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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2601-5855CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY COUNCIL Special Meeting Monday, May 18, 2026 Council Chambers & Hybrid 5:30 PM     Agenda Item     4.Adoption of a Resolution Vacating a Portion of a Public Utility Easement at 590 Maybell Avenue; CEQA Status – Exempt under Cal. Code Regs. Title 14, Section 15305 City Council Staff Report From: City Manager Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR Lead Department: Administrative Services Meeting Date: May 18, 2026 Report #:2601-5855 TITLE Adoption of a Resolution Vacating a Portion of a Public Utility Easement at 590 Maybell Avenue; CEQA Status – Exempt under Cal. Code Regs. Title 14, Section 15305 RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution ordering the summary vacation of a portion of a public utility easement located on the residential property at 590 Maybell Avenue in Palo Alto, CA. ANALYSIS The public utility easement affecting the property at 590 Maybell Avenue was dedicated for public utility purposes as shown on the map recorded on June 2, 1948, in Book 18 of Maps at Page 34, Records of Santa Clara County. The Real Estate Division in the Administrative Services Department received the property trustee’s request that a portion of this easement be vacated. The City’s Utilities, Planning, Public Works Departments and City Attorney’s Office, have reviewed and approved the vacation of this portion of the easement. The proposed action would reduce the width of the existing 10-foot easement down to 5 feet. The 5-foot portion being vacated is excess and no longer needed for public utility purposes. Therefore, this portion of the easement may be vacated in accordance with the summary proceeding authorized in Section 8333 of the California Streets and Highways Code. FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT The Summary Easement Vacation processing fee of $3,295, as set forth in the FY 2026 Municipal Fee Schedule, has been paid by the property trustee. STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT The Real Estate Division in the Administrative Services Department collaborated with the property trustee and their representatives, the City’s Utilities, Planning, Public Works Departments and City Attorney’s Office, for necessary reviews of language and exhibits. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW ATTACHMENTS APPROVED BY: Recorded at no charge in accordance with Streets & Highways Code Section 8336 at the request of and when recorded return to: City of Palo Alto Real Estate Division 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 SPACE ABOVE LINE FOR RECORDER’S USE APN: 137-25-088 Address: 590 Maybell Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94306 SUMMARY VACATION RESOLUTION NO. ____ RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO SUMMARILY VACATING A PORTION OF A PUBLIC SERVICE EASEMENT AT 590 MAYBELL AVENUE, PALO ALTO, CA WHEREAS, Section 8333 of the Streets and Highways Code authorizes the City Council to summarily vacate a public service easement in any of the following cases: (a) the easement has not been used for the purpose for which it was dedicated or acquired for five consecutive years immediately preceding the proposed vacation, (b) the date of dedication or acquisition is less than five years, and more than one year, immediately preceding the proposed vacation, and the easement was not used continuously since that date, (c) the easement has been superseded by relocation, or determined to be excess by the easement holder, and there are no other public facilities located within the easement; and WHEREAS, on June 19, 1905, the map of Maybell Tract Mayfield, of which the property is a portion of Lot 11, was filed for record in Book “K” of Maps at Page 88, Records of Santa Clara County; and WHEREAS, an easement on said property was dedicated for public utility purposes as shown on the map recorded on June 2, 1948, in Book 18 of Maps at Page 34, Records of Santa Clara County; and WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto Utilities, Planning, Public Works Departments and City Attorney’s Office, have evaluated and determined that a 5-foot portion of the 10-foot public utility easement located on said property is excess and no longer required for public utility purposes; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Palo Alto intends to summarily vacate a portion of the public utility easement as more particularly described in Exhibit “A” attached to this resolution and depicted on the plat map attached as Exhibit “B” to this resolution; and NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council does hereby RESOLVE as follows: SECTION 1. This vacation is made under the authority of California Streets and Highways Code Chapter 4 of Part 3 of Division 9, commencing at Section 8333 et seq. The portion of the public utility easement described herein on Exhibit “A” and depicted on the plat map attached as Exhibit “B” is excess and no longer required for public utility purposes. SECTION 2. Based upon the findings made in Section 1 of this Resolution and the provisions of Section 8333 of the Streets and Highways Code, the City Council does hereby order that the portion of the public utility easement as shown on the said Exhibits “A” and “B” shall be summarily vacated. SECTION 3. The City Clerk, acting by and through the Real Property Manager, is hereby directed to record at the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder’s Office a certified copy of this Resolution, including the Map. SECTION 4. The portion of the public utility easement described in Exhibit “A” and depicted in the plat map attached as Exhibit “B” will no longer constitute a public utility easement from and after the date of recordation of the documents identified in Section 3 of this Resolution. SECTION 5. The Council finds that the summary vacation of the portion of the public utility easement is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Title 14 California Code of Regulations Section 15305 as a minor alteration in land use limitations. INTRODUCED: PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: ______________________________ ______________________________ City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED: ______________________________ ______________________________ Deputy City Attorney City Manager ______________________________ Director of Administrative Services EXHIBIT 'A' LEGAL DESCRIPTION VACATION OF A PORTION OF A PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT 590 MAYBELL AVENUE, PALO ALTO, SANTA CLARA COUNTY CALIFORNIA ALL THAT CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY, SITUATE IN THE CITY OF PALO ALTO , COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA , STATE OF CALIFORNIA BEING A PORTION OF THE LANDS OF 590 MAYBELL TRUST, DATED DECEMBER 26 , 2019 OF THAT CERTAIN GRANT DEED RECORDED JULY 18 , 2023 AS DOCUMENT NUMBER 25502066 , OFFICIAL RECORDS OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THE MOST SOUTHERLY CORNER OF SAID LANDS , THENCE ALONG THE NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF MAYBELL AVENUE , WIDTH VARIES , NORTH 28 °48'00 " EAST 5.00 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE LEAVING SAID RIGHT OF WAY, NORTH 61 °07'50 " WEST 120.00 FEET TO A POINT ON THE WESTERLY LINE OF SAID LANDS; THENCE ALONG THE WESTERLY LINE OF SAID LANDS , NORTH 28°48 '00" EAST 5.00 FEET; THENCE LEAVING SAID LINE, SOUTH 61 °07'50 " EAST 120.00 FEET TO A POINT ON SAID NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY; THENCE ALONG SAID RIGHT OF WAY, SOUTH 28 °48 '00 " WEST 5.00 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. CONTAINING 600.00 SQUARE FEET; AS SHOWN ON PLAT ATTACHED HERETO LABELED 'EXHIBIT B' AND BY THIS REFERENCE MADE A PART HEREOF END OF DESCRIPTION PREPARED BY OR UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF ~27-Z-t' DANIEL J. NAMYST, LS 9831 30 I SCALE: 1" = 30' 60 1 0 0 ~ ---------------- POINT OF COMMENCEMENT N2a•45•00· 5.oo· POINT OF BEGINNING 3 0 II) " p ..... co z N2a•45•oo·E s.oo· b 0 d C'II ..... L&J • 0 II) ;.... p ..... ffl 1 o.oo· PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT 1 MAPS 34 t ~ ~1 !S ~~ ~ (N ll!6 g ©8 (!ff/) (Q) ~ ~ d PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT VACATION CONTAINING 600 SQUARE FEET MAYBELL AVENUE (WIDTH VARIES) &~~~~ BAY ARE.A REGION SA~AlitENTO REGION 24116 INDUS1RIAL PKWY YIEST 3017 DOUGLAS BLW, f JOO HAYWARD, CALFCRtA 94645 ROSEVILJ.E, CA 9!54581 (P) (!510) 887-4086 (P) (916)966-1338 (F) (!510) 887-3019 (F) (916)797-7363 WWW.LEAB RAZE.COM EXHIBIT 'B' PLAT TO ACCOMPANY LEGAL DESCRIPTION FOR VACATION OF A PORTION OF A PUBIJC UTIIJTY EASEMENT. 590 MAYBELL AVENUE PALO ALTO. CAIJFORNIA JOB NO 2260140 SCALE: 1 "= 30' DRAWN BY: ON PAGE 2 OF 2 FEBRUARY 2026 VACATION OF A PORTION OF THE PUE North: -369.2805' Segment #1 Line Course: N61° 07' 50"W North: -311.3427' Segment #2 Line Course: N28° 48' 00"E North: -306.9611' Segment #3 Line Course: S61° 07' 50"E North: -364.8990' Segment #4 Line Course: S28° 48' 00"W North: -369.2805' Perimeter: 250.00' Error Closure: Error North: East: 1154.4521' Length: 120.00' East: 1049.3655' Length: 5.00' East: 1051.7742' Length: 120.00' East : 1156.8609' Length: 5.00' East: 1154.4521' Area: 600.00 Sq. Ft. 0.0000 Course: N00° 00' 00"E 0.00000 East: 0.00000 Precision 1: 250000000.00