To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: License Agreement with City of Martinez for wayfinding signs at various locations in Martinez and Pacheco
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to execute a license agreement with the City of Martinez to allow the City to use a portion of County-owned properties in six locations in Pacheco and Martinez to install and maintain eight wayfinding signs to provide direction to public parking and programming in downtown Martinez, for a term that is year-to-year beginning January 1, 2026, and continuing until terminated by either the County or the City, with an annual license fee of $500.
DETERMINE that this activity is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Article 19, Sections 15301 and 15303.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% General Fund Revenue
BACKGROUND:
The City of Martinez has proposed a wayfinding sign project aimed at improving navigation and accessibility throughout the city. The project is designed to help residents and visitors more easily locate public parking areas, civic buildings, and downtown destinations, thereby enhancing the overall visitor experience and supporting local businesses.
Four of the proposed sign locations are within County right-of-way (ROW) along Pacheco Boulevard, and two are on two County-owned parcels in downtown Martinez. The license agreement permits the City to install and maintain signage on these properties. Under the license agreement, the City will be solely responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of all wayfinding signs, including those located on County property.
The project is partially funded through a Caltrans grant, which requires a formal license agreement with the County as part of the grant obligation process.
The license agreement is for an initial period of one year and will renew automatically in one-year increments until terminated by either the County or the City. Beginning on January 1, 2026, the City will pay an annual license fee of $500.
Conveyance of the license agreement to the City of Martinez is exempt from CEQA as the licensing for the installation of the wayfinding signs and maintenance and repair of the signs are exempt pursuant to Section 15301 (existing facilities) and Section 15303 (new construction of small structures) of the CEQA Guidelines because the activity would not have a significant effect on the environment. The City of Martinez prepared a Notice of Exemption that was posted with the County Clerk on November 18, 2025 (2025-00318) and with the California State Clearinghouse (SCH 2025110622) on November 17, 2025.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the license is not approved, City residents and visitors may continue to experience confusion when navigating the area, especially in locating public parking, civic buildings, and downtown amenities.