Council OKs land exchange to speed water and sewer work for Sleeping Indian Ranch

The council approved an ordinance authorizing the exchange of a city-owned 13.38-acre parcel (Lot A1, Account No. R301119, appraised at $1,550,000) for the design, construction and dedication of off-site water and sewer improvements valued at $1,503,364 to serve the Sleeping Indian Ranch Planned Area Development. City Manager Roseann Peralta told the council the exchange allows the developer to proceed immediately rather than waiting two to three years for legislative funding.

Peralta described the infrastructure scope to include a waterline extension, sewer line extension, lift station, force main, gravity sewer, manholes, valves, hydrants, roadway grading, trenching, backfill and SCADA connections. Work will be designed and inspected to city specifications, and the developer will provide a two-year warranty upon final acceptance before turning the infrastructure over to the city. The parcel had been unused for roughly ten years, Peralta said. Councilor Frank F. Ortega raised questions about prior consideration of the parcel for a retention pond; Peralta said a new retention pond is under construction west of the freeway and commercial development on the exchanged parcel would be required to handle its own stormwater retention. The motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilor Frank F. Ortega, seconded by Councilor Rudy M. Espinoza, and carried unanimously.