City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: July 18, 2022
FROM: Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer THROUGH: Carmen Gil, Interim 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. At the 2/07/2022 City Council meeting, a $175,000 contract with Alltech Services (low bidder) was approved. The generator at the Calif Breeze Sewer Lift Station will also be replaced under this contract but will be funded with Sewer Impact monies. The contract has been executed, a kick-off meeting held on 3/02/2022 and the generators were ordered on 3/07/2022. The 25KW generator for city hall has an expected ship date of 8/09/2022 and the 80KW generator has an expected ship date of 10/02/2022.
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, City staff met with staff with the State Water Resources Control Board and discussed status of their review of the City’s State Revolving Fund loan application.
WATER PROJECTS
AGENDA
ITEM
10 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. Staff prepared a draft agreement with the property owner and the City Attorney is reviewing it.
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 to VSS International was made at the 6/20/2022 Council Meeting. A Preconstruction Meeting is scheduled for 7/27/2022 and the field work is expected to begin on 8/22/2022.
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.
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.
3. Rianda Cooler Development Project (Gloria Road) – The applicant’s design consultant is preparing a Project Description for the project CEQA document. Staff is coordinating with the applicant’s site civil engineer and water/wastewater consultant on the initial design and layout.
4. Last month, DR Horton entered into an agreement with D'Arrigo Bros to develop the 130 acre parcel in the city. A kick-off meeting with DR Horton and City staff was held on 7/07/2022.
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 FY2022/23 Assessment Districts and the public hearing was scheduled for the 6/20/2022 Council Meeting. The Assessment Rolls will be forwarded to the County Assessor by 8/04/2022.
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
The Pista Grit at the treatment plant is almost repaired, we are awaiting one more part. Cal Coast Electric has been working on replacing the old panel. Jimmy Vasquez has received his Operator in Training certificate and is now working daily at the WWTP. Staff continues to take daily tests and inspections at the plant. Staff is still working with our consultant to finish the pretreatment program.
WATER
Staff continues to monitor the wells and sampling stations around town.
There was a water main break on Gabilan court last week. Since the water is not being used, staff will cap the line and fill the hole as a temporary fix until the community center is started. There was also a water leak on Zinfandel Circle. West Valley was needed to repair the lateral.
Suez will be out in July to inspect Tank 1. We opted to have a visual done rather than empty the tank, due to drought conditions.
Well 7 is crawling to the finish line. Ethernet cable has been installed to enable FRM to install SCADA.
TESCO is due to arrive on site July 11-13.
STORM WATER
Staff continues to perform inspections and testing. Staff trains regularly for illicit discharges. Staff will begin preparing for the annual stormwater report.
PARKS
CANYON CREEK AND MEYER PARK
Staff regularly mows and edges the parks. Staff has been trimming trees in Central park. Staff had to replace the irrigation box at Central Park, it was broken when a tree limb fell on the box.
Staff repaired the softball fence at Centennial Park.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Staff cleans the Vosti restrooms every morning. Staff also cleans the Council Chambers several times a week.
Staff had a HAZMAT Inspection and was required to clean up the mechanics area.
STREETS
Staff has been filling potholes throughout town. Staff also added centerline striping and speed dots on Zinfandel and Cabernet at the request of residences.
Our Mechanic keeps our vehicles and equipment repaired.
Staff has been trimming trees along Alta minor.
PLANNING
Public Works Director and City Engineer continue 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
Upcoming staff training: Monterey Bay Waterworks will provide training for the South County Cities on July 28. The topic will be pump maintenance and repair: the City of Gonzales will host. South County Public Works will host a training in September on Stormwater.
INTERNSHIP
Leobardo Rojas has joined us as our new intern. He is currently helping out at City Hall. He is also helping us with data entry for the Lead and Copper survey.