To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Julie Lucido, Public Works Director
Prepared By: AJ Paniagua, Management Analyst I - Real Property
TITLE:
Title
Vacation and Quitclaim of a portion of Salvador Avenue with the Reservation of a Public Utility Easement
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution; (1) authorizing the vacation and quitclaim of a portion of Salvador Avenue with the reservation of a public utility easement; (2) declaring that the vacated area is exempt surplus land; and (3) determining that the actions authorized by this resolution are exempt from CEQA.
Body
DISCUSSION:
The City of Napa received a request from Christopher and Sarah Goff, owners of 1686 Salvador Avenue, to abandon a portion of Salvador Avenue that fronts the southernly boundary of their property (APN 036-212-016).
The subject property was originally conveyed to the City in 1971 by Grant Deed recorded in Book 889, Page 373 of the Official Records of Napa County. Joseph W. and Junene A. Mivelaz conveyed the property to accommodate a potential future widening of Salvador Avenue. The General Plan designates Salvador Avenue as a major collector between State Route 29 and Jefferson Avenue, requiring 60-84 feet of right-of-way to support two travel lanes, Class II bicycle lanes, and sidewalks on both sides.
These roadway improvements to add sidewalks and bike lanes, along with street repaving and traffic calming measures, were built in 2024 as part of the Salvador Avenue Complete Streets Project (ST16PW02). The available street right of way along the other properties on the block that includes Goff property, was narrower than the Goff property. In order to complete the project without the need to acquire additional right-of-way from the adjacent properties, curb-adjacent sidewalk was designed and constructed instead of a sidewalk separated by a landscaping strip.
Completion of the project resulted in a portion of the original right-of-way along the Goff property being unused and no longer needed for street purposes, as it lies behind the back of the newly placed sidewalk. The area proposed for abandonment is approximately 1,102 square feet. Realigning the right of way property lines at this location will bring it into alignment to match with the remainder of the block.
There are existing public utilities within this area of excess right-of-way and an easement for public utility purposes will be reserved in accordance with the response letters received from utility companies pursuant to the Streets and Highway Code §8340. Abandonment of the subject right-of-way, with the reservation of an easement for public utilities, qualifies for an abandonment under Section 8320 (a) of the California Streets and Highways Code.
The City must comply with Government Code Section 54220-54234 (the “Surplus Land Act”) prior to taking any action to abandon the right of way. According to Government Code Section 54221 (f)(1) the Surplus Land Act shall not apply to the disposition of property if the property is “exempt surplus land.” Exempt surplus land include “[s]urplus land that is a former street, right of way, or easement, and is conveyed to an owner of an adjacent property.” In this case, the right-of-way will be conveyed to the adjacent property owner. Therefore, the draft resolution includes a determination that the Salvador Avenue right of way is “exempt surplus land” under Government Code Section 54221 (f)(1)(E) supported by findings.
The City holds the underlying fee simple interest in the subject property, so the proposed action also includes approval of a quitclaim of the fee simple interest to Christopher and Sarah Goff, husband and wife, in addition to the abandonment of the public right-of-way.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
There is no financial impact to the City of Napa anticipated as a result of the proposed action.
CEQA:
City staff recommend that the City Council determine that the Recommended Action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c), which exempts minor alteration of existing streets, sidewalks, gutters, and similar facilities.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Resolution
EX A - Abandonment Description
EX B - Plat Map
ATCH 2 - Quitclaim Deed
NOTIFICATION:
Notice of the public hearing was published in the Napa Valley Register on November 20, 2025 and November 27, 2025. In addition, notice of the public hearing was posted along the Subject Property pursuant to Section 8323 of the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California.