City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: April 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 – Group 4 Architects submitted the final “Design Criteria” documents on April 7, 2022. The Design Criteria package is comprised of 98 drawings, a Program Summary and Systems Criteria Narratives, and Technical Specifications. These materials will be used in the Request for Proposals to the three shortlisted Design/Build teams. City staff and Swinerton Consulting submitted a grant application for EV vehicle charging stations on March 11, 2022 and submitted a grant application for funding related to the library on March 18,2022.
2. Emergency Generator Replacements – At the February 7th City Council meeting, a $175,000 contract with Alltech Services was approved to replace the emergency generators at City Hall, Police Station, and the California Breeze Sewer Lift station. The contract has been executed, a kick-off meeting was held on March 2, 2022 and the three generators have been ordered.
WASTEWATER PROJECTS
Industrial Wastewater (IW) System/Reclamation Plant – Dudek is wrapping up the final design for the IW Conveyance and Treatment Facility contracts. Staff and the city surveyor are finalizing the temporary and permanent easements needed for the project. On March 30, 2022 staff met with the Project Manager with the SWRCB State Revolving Fund loan and discussed their review of the City’s application.
WATER PROJECTS
AGENDA
ITEM
8 1. Equip Well 7 Project – On April 7, 2022, we received the permit to operate the well from the State Drinking Water Division staff. Final step to operate the well is completing the electronic and remote controls.
2. Alpine Court 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. Staff is holding bi-weekly progress meeting with SWRCB staff.
ROADWAY PROJECTS
1. Slurry Seal Contract – MNS Engineers provided draft construction documents for this contract for review by city staff. Staff will bid the contract this month with the work to begin June 2022.
2. 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.
3. Ten street trees were replaced on the south side of Fifth Street between Belden St. and Alta Minor.
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 meet with Caltrans District 5 staff on 6/10/2021 to discuss the process of a Project Study Report/Project Development Support (PSR-PDS). Staff will issue a Request for Proposals to engage a transportation engineer to prepare the PSR-PDS documents. e. On 3/28/2022, Staff will meet with Monterey County PW staff to discuss the applicant’s preliminary offsite roadway design.
2. Puente Del Monte Development (City’s Sphere of Influence - East of US 101) – The applicant submitted a revised Specific Plan on 4/05/2022 for City’s review.
OTHER PROJECTS
1. Skate Park Improvements – Phase two of improvements to the skate park will be funded by the 2018 Parks Bond Act. On 3/03/2022, staff received the executed grant agreement with the State Department of Parks and Recreation. American Ramp Company will provide a revised scope for the improvements due to an increase in costs over the last year.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. City Construction Standards – As approved at the 8/16/2021 City Council meeting, MNS Engineers is preparing new construction standards. MNS submitted draft standards for city staff review on 1/31/2022.
5. 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 we hold bi-weekly progress meetings with Sage Energy staff.
6. PW Intern – Since mid-August 2021, Briana Medvecki, a second-year student at Hartnell College has worked as a part-time intern. She updates the city’s GIS system and helps Public Works staff with some of their efforts. Briana created several videos highlighting public works activities:
https://www.facebook.com/CityofGonzalesCalifornia/videos/382983366869328 https://www.facebook.com/CityofGonzalesCalifornia/videos/675047286982212
PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
WASTEWATER
Andrew is performing routine testing at the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Staff continues regular maintenance and daily testing at the treatment plant. Staff has been performing additional testing at the Industrial facilities, in preparation for pre-treatment program.
Staff participates in weed control and rodent control.
WATER
Pictured above are Jimmy and Andrew repairing a residential corp. stop at the meter.
Staff continues to monitor water distribution system for proper chlorination. Staff responded to two-meter issues this month. Staff replaced and repaired corp. stops and meters, including concrete repair.
Staff has been completing final testing of Well 7 in preparation of startup. The city received the Well 7 permit in early April. Final preparations are in the works and the well should be online by the end of April.
Staff is working on repairs at the pool in anticipation of opening in June. Staff will be lowering the pool next week to replace some interior lighting and do some repairs to the heater and fill transducers. Then a good cleaning will be in order.
Roberto is pictured replacing curb and concrete after a meter repair.
STORM WATER
Staff completed outfall inspections after the rain in early March. Staff continues to monitor inspections, post construction requirements, and needed documentation for the annual stormwater report. The city has not had any illicit discharges this month.
PARKS → CANYON CREEK & MEYER PARKS
For all of our City parks, Public Works Staff is actively fixing water valves and sprinklers. Weekly mowing and weed eating keeps occurring.
Crew has removed shrubbery from outside fence line for rodent control.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Staff continues to do weekly maintenance of all City buildings. Staff is currently giving the conference room at City Hall a facelift.
STREETS
David is beautifying downtown Gonzales by removing weeds from flower beds in our downtown area.
This is right in front of City Hall on Fourth St.
Public Works crewmember Martin Espinoza is patching potholes on throughout Gonzales. Pictured is Rincon Road.
After patching Rincon Road, Martin and David are repainting stop bars.
EVENTS
The cities Car Show and Shine event on April 2 was an event to remember.
Public works participated in planning, road closures and any help need to support the community development director and the rec department. We all enjoyed being a part of the anniversary celebration.
Below are a couple of pictures taken of the Show and Shine event.
PLANNING
Public Works Director and City Engineer continue to work on the Capital Improvement Project Plan, the Pavement Management Plan, and the needed upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Community Center.
TRAINING
Staff continues to participate in water webinars to increase their knowledge. Staff has a Fight Flood training in conjunction with Fire Dept. in April. There is also a scheduled flagger refresher scheduled with the South County Public Works Group.
INTERNSHIP
Birana Medvecki continues to work on GIS. She’s been busy creating exhibits for Public Works and continues working on the water and sewer maps.