TO: ADAM PIRRIE, CITY MANAGER
FROM: BRAD JOHNSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: MARCH 24, 2026
Reviewed by:
City Manager: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH TKE FOR THE DESIGN AND PREPARATION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE AMERICAN AVENUE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT (FUNDING SOURCE: PROPOSITION C FUND)
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SUMMARY
On May 27, 2025, the City Council approved Tentative Map #84564 (TTM) for a 70-unit Townhome Condominium Development on vacant land and a decommissioned tennis club located at 840 South Indian Hill Boulevard. Included with the approval of the TTM, the City Council approved the conditioned improvement of a right-turn pocket for the westbound approach on American Avenue at Indian Hill Boulevard.
To meet this condition, the City of Claremont will provide the final design to the developer, City Ventures, and then the developer will construct the improvements as approved by the City Engineer. The design of these improvements will include but are not limited to the construction of a right-turn pocket, a modified drive approach on the north side of American Avenue, east of Indian Hill Boulevard, a City monument sign (similar to the monument signs on Foothill Boulevard), reconstruction of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramp on the northeast corner, the modification/reconstruction of the traffic signal poles on the northeast corner, and any associated signage and roadway striping.
To complete the design of these improvements, the City must secure the services of a professional civil engineer to prepare the plans and specifications. The City has requested a scope of work and cost estimate from TKE Engineering Inc. to perform these services.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council:
A. Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with TKE in the amount of $65,665, and authorize a ten percent contingency in the amount of $6,567, for an amount not to exceed $72,232, for the design and preparation of plans for the American Avenue Roadway Improvements Project;
B. Appropriate Proposition C funds in the amount of $72,232; and
C. Find this item is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information from staff.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The cost for TKE Engineering Inc. to prepare plans and specifications for the American Avenue Roadway Improvements Project, including a ten percent project contingency, is $72,232. Staff recommends appropriating this amount from the Proposition C Fund.
The execution of this agreement does not require bidding and complies with all City purchasing guidelines. Contract documents are available for review in the City Clerk's office.
The staff cost to prepare this report is $1,036 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Development Department.
ANALYSIS
As a condition of approval for the City Ventures condominium project, City Ventures was required to prepare a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) to analyze nearby intersections to ensure consistency with the General Plan. The intersection of American Avenue at Indian Hill Boulevard was part of the study area and included in the list of potentially impacted intersections for the TTM. The TIA completed for the project identified a mitigation measure for the intersection of Indian Hill Boulevard at American Avenue resulting from the additional right-turning movements anticipated to come from the development. Ultimately, the study concluded that the City Ventures development would contribute enough additional right-turning movements at Indian Hill Boulevard that would require improvements to ease future congestion for this particular turning movement from American Avenue onto Indian Hill Boulevard.
Although the TIA identified an impact on the right-turn movements on westbound American Avenue, the existing street striping and curb-to-curb width do not allow for the addition of a right-turn pocket. The required improvements will need a portion of the property at 888 South Indian Hill Boulevard to accommodate a right-turn pocket. Land surveying and design plans are necessary to prepare the required documents to execute the installation of a right-turn pocket. In addition, since the Pomona/Claremont city boundary is the centerline of American Avenue, staff have been coordinating with City of Pomona staff to review proposed improvements to ease congestion. The City of Pomona has approved red curbing on the south side of American Avenue between Indian Hill Boulevard and Bonnie Brae Street to facilitate the implementation of the improvements.
With the addition of red curbing for this portion of American Avenue within the City of Pomona boundary, and the future dedication on the north side of American, the necessary space will be available for the housing developer, City Ventures, to construct roadway improvements to meet the condition of City Council Resolution 2025-28, Section 4, Sub-section A - Public Improvements (Attachment).
Staff recommends the City Council approve the appropriation of funds required to complete the design for the American Avenue Roadway Improvements necessary to address potential future impacts to American Avenue resulting from the City Ventures Development. With City Council approval, staff will be able to proceed with the execution of the property dedication needed to construct these improvements.
Next Steps
With City Council approval, the City Manager will execute the agreement with TKE for the design and preparation of plans and specifications for the American Avenue roadway improvements project. Staff will continue to work with the property owner at 888 South Indian Hill Boulevard to execute an appropriate instrument, whether through a sale or an easement, on the north side of American Avenue, immediately east of Indian Hill Boulevard. Staff will also continue to coordinate with the City of Pomona.
Staff will bring a separate item to the City Council to authorize the execution of said property acquisition at a later date. These improvements are a condition of the City Ventures residential development and will be constructed before the project is finalized or bonds are released.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relation to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, General Plan, and 2024-26 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
The new right-turn pocket is a condition of approval for Tentative Map #84564 (TTM), which was categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15332 as it is an urban in-fill project on less than five acres of land (Class 32).
The new right-turn pocket is also categorically exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, existing facilities (Class 1). The Class 1 exemption (CEQA Guidelines Section 15301) allows for the minor alteration of existing public structures, facilities, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The Class 1 exemption specifically exempts minor alterations to “[e]xisting highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities.” None of the exceptions in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 are applicable here. The new right-turn pocket will not impact any environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern. It will not have a cumulative impact with successive projects. There are no unusual circumstances that would result in a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment. The turn pocket will not result in damage to any scenic resources within a state scenic highway. The site of the turn pocket is not a hazardous waste site. The turn pocket will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of any historic resource.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Brad Johnson Vincent Ramos
Community Development Director Associate Engineer
Reviewed by:
Maria B. Tipping P.E.
City Engineer
Attachment:
CC Reso. #2025-28 Approving TTM #84564