Council approves town maintenance of Sierra Wash next to Naranja/Aranha Road after staff justification
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Summary
The council approved taking maintenance responsibility for Sierra Wash (consent agenda Item D) after staff explained the wash protects public arterial Aranha Road and required an easement to conduct stabilization work. The vote was unanimous, 7–0.
Councilmember Vice Mayor Barrett pulled Item D from the consent agenda on Oct. 15 to request more detail about how the town came to assume maintenance responsibility for a local wash and why staff said there was no fiscal impact. Town Engineer Paul Keesler explained the wash (Sierra Wash) ran under Aranha Road and that erosion had progressed to threaten the public arterial. Keesler said the town obtained an easement across adjacent common area to place armoring and that the work protects the road rather than benefiting the neighboring subdivision. He said if a situation had conferred benefit to the HOA staff would have pursued a public-private partnership, but here the wash primarily protects the public road.
Councilmembers asked whether the town’s policy for accepting HOA-maintained washes would change; staff explained the town assesses whether a wash predominantly serves private subdivision matters versus broader public infrastructure when deciding to accept ownership and responsibility. Councilmember Green and others supported the town assuming responsibility to protect Aranha Road and public safety. Councilmember Green moved to approve the item and Vice Mayor Barrett seconded; the vote was 7–0.
The consent approval authorizes acceptance of an easement and continued maintenance responsibilities for the Sierra Wash armoring work described in the agenda packet. Staff said routine maintenance will occur under normal operations.