City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: June 20, 2022
FROM: Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer THROUGH: Mark Hartunian, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Works Activity Report
BUILDING PROJECTS
1. Community Center Complex Project – Group 4 Architects completed the “Design Criteria” documents in April 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. At the 5/31/2022 Council Meeting, a Special Mailed Ballot Election was approved for voters to consider increasing the City’s Transactions and Use Tax (Sales Tax) on 8/30/2022.
2. Emergency Generator Replacements – The City received a $150,000 grant from Cal OES in 2021 to replace the emergency generators at City Hall and the Police Station. Staff and a consultant engineer prepared bid documents that were issued for public bid in December 2021, and seven bids were submitted at the 1/27/2022 bid opening. At the 2/07/2022 City Council meeting, a $175,000 contract with Alltech Services (low bidder) was approved. The contract has been executed, a kick-off meeting was held on 3/02/2022 and the generators were ordered on 3/07/2022 with an expected ship date in late July 2022.
3. Radio repeater –The radio repeater authorized by the Council in November 2021, was installed on the roof of the Fire Station in April 2022, and Gonzales Fire Department staff programmed the handheld radios for Public Works field personnel’s use.
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 5/03/2022 and 5/25/2022, staff met with the State AGENDA
ITEM
10 Water Resources Control Board staff and discussed status of their review of the City’s State Revolving Fund loan application.
WATER PROJECTS
1. Equip Well 7 Project – On 4/07/2022, 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 which involves the City IT vendor (Alvarez Technology), City’s SCADA vendor (FRM), the electrical subcontractor (Varni Electric), and the SCADA/Controls supplier (Tesco).
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 12/14/2021, Schaaf & Wheeler submitted the 60% plans, specifications, and cost estimate for review.
Staff is holding bi-weekly progress meeting with SWRCB staff.
ROADWAY PROJECTS
1. Slurry Seal Contract – Staff issued this project for bid on 5/16/2022; bids were opened on 6/09/2022; and the award of contract is on this evening’s meeting agenda.
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.
3. 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 bi-weekly zoom meetings with Pembrook Development and their consultants.
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.
Final Technical Memorandum was submitted in April 2022. d. Staff and our on-call Traffic Engineer met 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 met with Monterey County PW staff and discussed the applicant’s preliminary offsite roadway design. Staff sent follow-up emails to County staff on 5/05/2022 and 6/14/2022, and have not received a response.
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 provided a revised scope and cost for the improvements due to an increase in costs over the last year.
2. Assessment Districts – Harris & Associates prepared the Engineer Reports for the FY2022-2023 Assessment Districts and the public hearing is scheduled for the 6/20/2022 Council meeting.
3. 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.
4. FEMA Flood Map Updates – Over the two years, 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. 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 presentation on this effort along with a letter to be sent to FEMA with our comments and questions on their mapping effort. A 90-day appeal period began on 5/12/2022.
5. 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.
6. Microgrid Project – Staff has been coordinating with Concentric Power and Sage Energy (Program Manager) on various elements of the project. Staff participates in biweekly coordination meetings.
PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
WASTEWATER
Pictured above is one of our staff changing the doorknob at the WWTP generator room.
Staff continues to perform daily testing and inspections at the treatment plant. Staff performs weed abatement and rodent abatement. Staff regularly cleans lift stations to keep them running. Staff has had three sewer issues this month- two clogs on Alta Street. Staff was able to clear them with the Vac Con truck, the third was a clean out on Zinfandel Drive. A resident phoned City Hall to report a broken water main. When staff arrived, we found that it was a sewer clean out that had blown off. Staff quickly turned off Sunrise lift station to prevent more water in the street. Staff blocked storm drains, cleaned, and sanitized the street. West Valley arrived within 20 minutes to repair the pipe and we had minimal loss of water and recovery was quick.
WATER
Staff has prepared the pool for the summer season. The pool passed inspection with the County on May 24th. The County commented that we have one of the nicest pools they have seen. The pool heater is on the fritz and is being repaired.
Staff continues to replace dead meter registers and fine tune the meter reading process. We had another water leak on Brockman drive. West Valley was called to repair it.
STORM WATER
Staff continues to perform inspections and testing. Staff trains regularly for illicit discharges.
PARKS → CANYON CREEK & MEYER PARKS
Due to Graduation season, Public Works contributes to the celebrations by placing “Congrats Grads 2022” at Central Park. Many residents enjoy this as they can use the sign as photo props. Roverto Zavala is the talented Public Works employee who cuts out the wood for this sign to be made possible.
Staff installing fencing for softball.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Pictured below are Curtis and Roverto doing some patch work at the City Hall Parking Lot after having Trini’s Plumbing fix some major plumbing issues at the City Hall Break Room. Public Works staff not only clean City buildings, but maintain structure.
STREETS
New hire Frankie Nava, does some skirting and weed abatement on Minor Alta to beautify our Gonzales streets.
Pictured below are Martin Espinoza and David Martinez continue to beautify Gonzales streets by restriping parking stalls where needed throughout the City of Gonzales.
PLANNING
Public Works Director/City Engineer continues to work on the Capital Improvement Project Plan, the Pavement Management Plan, the needed upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Community Center.
TRAINING
Staff celebrated Public Works Week with the South County Cities of Soledad, and City of King. Thanks to Soledad for hosting a BBQ and safety training round table. It was great to get feedback from the crews on the types of safety training we need.