Approval of Seventh Amendment to the Lease Agreement with Banning #169, LP, Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), Banning
Summary
SCH Number
2026031034
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Approval of Seventh Amendment to the Lease Agreement with Banning #169, LP, Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), Banning
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/24/2026
Document Description
The DPSS – Self Sufficiency Division has provided services at 63 S. Fourth Street, Banning, since May 11, 1999 (M.O. 3.8) (Original Lease). The Original Lease has since been amended by a First Amendment on November 9,1999 (M.O. 3.8), Second Amendment on July 27, 2010 (M.O. 3.20), Third Amendment on August 16, 2011 (M.O. 3.38), Fourth Amendment on March 19, 2013 (M.O. 3.15), Fifth Amendment on July 12, 2016 (M.O. 3.18) and Sixth Amendment on November 28, 2023 (M.O. 3.17).
Pursuant to the Sixth Amendment to Lease, the Lessor provided the County with a reimbursable tenant improvement allowance in the amount of $300,000 for additional improvements to be defined by the County. Following completion of design and the competitive bidding process, it was determined that the approved allowance is insufficient to complete the proposed scope of work. The total estimated allowance required to complete the improvements as defined by the County is $395,617.06, which represents a not-to-exceed amount inclusive of a $79,123.41 contingency allocation. The Seventh Amendment to the Lease Agreement is identified as the proposed Project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The leased premise consists of approximately 24,695 square feet and the proposed Project is the letting of property involving existing facilities with tenant improvements; no expansion of an existing use will occur. The operation of the facility will continue to provide public services for DPSS and will not result in an increase in the intensity of the use of the site. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated. Project Number: FM042130001900
Contact Information
Name
Mike Sullivan
Agency Name
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Job Title
Facilities Operations Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Banning
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Southern California
Parcel #
540-192-002
Other Location Info
63 South Fourth Street, south of ,Ramsey Street, Banning, California 92220; Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 540-192-002
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA specifically by the State CEQA Guidelines as identified below. The project will not result in any specific or general exceptions to the use of the categorical exemption as detailed under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. The project will not cause an impact to an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern nor would the project involve unusual circumstances that could potentially have a significant effect on the environment. The project would not result in impacts to scenic highways, hazardous waste sites, historic resources, or other sensitive natural environments, or have a cumulative effect to the environment. No significant environmental impacts are anticipated to occur with the Seventh Amendment to the Lease Agreement.
This 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 the increase of funds allocated to construct the previously approved tenant improvements. The project would not substantially increase or expand the use of the site; use is limited to the continued use of the site in a similar capacity; therefore, the project is exempt as the project meets the scope and intent of the Class 1 Exemption identified in Section 15301, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions of the CEQA Guidelines.
Therefore, the County of Riverside Facilities Management hereby concludes that no physical environmental impacts are anticipated to occur and the project as proposed is exempt under CEQA. No further environmental analysis is warranted.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA specifically by the State CEQA Guidelines as identified below. The project will not result in any specific or general exceptions to the use of the categorical exemption as detailed under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. The project will not cause an impact to an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern nor would the project involve unusual circumstances that could potentially have a significant effect on the environment. The project would not result in impacts to scenic highways, hazardous waste sites, historic resources, or other sensitive natural environments, or have a cumulative effect to the environment. No significant environmental impacts are anticipated to occur with the Seventh Amendment to the Lease Agreement.
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 Seventh Amendment to the Lease Agreement will not result in any direct or indirect physical environmental impacts. The use and operation of the facility will be substantially similar to the existing use and will not create any new environmental impacts to the surrounding area. No impacts beyond the ongoing, existing use of the site would occur. 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.
Therefore, the County of Riverside Facilities Management hereby concludes that no physical environmental impacts are anticipated to occur and the project as proposed is exempt under CEQA. No further environmental analysis is warranted.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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