Riverside County Innovation Center 2nd Floor Emergency Flood Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025110742
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Riverside County Innovation Center 2nd Floor Emergency Flood Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
11/19/2025
Document Description
Project Number: FM08720015049
The Riverside County Innovation Center facility is located at 3450 14th Street in Riverside. On October 25, 2025, the facility experienced flooding within the second floor of the facility which originated from a hydration station near the men and women’s restrooms. Due to the extent of the flooding, the flooding occurred overnight on October 24, 2025. The water swept through the ceiling to the 1st Floor Riverside Conference Room that damaged the ceiling tile and 30 square feet insulation and drywall in the conference room; damaged one storage room and the drywall within the women’s restroom. The 2nd floor had water sweep through the hallway drywall, kitchenette, storge room, an office in the Real Estate division and a mechanical room. BluSky Restoration has mitigated the immediate flood by securing the damaged areas, removing the excess water, wet ceilings, insulation, and drywall. The remediation of the flood damage at the RCIC is identified as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The operation of the facility will continue to provide public services and will not result in an expansion of existing use. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.
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
Riverside
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
3450 14th Street, west of Olivewood Avenue
Zip
92501
Parcel #
219-330-035
State Highways
SR-91
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 interior improvements at the existing RCIC facility to remediate previous water damage and keep the building functioning and operating safely. The use of the facility would continue to provide 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 improvements will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The use of the facility would remain unchanged, continuing to provide public services. 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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