Approve agreement with Ralph H. White Jr., Successor Trustee of the Ralph H. White and Mildred L. White 1991 Trust, for the purchase of interest in real property (Agreement) in the amount of $14,000, for acquisition of permanent flood control and temporary construction easements necessary for the State of California Department of Water Resources DSID 19516 Pipe Removal Project and the Knights Landing Flood Mitigation Project; and authorize the Director of Public Works to sign the Agreement and take the administrative actions necessary to complete the easement acquisitions. (No general fund impact) (Fieseler/Riddiough)

Permanent flood control and temporary construction easements are required on portions of private property for the State of California Department of Water Resources (DWR) DSID 19516 Pipe Removal Project and the Knights Landing Flood Mitigation Project. The County and its consultant team (the “Project Team”) have determined that the project will require the acquisition of certain property interests on Assessor’s Parcel Numbers 056-286-010 and 056-286-011 (the “Subject Property”). These parcels are owned by Ralph H. White Jr., Successor Trustee of the Ralph H. White and Mildred L. White 1991 Trust (the “Property Owner”).

An independent appraisal was prepared by Project Team member Pattison & Associates, Inc. to determine the value of the easement interests on the Subject Property. The appraisal was reviewed and approved by DWR. The Project Team then worked with the Property Owner to reach a mutually acceptable agreement regarding the purchase and compensation of the easement interests. The resulting Agreement is included as Attachment A. The $14,000 cost of the Agreement is fully reimbursable through grant funds available to the County.

Background

There are three on-going projects that Yolo County is participating in to enhance public safety and reduce flood risk for the Knights Landing Community and surrounding agricultural areas. When fully constructed, these efforts are expected to reduce the chances of flooding to a population of nearly 1,000 residents, approximately 320 structures, and 3,400 acres of prime agricultural land.  The three projects are:

The Subject Property is located along the right bank levee of the Sacramento River which is operated and maintained by the County through CSA-6. A 48-inch corrugated metal gravity-flow pipe that penetrates the levee on the Subject Property will be removed through the DSID 19516 Pipe Removal Project (the “Pipe Removal Project”). The pipe is no longer used and is considered a liability to the levee structure were it to remain and continue to deteriorate. The Pipe Removal Project also includes construction of improved levee access for maintenance vehicles and equipment by modifying the entrance from State Route 45 and widening the levee crown. In addition, the subsequent Knights Landing Flood Mitigation Project (the “Flood Mitigation Project”) will later raise the levee through the Subject Property to meet FEMA’s 100-year flood protection design criteria.

Proposed Easement Acquisitions

The County seeks to acquire a permanent flood control easement on the Subject Property totaling approximately 0.18 acre.  In addition, to fully construct the Pipe Removal Project and the Flood Mitigation Project, the County requires a 36-month temporary construction easement consisting of two separate areas on the Subject Property, together encompassing approximately 0.20 acre.  The legal descriptions and plats depicting the respective easements are included within Attachment A.

The Subject Property contains approximately 2.58 acres, is zoned for low-density residential use, and is currently vacant except for an existing storage building.

Environmental Review

On October 22, 2024, the Board of Supervisors adopted an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the overall Knights Landing Flood Management Project as the appropriate level of environmental review in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Department of General Services
County Counsel has reviewed the Agreement as to form.

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