Item 6-K
Santa Monica, California
Council Meeting: July 13, 1999
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution of Intention to Vacate Public Service Utility and Right- of-Way Easements at Wilshire Place South and Fifteenth Court Alleys and Set a Public Hearing on August 10, 1999
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution of intention to vacate public utility and right-of-way easements located at Wilshire Place and Fifteenth Court alleys adjacent to the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center. The resolution sets a public hearing on the proposed vacation of these easements.
Background
From its inception in 1926, Santa Monica Hospital Medical Center functioned as a non-profit, full-service, community-based medical center. As a result of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the hospital suffered significant structural damage, requiring temporary closure. Following substantial interim structural repairs, the hospital tower reopened in 1995, with requirements established by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development that the hospital tower must either be replaced or upgraded to current codes by 2003.
In August 1995, the hospital was acquired by the University of California (UCLA), and renamed the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center (SM-UCLA-MC). Following a detailed
assessment of the earthquake damage, and completion of the SM-UCLA-MC Master Plan Study, UCLA determined that repairing the hospital tower would prove unacceptably disruptive to patient care and not be cost effective. Instead, they recommended the replacement of the tower and the acquisition of three commercial properties fronting Wilshire Boulevard which would accommodate this building. In conjunction with the acquisition, UCLA has requested that the City take action to vacate the public utility and right-of-way easements located in Wilshire Place South and Fifteenth Court alleys (see Attachment A for a map of the subject area).
Discussion
The proposed site for the replacement medical facility encompasses the entire city block bounded by Wilshire Boulevard and Arizona Avenue, between 15th and 16th Streets. In conjunction with its acquisition of the parcels along Wilshire Boulevard, UCLA requests that the City vacate its public utility and right-of-way easements located in Wilshire Place South. In addition, they request the vacation of public utility easements reserved by Resolution Number 3610 (CCS) adopted in 1967 in connection with the vacation of the right-of-way easement in a portion of 15th Street Court.
Legal descriptions of properties are described in Exhibit A of the attached Resolution. Completion of the vacation proceedings shall be contingent upon: 1) UCLA obtaining ownership of the properties located at 1512-1524 Wilshire Boulevard and 1502 Wilshire Boulevard, and 2) taking all steps necessary to relocate existing utility facilities to the satisfaction of each utility provider. The relocation will be performed at UCLA
=s sole expense.As required by law, the City will publish and post notices of the public hearing regarding the proposed vacation of these easements to take place at 7:00 p.m. on August 10, 1999.
Budget/Financial Impact
No financial impact to the City is anticipated as a result of the vacation of these public access and utility easements.
Recommendation
Staff respectfully recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution of Intention which will set a public hearing on the proposed vacation of public utility and right-of-way easements in Wilshire Place South and 15th Court alleys.
Attachments:
Resolution of Intention to set a public hearing regarding the vacation of public access
and utility easements
Attachment A: Map of Subject Area
Prepared by:
Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental & Public Works Management
Anthony Antich, P.E., City Engineer
Linda Moxon, Deputy City Attorney
Ruth Odell, Engineering Support Services Supervisor