City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: January 18, 2022
FROM: Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer THROUGH: René L. Mendez, City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Works Activity Report
BUILDING PROJECTS
1. Community Center Complex Project – A contract amendment with Swinerton for Group 4 (a subconsultant) to prepare the “Design Criteria” documents was approved at the 7/19/2021 Council Meeting. Statement of Qualifications from seven Design/Build teams were received by the 9/30/2021 deadline. Community Engagement events were held on September 1 and October 7 with pop-up tables at the Starbucks, Santa Fe Market and Farmers Market followed by a Community Meeting each evening. Staff and our project consultants presented preliminary design concepts and site layout at the 11/15/2021 and 12/06/2021 City Council Meetings. At the 12/06/2021 Council meeting, staff received direction to proceed with preparation of the design criteria documents for the Community Center Complex and include a gymnasium as an alternative based on available project funding.
WASTEWATER PROJECTS
1. Industrial Wastewater (IW) System/Reclamation Plant – A final design contract with Dudek Consulting was authorized at the 10/5/2020 City Council meeting. The Project EIR was presented at the 9/20/2021 City Council Meeting for certification. Dudek is completing the design for the IW Treatment Facility. Staff and the city surveyor are finalizing the temporary and permanent easements needed for the project. Staff is completing the SWRCB State Revolving Fund loan for project financing
2. Regional Board Permit Coordination – On 1/5/21, City staff held a zoom meeting with Regional Board staff to update them on improvements at the City WWTP, IW System design and phased approach to expanding the wastewater system to serve developments in the City’s Sphere of Influence. On 7/30/21 City staff submitted the Second Quarter Monitoring Report to the Regional Board. On 9/09/2021, we received notice of the pending new Waste Discharge Permit for the AGENDA
ITEM
11 WWTP. On 10/28/2021, we submitted the quarterly self-monitoring report for July, August, and September to the Regional Board
WATER PROJECTS
1. Equip Well 7 Project – The controls and instrumentation equipment to operate the well are being installed and the contractor is coordinating with various subcontractors to complete the project. PGE electrical service was installed on 5/18/2021. The contingency budget for the project was increased to $260,000 at the 9/07/2021 City Council meeting. The change has been executed, the contractor has remobilized and is performing the final work to complete the project. The electrical and controls subcontractors were on-site on 1/03/2022 to start-up the new well
2. Alpine Camp Water/Sewer Service – Grant agreements with the State Water Resource Control Board (SWRCB) to fund the preliminary and final design of extending water and sewer service from Gonzales River Road to Alpine Camp were approved at the 7/06/20 City Council meeting. On 7/22/2021 Schaaf & Wheeler submitted a draft preliminary design report. On 12/14/2021 Schaaf & Wheeler submitted the 60% plans, specifications, and cost estimate for our review. The most recent progress meeting with SWRCB staff was held on 12/14/2021.
ROADWAY PROJECTS
1. 2021 Slurry Seal Contract – MNS Engineers provided draft construction documents for this contract for review by City staff. Staff will bid the contract in March 2022 with the work to occur in June 2022.
2. North Alta Street Drainage – Schaaf & Wheeler provided a letter proposal to design improvements to the existing drainage system along Alta Minor and Alta Major
3. Gonzales River Road Bridge Rehabilitation (Monterey County) – On 12/03/2021, staff issued a letter of comments to County staff on the draft Initial Study/Mitigated Neg Dec for County consideration.
Staff requested a meeting with County staff and the Consultant Design Manager to discuss our concerns with the 18-month closure of the bridge while construction takes place
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
1. Vista Lucia Development (City’s Sphere of Influence - East of US 101) a. City staff reviewed the Admin Draft #1 and Admin Draft #2 of the SEIR and provided comments to the Community Development Director.
b. City staff is holding monthly zoom meetings with Pembrook Development and their consultants regarding their development project.
c. Psomas developed a capital program of improvements to convey sewage from the SOI to the City WWTP for treatment and provided the draft technical memo in Mid-November for staff’s review. d. Staff and our on-call traffic engineer met with Caltrans District 5 staff on 6/10/2021 to begin the process of a Project Study Report/Project Development Support (PSR-PDS).
2. Puente Del Monte Development (City’s Sphere of Influence - East of US 101) - On 10/30/20, City staff held a coordination meeting with Jackson Family Investments regarding wastewater conveyance and treatment for their proposed development project. City staff has followed up with more information on the wastewater system expansion and coordination with Caltrans on future improvements to the freeway interchanges.
3. Venice Way Parcel Resubdivision – Staff coordinated with the Community Development Director on this housing project (two market rate houses and one affordable house). A coordination meeting with the applicant was held on 9/29/2021. Due to the State Surplus Land Act, this project has been shelved for now.
OTHER PROJECTS
1. GIS – City staff continues to work on a GIS mapping system by inputting field data for water, sewer and storm drainage systems. Our water and wastewater consultants are using the GIS to develop capital improvement projects to serve the proposed development projects in the SOI. We hold monthly coordination meetings with a GIS Consultant.
2. FEMA Flood Map Updates – Over the last year, FEMA and their consultants have been remapping seven watersheds in the Gabilan Mountains in the vicinity of South Salinas, Chualar, Gonzales and Soledad to update their Flood Maps. In July 2020, City staff engaged Schaaf & Wheeler to review the mapping and drainage data collected. Preliminary flood insurance maps were released for public review on 10/21/2021. At the 12/06/2021 City Council meeting, City staff made a follow-up presentation on this project along with a letter to be sent to FEMA with our comments and questions on their mapping effort.
3. Microgrid Project – Staff has been coordinating with Concentric Power staff on various elements of the project design including participating in biweekly coordination meetings. At the 7/19/2021 City Council meeting, a contract for Program Management services was approved with Sage Energy. A kick-off meeting was held on 8/11/2021, and a monthly progress meeting was held on 10/10/2021.
4. PW Intern – Emily Sanchez completed her summer internship in mid-August and returned to UC Berkeley to begin her junior year. In mid-August, Briana Medvecki, a second-year civil engineering student at Hartnell College began as a part-time intern.
PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
WASTEWATER
Staff continues to monitor the WWTP, daily tests and inspections. Staff repaired the flowmeter at the WWTP. The non-potable water well at the plant went down. Staff was able to help fix it. We needed to pull the pump and replace a few parts. Staff also pulled pump 3 in the lift station, and repaired a guiderail, at pump 2. Staff continues to perform weed and rodent control.
The flow meter has since ceased working, another one is being procured and staff will be scheduling installment when notified of delivery date.
Staff addressed several sewer back ups prior to them becoming a problem.
WATER
Staff continues to monitor residuals for chlorine in the water and maintain the wells and distribution system There was another lateral leak on Brockman Drive. West Valley repaired this. Staff has been replacing meter registers on the east side of town. These registers are coming to the end of life and staff is replacing them as they cease to operate.
Staff and an electrical contractor worked on the electrical at the Water ball to enable the Christmas lights to operate without interruption.
STORM WATER
Staff maintains stormwater system. Staff prepared for winter storms, by ensuring that storm drains are clear and prepped barricades and lights to be ready when needed. During the Christmas holiday there was an extreme rain event where Fourth street again flooded. Staff was present to clear any debris and help with sandbagging.
PARKS
Staff continues to maintain clean and sanitize our parks. Staff spent the majority of November and December preparing for Christmas. Staff strung lights in Central Park, Decorated a Christmas tree and installed archways and numerous holiday decorations.
Staff tested the snow machines that were placed on Fourth Street for the Holiday lights celebration.
Holliday Lights Celebration- Staff worked with the Fire Dept. to close off and set up Fourth Street for the Holiday lights celebration. Staff was on hand during the celebration to accommodate lighting, refilling of the snow machines, etc.
CANYON CREEK & MEYER PARKS
Staff maintains tot park and Meyer Park and sanitizes daily.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Staff continues to care for and maintain the buildings owned by the City.
STREETS
Staff continues to maintain the streets. Staff began striping the Fifth Street bridge. Staff spent a generous amount of time decorating Fourth Street for the Holiday Lights Celebration. Staff was not on the bridge directing traffic during the last weeks of December, as school was not in session. Staff will resume January 10, 2022.
Staff filled numerous potholes after the rainstorms of December.
Staff continues to remove tree trimmings throughout town.
PLANNING
Public Works Director/City Engineer continue to work on the Capital Improvement Project Plan, the Pavement Management Plan, and the needed upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
TRAINING
Staff will continue training with the South County Cities. Staff has a confined space training on January 27, 2022 with the South County Cities. Staff will also be participating in several water webinars in February.