It is the intent of this program that each operator shall pay for any road improvements determined to be necessary to support their operation consistent with County and CCAP standards, and for ongoing operations and maintenance. Each operator shall pay its fair share toward improvements required to maintain a structural capacity (traffic index) sufficient for the project traffic and to maintain operations on County roads and on State Highways within the OCMP planning area consistent with applicable General Plan policies related to LOS and applicable State policy related to VMT. Fair share mitigation shall also be required to improve existing operational as well as structural deficiencies of the transportation system. Specific locations shall be identified through the project-specific environmental review process for each operator's long-term mining permit application. Each operator shall participate in a funding program operated by the County which is designed to ensure that all improvements are made in a timely manner and that a reimbursement mechanism is in place to ensure repayment of any costs contributed in excess of fair share amounts. The program shall be initiated upon the approval of the long-term mining permits and shall be updated biennially by the County to ensure any new or modified impacts or funding sources are being addressed.
Each operator shall have the option to complete the work at their expense without triggering the competitive bid process, as long as they comply with the applicable legal requirements of the County. If the operator declines the option, the County shall utilize the competitive bid process.
(§ 1, Ord. 1190, eff. September 5, 1996; as amended by Ord. 1518, eff. February 13, 2020)