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BACKGROUND <br /> In 2002, KB Homes constructed Tract 7374 (Canyon Oaks) located on the Bernal <br /> Property at the southern end of Case Street near Valley Avenue (between the Union <br /> Pacific Railroad right of Way and the Alameda County Transportation Corridor). The <br /> project included 128 single-family homes and the required public streets; Stonecliff Vista <br /> Lane, East Creek Court, Oaks Bridge Place, Rocky Creek Place, Knoll Wood Court and <br /> Sterling Greens Circle. Construction of three bridges was required to access the project <br /> area (Case Avenue Bridge, Stone Cliff Vista Lane Bridge, and an EVA bridge). All <br /> necessary public utilities to serve the homes within this subdivision were constructed, <br /> including water, storm sewer and sanitary sewer. In accordance with the Subdivision <br /> Agreement, KB obtained Performance and Labor and Materials bonds in the amount of <br /> $5,635,500 to ensure the construction of the required public improvements. This bond <br /> amount was based upon the 2002 estimated cost of the improvements. <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> The project has been completed and homes have been occupied since 2003. Of the <br /> numerous improvements constructed, a portion of one street, the southwest portion of <br /> Sterling Green Circle, showed signs of distress due soil settlement. As a result, the <br /> subdivision has not been accepted as complete. <br /> Over the course of time, KB Homes made several spot repairs to the street <br /> improvements, but the settlement continued. KB Homes then hired a soils engineer that <br /> performed several field investigations (with review by the City's on-call soils engineer). <br /> The KB Homes soils engineer recommended that the improvements be removed, the <br /> underlying soil be mechanically compacted, and the street reconstructed. KB Homes <br /> performed the recommended work during the summer of 2011. After performing the <br /> work, KB Homes requested that the project be accepted as complete and the <br /> Performance and Labor and Materials bonds be released. City staff told KB homes that <br /> until the repaired area was allowed a period of time to perform, it would not be <br /> appropriate to accept the project. <br /> KB homes then asked that the bond amount be reduced. Engineering staff, in <br /> consultation with the City Attorney's Office, determined that due to the completion of the <br /> improvements and performance of the improvements over the last eight years (other <br /> than the one section of Sterling Green Circle) the reduction of the bond to $600,000 was <br /> reasonable. This amount represents twice the estimated cost of removing and <br /> replacing the improvements again should the 2011 repairs fail to perform. <br /> The City's Engineering Division is monitoring the performance of the roadway. If the <br /> roadway needs further work, KB Homes shall be responsible for repairing the roadway. <br /> It is anticipated that by the end of summer 2013, if the roadway is determined to be <br /> satisfactory, staff will recommend to the Council that the subdivision be accepted as <br /> complete. Only after final acceptance will the $600,000 bond be released. <br /> Finally, to clarify the recommendation language "substitution" of the bond, the original <br /> bonding company is no longer in the business of issuing new bonds, so KB Homes has <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br />