CC SR 20251104 E - Caltrans Agreements Blanket Authorization
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 11/04/2025
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider authorizing the Public Works Director to execute California Department of
Transportation agreements and amendments to claim Federal and/or State funding for
City Council approved projects.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Adopt Resolution No. 2025-____, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES AUTHORIZING THE PUBLIC WORKS
DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact as the City Council action only authorizes
the Public Works Director to execute agreements and amendments
to claim funds for projects and funding sources already approved by
the City Council.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Lorna Cloke, Senior Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Ramzi Awwad, Director of Public Works
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Draft Resolution No. 2025-___ (page A-1)
BACKGROUND:
The City Council approves projects and funding sources, including grant funds, as a part
of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). For projects with funding administered by the
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), an agreement or administrative action
is required to claim funding for each project, often at each phase of the project.
The current practice is for the City Council to approve each agreement for each project
or project phase receiving funding through Caltrans. This process is inefficient, causing a
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project receiving funding for multiple phases to be paused at the completion of each
phase while awaiting City Council approval of a separate agreement for the next phase.
Additionally, the process requires Staff time to prepare a staff report and City Attorney
cost for review of the accompanying resolution.
DISCUSSION:
Considering the City Council has already approved project s and funding sources as part
of the CIP, it would be more efficient for City Council to delegate the authority to execute
the project agreements to the Public Works Director. This delegation is primarily
administrative in nature, and it does not authorize the Public Works Director to authorize
any new funding appropriations or any major changes to the project that were not
previously authorized by the City Council. Such changes would always return to the City
Council for approval, before proceeding.
Caltrans has informed staff that delegating signatory authority to the Public Works
Director is acceptable and a common practice for many jurisdictions. Caltrans suggested
the City submit a blanket resolution authorizing the Public Works Director to execute
project agreements and provided a sample resolution. Staff prepared a resolution for the
City Council’s consideration based on this draft. The resolution has been reviewed and
approved by the City Attorney. (Attachment A)
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommend the City Council adopt the attached resolution (Attachment A)
authorizing the Public Works Director to execute Master and Program Supplement
Agreements, and any amendments related to Federal and/or State funding for City
Council approved projects.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to Staff’s Recommendations, the following alternative actions are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Do not authorize the Public Works Director to execute funding agreements with
Caltrans for City Council approved projects and funding sources and instead
authorize the City Manager to execute funding agreements.
2. Do not authorize the Public Works Director nor City Manager to execute funding
agreements with Caltrans for City Council approved projects and funding sources.
3. Take other action as the Council deems appropriate.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2025-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES AUTHORIZING
THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE
AGREEMENTS WITH THE CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is eligible to receive Federal and/or
State funding for certain Transportation Projects; and,
WHEREAS, Master Agreements and Program Supplemental Agreements need to
be executed with the California Department of Transportation before such funds could be
claimed; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council approves projects and funding sources, including
grant funds, as a part of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). For projects with funding
administered by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), an agreement or
administrative action is required to claim funding for each project, often at each phase of
the project; and
WHEREAS, the current practice is for the City Council to approve each agreement
for each project or project phase receiving funding through Caltrans; and
WHEREAS, this process is inefficient, causing a project receiving funding for
multiple phases to be paused at the completion of each phase while awaiting City Council
approval of a separate agreement for the next phase. Additionally, the process requires
Staff time to prepare a staff report and City Attorney cost for review of the accompanying
resolution; and
WHEREAS, Caltrans has informed staff that delegating signatory authority to the
Public Works Director is acceptable and a common practice for many jurisdictions.
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes wishes to delegate authorization to
execute these agreements, and any amendments thereto, to the Director of Public Works.
NOW, THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Public Works Director is hereby authorized to execute such
Master Agreements, Program Supplemental Agreements, and their amendments thereto,
required by the California Department of Transportation to make the City eligible to
Federal and/or State funding for certain Transportation Projects.
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Resolution No. 2025-__
Page 2 of 2
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this 4th day of November 2025.
________________________________
David L. Bradley, Mayor
ATTEST:
________________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I, Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the
above Resolution No. 2025-__ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said City
Council at a regular meeting thereof held on November 4, 2025.
________________________________
Teresa Takaoka, City Clerk
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