TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: David Chantarangsu, AICP, Development Services Director
PREPARED BY: Jarrett Ramaiya, Deputy Development Director
SUBJECT:
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Public Hearing and Adoption of a Resolution Approving a Street Name Change for Sparkman Drive to “Monroe Avenue” and Adoption of Exemption from CEQA
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RECOMMENDATION
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Conduct a public hearing and adopt Resolution No. 26-4906 entitled: A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Murrieta Changing the Name of “Sparkman Drive” to “Monroe Avenue”, Between Murrieta Hot Springs Road and Walsh Center Drive, and Name the Northerly Segment Under Construction to “Monroe Avenue”, Between Walsh Center Drive and the Terminus Near Vista Murrieta Road and finding this action exempt from CEQA; and
Direct the City Clerk to promptly forward a copy of Resolution No. 26-4906 to the Board of Supervisors of Riverside County.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On August 2, 2005, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 05-1504, changing a portion of Jackson Avenue to Sparkman Drive, between Walsh Centre Drive and Murrieta Hot Springs Road (Vote: 5-0).
On June 5, 2007, the City Council reviewed three proposed alignments for Monroe Avenue and selected a preferred alternative, between Los Alamos Road and Murrieta Hot Springs Road (Vote: 5-0).
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Plan, program and create infrastructure development.
DISCUSSION
Origin of Sparkman Drive
On August 2, 2005, the City Council changed the name of the roadway between Jackson Avenue from Murrieta Hot Springs Road to Vista Murrieta Road, to Sparkman Drive, through the adoption of Resolution No. 05-1504 (see Attachment 2). This segment of Sparkman Drive remains, as other segments have been changed through previous City Council actions. Of note, Sparkman Drive is also referenced in some documents as “Sparkman Court”.
Joan Francis Sparkman was a longtime civic, business, and community leader in southwest Riverside County. Of her many accomplishments, she served 22 years on the Temecula Valley Unified Board of Education, 14 years on the Mount San Jacinto Community Board of Trustees, was chosen as Woman of the Year by the State Assembly (twice), Woman of the Year by the California State Senate and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce. Temecula Valley Unified School District recognized Ms. Sparkman’s dedication to the area by naming one of its facilities in her honor. Ms. Sparkman passed away in 2024.
City Council Designation of Monroe Alignment
On June 5, 2007, the City Council reviewed three proposed alignments for Monroe Avenue, between Los Alamos Road and Murrieta Hot Springs Road (alternatives 1, 2, and 2a). Based upon a precise alignment study that considered factors such as City design standards, property acquisitions, grading requirements, access to properties, environmental constraints, cost, and public comment, the City Council adopted Alternative 1 for Monroe Avenue (see Attachment 3).
Terraces Residential Project
Greystar is constructing an 899-unit multi-family project, located north of Murrieta Hot Springs Road (MHSR), south of Vista Murrieta Road, and west of Sparkman Drive. As part of its conditions of approval, Greystar is responsible for constructing a segment of future Monroe Avenue, from MHSR to the terminus near Vista Murrieta Road. The Terraces project is near a point of requesting addresses for future residential units. Existing Sparkman Drive, along with the future Monroe Avenue, to be completed by the Terraces developer, are both shown below. Given the construction progress of the Terraces project, it is an appropriate time to transition the street in its entirety to the name Monroe Avenue. Attachment 4 includes the approved street improvement plans for future Monroe Avenue. Leaving the street name unchanged could create confusion for first responders, the postal service, and other delivery services.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
The street renaming is exempt from environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) - State CEQA Guidelines Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3. Section 15061(b)(3), which is the common-sense exemption, where it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question, changing the name of a road, will not have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City. The developer will pay the costs for the new street signs and signal light signs, which are expected to cost less than $2,000. Monroe Avenue is being constructed by the Terraces developer (Greystar); therefore, there will be no additional costs for the street sign, as the developer will cover the cost of the signs before the road is completed.
ATTACHMENTS
ATT 1 - Resolution No. 26-4906
ATT 2 - Resolution No. 05-1504
ATT 3 - City Council Agenda Report for Monroe Precise Alignment
ATT 4 - Terraces Street Improvement Plan for Monroe Avenue