TO: LINDA REICH, CITY MANAGER
FROM: HYE JIN LEE, PE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
SUBJECT
title
Landscape Maintenance Agreement between the City of Chino and Caltrans for the new median on SR-83/Euclid Avenue (Merrill Avenue north to Eucalyptus Avenue).
end
RECOMMENDATION
1) Approve an Agreement between the City of Chino and the State of California, Department of Transportation (Caltrans), for the ongoing maintenance of new median landscaping improvements within the State Highway right-of-way along State Route 83/Euclid Avenue, from Merrill Avenue north to Eucalyptus Avenue; and 2) authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents on behalf of the City.
body
FISCAL IMPACT
Execution of this agreement will obligate the City to fund all ongoing maintenance activities associated with the median landscaping. These expenses will be supported by the City’s General Fund. Upon completion of the relinquishment process, the City will incorporate the associated maintenance costs into the General Fund operating budget during the next available budget cycle or sooner if needed.
Given the pending relinquishment of Euclid Avenue (State Route 83) to the City of Chino, this agreement is consistent with the City’s forthcoming responsibility for long-term ownership and maintenance of this corridor. Executing the agreement at this time ensures continuity of service and the proper care of recently completed median landscaping improvements during the transition period.
CITY OF CHINO MISSION / VISION / VALUES / STRATEGIC ISSUES
The recommendation detailed above further the City’s values and strategic issues that serve as key pillars on which identified priorities, goals, and action plans are built, by fostering:
• Positive City Image
• Public Service Excellence through Internal and External Partnerships
|
Revenue: Click or tap here to enter text. |
Expenditure: |
|
Transfer In: Click or tap here to enter text. |
Transfer Out: Click or tap here to enter text. |
BACKGROUND
On October 27, 2020, the City of Ontario Planning Commission approved Parcel Map No. 20016. The map covers approximately 80.65 acres and includes seven numbered lots and one lettered lot, submitted by the Developer, Euclid Land Venture, LLC. The approved project (“Project”) consists of an industrial/business park with seven warehouse buildings ranging in size from 43,400 square feet (sf) to 1,099,000 sf, for a total of about 1,676,000 sf of warehouse and office space.
The Project site is within the Ontario Ranch Business Park Specific Plan area, bounded by Eucalyptus Avenue to the north, Sultana Avenue to the east, Merrill Avenue to the south, and Euclid Avenue (State Route 83) to the west (Exhibit A). Because of the scale and traffic impacts of the Project, off-site improvements were required as conditions of approval.
Under the Development Agreement with the City of Ontario, the Developer is responsible for designing and constructing public improvements along Euclid Avenue. This includes construction of a landscaped raised median on Euclid Avenue between Merrill and Eucalyptus Avenues. While the improvements are tied to the Ontario project, they are partially located within the City of Chino’s jurisdiction and in the State’s right-of-way managed by Caltrans. This makes it a multi-agency coordination effort involving Ontario, Chino, Caltrans, and the Developer.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
Caltrans currently maintains jurisdiction over Euclid Avenue (State Route 83). Accordingly, any work within the State right-of-way requires an encroachment permit. For this Project, issuance of a permit to construct the landscape improvements is contingent upon the City of Chino entering into a Landscape Maintenance Agreement.
This agreement is a standard Caltrans practice to ensure that landscaping and irrigation improvements constructed within State right-of-way are maintained long-term by the local jurisdiction rather than the State. Execution of the agreement is therefore a prerequisite for Caltrans to release the encroachment permit necessary to construct the Euclid Avenue median landscape improvements.
Staff presented a project update to the Infrastructure Streets Committee on September 30, 2025, during which the imminent execution of the agreement was discussed. Development and Engineering staff have reviewed the agreement for consistency with the approved improvement plans, irrigation design, and long-term maintenance feasibility, and the City Attorney’s Office has reviewed it as to form and legal sufficiency.
While the agreement identifies the City as the responsible entity for ongoing maintenance, the Developer will remain obligated to maintain the improvements until the City’s final acceptance of the public improvements. This ensures that the Developer remains accountable during construction and the establishment period of the landscaped areas.
It should also be noted that this requirement stems from the fact that the formal relinquishment of Euclid Avenue (State Route 83) to the City of Chino has not yet been completed, although it is anticipated in the future. Until relinquishment is finalized, Caltrans retains jurisdiction and requires the City to execute the Landscape Maintenance Agreement as a condition of encroachment permit approval.
Attachment: Exhibit A - Location Map
Landscape Maintenance Agreement