Background
As described in previous staff reports from June and July of this year, the management of County Services Area's (CSA's) was transitioned from the Community Services Department to the County Administrator's Office in July 2016. In April 2017, the Natural Resources Division of the County Administrator's office was asked to take over the management of County Services Area 6 ("CSA 6" also known as "Snowball CSA"). CSA 6 provides levee operation and maintenance services for approximately 2,500 acres of the north eastern portion of Yolo County, including Knights Landing and the surrounding agricultural areas.
Since that time staff has worked to identify deficiencies in both the physical condition of the levee system and the administration of the CSA. Staff has consulted with staff at Reclamation District 108, Reclamation District 1600, the State Department of Water Resources, and MBK Engineers (currently under contract to provide the CSA with district engineer services) to identify and implement best management practices (BMP's) for the administration, operation, and maintenance of CSA 6.
Summary of Staff Request
This proposed policy would prohibit the unauthorized use of motorized vehicles on the tops (crown), banks (slopes), and toe of the levees within CSA 6. Driving on levees, unless maintained as a public roadway, can create levee damage and accelerate levee degradation. The levees in CSA 6 were initially created through a combination of the dredging of the Sacramento River and agricultural grading activities. The levees consists of sandy material and are prone to erosion, cracking, and settling (i.e. subsiding, or sinking).
Exceptions to the prohibition of motorized vehicle use are made in the policy for the following:
- Federal, state, or local agency employees (including authorized subcontractors) in the course of levee inspections, operation, or maintenance activities;
- The owner(s) of the property in which a particular levee segment is located on, or their authorized agents, in the course of normal agricultural or maintenance activities; and
- The general public may use access any portion of levee that coincides with a county maintained road (Front Street, County Road 116A and County Road 116B), as the system exists today and as it is modified in the future as a result of on-going construction to the levee and canal systems.
In summary, the proposed policy would prevent the general public from driving on county maintained levees, unless there exists a county maintained road on top of that levee section.
Policy Regarding Motorized Vehicle Access: County Service Area (CSA) 6
Text for the proposed policy on this topic is as follows:
Pursuant to Section 21116 of the California Vehicle Code, the County of Yolo hereby prohibits the use of roadways located on County Service Area (CSA) 6 levees and canal banks by motor vehicles without the permission of the maintaining agency. “Motor vehicles” is defined to include all motorized vehicles defined in the California Vehicle Code Section 100 et seq., including, but not limited to, motor vehicles, electric vehicles, golf carts, motorcycles, motorized bicycles, mini bikes, all-terrain vehicles, quad runners, and go-carts.
Pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 21116, this Public Access Policy shall be made available for inspection at the County’s Administration Office, located at 625 Court Street in Woodland, California.
In those areas of the CSA 6 levee and canal systems dedicated as a right-of-way for roadway use by the general public on the levee crown (Front Street, County Road 116A and County Road 116B), as the system exists today and as it is modified in the future as a result of on-going construction to the levee and canal systems, the following policy shall apply:
- (a) No motor vehicle may be driven upon or be parked on the CSA 6 Facilities except as follows:
- District Vehicles;
- Federal, State or Local Government vehicles performing duties related to flood control operations and maintenance or public safety;
- Organizations or entities who have written agreement approved by the County's Board of Supervisors authorizing their use of CSA 6's facilities; and
- Persons owning land adjacent to CSA 6's Facilities may use the CSA 6 Facilities for access in conjunction with their farming operations with the prior written approval of the County Administrator's Office.
(b) The County Administrator may grant permits for the temporary vehicular access to roadways on CSA 6 levees, provided such temporary vehicular access is in the interest of CSA 6 to allow such use or is deemed to be of a public benefit. Such temporary permission shall not apply and may not be granted for public gatherings, social events, or other similar requests by private individuals or groups for their personal benefit.
2. Except where required for maintenance or repair of CSA 6 Facilities, no motor vehicle (including those referred to in Paragraph 1(b) through 1(d) above), may be driven on any portion of CSA 6 Facilities other than upon the established access roads, approved ramps or public roads.
Persons found to be in violation of the above policy may be prosecuted and may be subject to civil liability. Motor vehicles parked on CSA 6 facilities in violation of the above policy are subject to citation and towing at the owner’s expense
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached policy prohibiting motor vehicle use on county maintained levees within CSA 6. |