To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Holding Agreement for Hookston Remediation Project
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director to execute a Holding Escrow Agreement between First American Trust FSB (Escrow Agent), the County, Union Pacific Railroad Company, the Helix Family Trust dated December 15, 1992, the Karen S. Hook Trust dated March 18, 2009, and the Blake Pucell Living Trust dated July 2, 2018, for the purpose of enabling the Escrow Agent to perform the duties of an escrow agent in connection with the implementation of a remediation and monitoring plan for the Hookston Station contamination site, subject to approval by the County Administrator and approval as to form by County Counsel.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The County's share of the cost of this agreement is a Recognized Obligation of the former Redevelopment Agency and is included in the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS) submitted to the California Department of Finance annually. There is no impact to the General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
In 1992, the County, using the Redevelopment Agency funds, acquired a portion of a former railroad right-of-way in the Hookston Station area of Pleasant Hill. The right-of-way was being acquired to preserve the former rail corridor for a future fixed guideway/transit use; for the Iron Horse Trail; and for a roadway connection between the Contra Costa Centre area and Monument Blvd. The roadway element has since been dropped from consideration as a planned roadway.
The seller of the property, a group of individual investors (Dan & Mary Lou Helix, John Hook, Steven Pucell, and Nancy Ellicock) is referred to as the Hookston Group. The Hookston Group had acquired the right-of-way between Hookston Road and Mayhew Way as part of a reversionary transaction from the Southern Pacific Railroa...
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