Staff recommends proceeding with the modified mitigation area for the Sun Lakes Boulevard Extension Project.
On October 28, 2025, staff provided a report to City Council regarding the mitigation requirements for the Sun Lakes Boulevard Extension Project. A copy of that staff report is attached as a reference for the necessary background information.
Subsequent to that report, staff initiated the required efforts with an approved land bank and land manager (Inland Empire Resource Conservation District and Rivers and Land Conservancy) as required in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife streambed alteration agreements. Upon review and evaluation of the land, a request was made to the City of Banning to revise the shape of the conserved lands to avoid bifurcating the conservation area with the existing overhead Southern California Edison transmission lines. The new proposed conservation area would remain entirely on the north side of the powerlines, on City of Banning owned parcels along Smith Creek.
The total mitigation area is unchanged at 30.2 acres. The land would have a permanent conservation easement granted to the land bank and land manager. This work is required to be completed by the conclusion of construction of the Sun Lakes Boulevard project.
Approval from City Council is necessary to provide authorization to the land bank and land manager to continue with their efforts in establishing the restoration costs and endowment costs. The project budget anticipates $3,000,000 for this effort, and staff is working to minimize that cost to the project.
Three additional title reports are required at approximately $3,000 in total that will be charged to the Sun Lakes Boulevard Extension Project as reimbursable mitigation expenses.