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Board approves CEQA filing for Venetian Middle School fields; project excludes lighting
Summary
Trustees approved a resolution authorizing staff to file a CEQA exemption for new fields at Venetian Middle School. The project as proposed does not include lighting, will add parking and a storage/restroom building, and is scheduled to follow high-school construction activity.
The Benicia Unified School District Board of Trustees approved resolution 25-26-17 authorizing staff to file the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) paperwork for a Venetian Middle School fields project.
Roxanne Egan and project staff described the project as work within the existing outdoor field footprint and said the baseline proposal does not include field lighting. The approved scope covers replacement and grading of the field area, a track, an approximately 22-space parking lot, and a storage/restroom building. Egan said adding lights would require a separate CEQA filing and additional funding.
Egan described project sequencing constraints: the district intends to submit construction documents to DSA in early 2026 but expects construction at the middle school to begin only after high-school projects are completed (she estimated high-school completion in late 2026). A soils boring was scheduled for Oct. 30 as part of design preparation.
Trustees asked about opportunities for public input on design changes and were told site users and PE teachers had been consulted during prior meetings and that significant design changes at this stage could increase cost and delay the schedule. The resolution to proceed with the CEQA filing was approved by roll call vote (President Grubbs, Trustee Hirsch, Trustee Seyda, Trustee Musselli recorded "Yes").
The board directed staff to continue coordinating with the city on related infrastructure items, including use of existing city-owned PG&E switchgear and finalization of a city lease for the site.
