Approve agreement with Donarae Reynolds, Successor Trustee of the Donald Raymond Newman Living Trust, dated March 19, 1996, for the purchase of interest in real property (Agreement) in the amount of $1,600, for acquisition of permanent flood control and temporary construction easements necessary for 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 acquisition of the easements. (No general fund impact) (Fieseler/Riddiough)

Permanent flood control and temporary construction easements are required on portions of private property for the Knights Landing Flood Mitigation Project. The permanent flood control easement will be held by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Drainage District (SSJDD). The SSJDD was formed in 1913 and its primary function today is to hold lands for the State for operation and maintenance of the Sacramento River Flood Control 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 056-360-006 and 056-350-013 (the “Subject Property”). These parcels are owned by the Donald Raymond Newman Living Trust, dated March 19, 1996 (the “Property Owner”).

An independent appraisal was prepared by Pattison & Associates, Inc. to determine the value of the easement interests on the Subject Property. The appraisal was reviewed and approved by the California Department of Water Resources (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 $1,600.00 cost of the Agreement is fully reimbursable through grant funds available to the County.

Background

Yolo County is participating in two grants to enhance public safety and reduce flood risk for the Knights Landing Community and surrounding agricultural areas that specifically affect the Subject Property. When fully constructed, these efforts are expected to reduce the chances of flooding to an estimated population of 1,117 (2020), protect approximately 408 residential and agricultural structures, and safeguard about 3,100 acres of prime agricultural land. The two grants are:

The Subject Property is located along the left bank levee of the Knights Landing Ridge Cut which is operated and maintained by the Knights Landing Ridge Drainage District. The Knights Landing Flood Mitigation Project (the “Flood Mitigation Project”) will improve the landside levee stability through the Subject Property to meet FEMA’s levee design criteria.

Proposed Easement Acquisitions

The County seeks to acquire a permanent flood control easement on the Subject Property totaling approximately 0.32 acres. In addition, to fully construct 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 0.08 acres. The legal descriptions and plats depicting the respective easements are included within Attachment A.

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.

N/A