potential solutions for improving the
appearance of this gateway to Dublin's downtown area.
The area inside the drainage channel fence along the Best Western Motel is owned and maintained by
Zone 7 Flood Control. The area along the edge of the 1-580 pavement is owned and maintained by
Caltrans. Staff has contacted both Caltrans and Zone 7 with the following results.
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COPIES TO:
ITEM NO.
Zone 7 Right of Way
Jim Dixon, General Manager of Zone 7, stated that Zone 7 budgets $800 every two years to maintain the
weeds along this channel between 1-680 and San Ramon Road. Zone 7's maintenance consists of two
weed sprayings per year and one weed cleanup every two years. Mr. Dixon said that if the City of Dublin
or a volunteer group would like to take over this maintenance, Zone 7 could pass on $400 per year to the
City.
Staff had MCE prepare an estimated cost based on three sprayings and two cleanups per year. The
estimated cost was $2,000 for the western half of the right-of-way between 1-680 and San Ramon Road.
After reviewing the site, Staff feels that the majority of the problem is on the Caltrans right-of-way and
not in the Zone 7 right-of-way.
Caltrans Right-of-Way
The Caltrans Area Superintendent of Maintenance advised Staff that since this area of 1-580 was under
construction for the BART work, the Caltrans maintenance crews have held off any work in this area so as
not to conflict with the construction. The maintenance superintendent did say that he could have his
crews remove the weeds since the weeds have gotten out of hand. The Caltrans crews, with the aid of
Work Alternative crews, have been working to clean up this roadside.
To pursue a long term solution, Staff contacted the landscape architecture division of Caltrans to see if
there are any plans to landscape 1-580 after the BART work. The answer is that since Caltrans' funds
have been cut back, landscaping is not a priority, and there are no plans to landscape this area ofi-580.
Staff spoke with the permits section of Caltrans to see if the City could do some landscaping to shield this
unsightly area of the freeway. The City would be allowed to install landscaping and irrigation but would
need to apply for a permit and provide a plan for the work. The permit could also include the City's
maintenance of the landscaping if, in fact, the City wishes to maintain the landscaping. Caltrans staff
recommended that the City of Dublin maintain the plantings to insure a level of maintenance acceptable to
Dublin.
If it is acceptable to the City Council that the weeds simply be kept down, Staff could monitor the weeds
and call Caltrans if the weeds get out of hand; then there would be no cost to the City other than staff
time. Hopefully, the level ofmaintenaiice will improve after the BART project is completed.
If the City Council would like to see a hedge along the offramp which would screen the channel and
shoulder area from view (see Exhibit 1), the City Council should direct Staff to develop a plan, obtain a
permit from Caltrans, prepare bid documents, and return to the City Council for authorization to go to bid.
This would require a budget appropriation for a new capital project in the amount of $21,000 and a
provision in the 1996-97 operating budget for maintenance of this area.
Staff recommends that the City Council review the options and provide direction for future action.
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CITY OF DUBLIN
BUDGET CHANGE FORM
CHANGE FORM #
New Appropriations (City Council Approval Required):
Budget Transfers:
X From Unappropriated Reserves From Budgeted Contingent Reserve (1080-799.000)
Within Same Department Activity
From New Revenues Between Departments (City Council Approval Required)
Other
Name: Name: New capital project to landscape
area adjacent to freeway offramp $21,000.00
Account #: Account #:
Name: Name:
Account #: Account #:
Name: Name:
Account #: Account #:
Name: Name:
Account #: Account #:
Name: Name:
Account #: Account #:
REASON FOR BUDGET CHANGE ENTRY: New capital project to plant row of shrubs along freeway
offramp for purpose of screening unlandscaped area and flood channel.
City Manager: Date:
Signature
Mayor:
Posted By:
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Signature
Signature
Date: