Indio Law Building County Counsel Tenant Improvements Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025070067
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Indio Law Building County Counsel Tenant Improvements Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/1/2025
Document Description
The Indio Law Building is located at 82-995 US Highway 111 in Indio, California, 92201. The Office of County Counsel has requested to relocate their staff from the second floor of the building to the former 5779 square foot law library space on the first floor to accommodate their growing staff and to better serve their clientele. The scope of work for the Indio CC TI Project (Project) includes, but is not limited to, remodel of the existing space to create staff and manager offices, a conference room, a large training room, front reception, storage space, copier room, and a break room. The tenant improvements within the existing Indio Law Building are identified as the project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). No direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated from the tenant improvements.
Contact Information
Name
Mike Sullivan
Agency Name
Riverside County
Job Title
Senior Environmental Planner/Facilities Operations Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Indio
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
82-995 Highway 111/Jackson St
Zip
92201
Parcel #
614-050-060
State Highways
SR-111, I-10
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Section 15301 Class 1 Existing Facilities
Reasons for Exemption
This Class 1 categorical exemption includes the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, provided the exemption only involves negligible or no expansion of the previous site’s use. The project, as proposed, is limited to minor interior improvements at an existing facility. The creation of staff and manager offices, a conference room, a large training room, front reception, storage space, copier room, and a break room would result in the continued provision public services and would not result in a significant increase in capacity or intensity of use. Therefore, the project is exempt as it meets the scope and intent of the Categorical Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061 (b)(3) Common Sense
Reasons for Exemption
In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the “general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.” State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate if “it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (1974) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or 'it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. With certainty, there is no possibility that the project may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed the tenant improvements at the Indio Law Building will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The improvements to create staff and manager offices, a conference room, a large training room, front reception, storage space, copier room, and a break room for County Counsel employees would occur at an existing facility, would not alter the footprint and is being completed to provide for safe and efficient operation of the public facility. The use of the facility would remain unchanged. Therefore, in no way, would the project as proposed have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact and the project is exempt from further CEQA analysis.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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