City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: August 21, 2023
FROM: Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Works Activity Report
BUILDINGS
1. Community Center Complex Project – An award of contract to Otto Construction/WRNS was approved at the 6/5/2023 Council meeting. The Notice to Proceed for design of Phases 1 and 2 was issued on 6/16/2023 and a kick-off with the Otto Construction/WRNS Team was held on 6/28/2023.
The Project Team is holding weekly progress meetings and staff will provide a progress report at the 8/21/2023 Council Meeting.
WASTEWATER
1. Industrial Wastewater (IW) System – Construction documents for the IW Conveyance and Treatment Facility was completed in September 2022. Staff, city surveyor and real estate appraiser are finalizing the temporary and permanent easements needed for the pipeline contract. City staff is coordinating with the State Water Resources Control Board regarding the city’s State Revolving Fund loan application (most recent virtual meeting was 8/04/2023).
2. Water/Sewer Rate Study – A contract with Lechowicz & Tseng to prepare a Water/Sewer Rate Study was approved at the 11/21/2022 Council meeting. They have reviewed the city’s rate structure, utility billing data, impact fee studies and capital improvement programs and developed a financial model.
Staff presented the initial rates at the 8/07/2023 Council meeting.
3. Capital Improvement Program (CIP) – Psomas updated the wastewater projects of the city’s CIP for use in the Water/Sewer Rate Study. The sewer CIP was approved at the 8/07/2023 Council meeting.
AGENDA
ITEM
14 WATER
1. Johnson Canyon Parallel Waterline – A design contract with Schaaf & Wheeler was approved at the 6/20/2023 Council meeting. The contract was executed, and a kick-off meeting was held on 6/29/2023.
2. Capital Improvement Program – Schaaf & Wheeler updated the city’s Water Model and updated the water projects of the city’s Capital Improvement Program for use in the Water/Sewer Rate Study.
The water section of the CIP was approved at the 8/07/2023 Council meeting.
3. Alpine Court Water/Sewer Service – At the 8/07/2023 meeting, the City Council approved submitting grant agreements with the State Water Resource Control Board (SWRCB) to fund construction of extending water and sewer service from Gonzales River Road to Alpine Camp.
4. Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency – Staff is an alternate on the SVBGSA Technical Advisory Committee (Soledad staff is the representative for South Valley cities).
ROADS
1. Fifth Street Truck Ban – This project was issued for public bid on 7/17/2023 and bids will be opened on 8/17/2023. An Award of Contract is expected to be presented at the 9/05/2023 Council meeting.
PARKS
2. Skate Park Improvements – Phase Two improvements to the skate park were funded by the 2018 Parks Bond Act. The project was substantially completed on 2/02/2023 and a ribbon cutting was held on 2/11/2023. The State Grant Manager visited the site on 5/12/2023 and inspected the installed improvements and authorized payment of the $178,000 of grant funds to reimburse the city. The Council accepted the work as complete at the 6/05/2023 meeting and a Notice of Completion was recorded with the County Recorder. Staff submitted a reimbursement application to the state grant manager.
3. Meyer Park – Staff has coordinated numerous maintenance items over the last several months including fixing light fixtures, replacing uplifted sidewalk, pruning trees, and replacing the rubber mulch under the swings with wood fiber. We are working with MST on installing a bus shelter that the city and MST will split the cost for. Staff is reviewing a proposal for a consultant to prepare a Needs Assessment for Meyer Park.
SOLID WASTE
1. Maury Treleven with Tri-Cities Disposal coordinated a Reuse, Recycle & Cleanup Event on 6/24/2023. The event was held at Fairview Middle School and 168 vehicles showed up. This event meets the outreach criteria for the city’s storm water permit as it provides alternatives to illegal dumping (especially the safe collection of items commonly dumped in storm drains) and outreach surveys conducted by Save the Whales. The next Reuse, Recycle & Cleanup Event is scheduled for 10/21/2023.
2. Quarterly Tri-Cities Franchise Agreements Meetings – Staff from the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, Tri-Cities Disposal & Recycling and the cities of Gonzales, Soledad, and Greenfield meet on a quarterly basis to discuss the various waste collection programs (commercial accounts, food waste, organic waste), compliance with latest state regulations, public outreach and education, customer surveys, etc).
3. On 3/17/2023 the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority issued a Request for Proposals for Collection of Solid Waste, Recyclables and Organic Waste. The RFP includes compliance with the recent State mandates such as AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383. Three proposals were received by the 6/30/2023 deadline. A meeting with representatives from the four South Valley cities was held on 8/11/2023 to discuss the proposals and “next steps” such as potentially scheduling interviews with two or all three companies.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
1. Vista Lucia Development (City’s Sphere of Influence - East of US 101) a. 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.
The Final Technical Memorandum was submitted in April 2022. b. Staff and our on-call traffic engineer have coordinated with Caltrans District 5 staff on the process for preparation of a Project Study Report/Project Development Support (PSR-PDS).
Staff is preparing a Request for Proposals to engage a consultant to prepare the PSR-PDS documents.
c. Staff met with Monterey County staff on 10/7/2022 and discussed executing a Maintenance Agreement for the city to be responsible for maintenance of Associated Lane when it’s widened as part of the Vista Lucia Development (maintenance will be funded by an assessment district formed as part of the development). Staff will attend a follow-up meeting with County staff on 8/17/2023.
2. Rianda Cooler Development Project (Gloria Road) – Staff is coordinating with the applicant’s site civil engineer on frontage improvements along Gloria Road and the extension of city water/sewer service to the project site. We participate in bi-weekly meetings with the applicant’s consultant team.
On 6/12/2023 staff and the new Building Official met with the applicant to discuss building plan review process and the expected construction schedule
3. DR Horton/D’Arrigo - In June 2022, DR Horton began the feasibility analysis of developing the 130- acre parcel owned by D'Arrigo Bros. DR Horton introduced the project at a Joint Planning Commission/City Council meeting on 8/01/2022. Staff held a virtual meeting with DR Horton staff on 5/02/2023 to discuss proposed water and sewer improvements along future Herold Parkway to serve the Rianda Cooler Project.
OTHER PROJECTS
1. South Salinas Valley Broadband Authority – On 7/05/2023 the city received the High Level Design package funded by the $250,000 CPUC Local Agency Technical Assistance grant.
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 GIS to develop capital improvement projects to serve the proposed development projects in the SOI. GIS Staff with AMBAG is supporting our efforts including coordinating with County GIS staff to obtain additional mapping layers.
3. 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. FEMA did not revise the flood maps based on city review comments and the new maps are effective 11/30/2023.
4. Transportation Agency for Monterey County – Patrick Dobbins attends the monthly Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings and is the TAC Vice Chair for 2023.
PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
WASTEWATER
Staff performs testing and daily inspections at the treatment plant. Staff also performs regular maintenance and repairs. Staff continues to provide weed control at the plant including a control burn with the help of the Fire Dept staff.
Staff pulling and returning aerators.
Staff pulled three aerators from treatment ponds for service. Staff returned two into service and is repairing the third aerator.
WATER
Staff continue to test and maintain the water system. Well 5 needed the well pump rebuilt. It has been down for about 5 weeks. Staff continue to run the system manually until the pump for well 5 is reinstalled by Salinas Pump.
STORM WATER
Staff continue to perform dry weather maintenance on storm drains. Staff attended annual stormwater training on 8/02/2023.
PARKS
Staff mow turf areas in city parks on a weekly basis. Staff cleans restrooms, cleans trash and makes repairs in parks regularly. Staff also performed rodent control.
Staff took down the softball fence and marked the sprinkler system at Centennial Park in preparation for the Circus that operated from August 3 - 9. Staff also helped Kids Summer Camp with the water fun day.
CANYON CREEK & MEYER PARKS
Staff continue to maintain Canyon Creek Park and Tot Lot.
STREETS
Staff continue to perform weed control. Staff have been painting crosswalks, stop bars, and centerline strips in advance of the first day of school. Fifth Street and Elko Street were the priority and these efforts expanded from there.
Staff painting crosswalks.
Staff painting “No Parking” zones.
Staff removed trash from Fourth Street and other areas around the city.
TRAINING
As part of our participation in the South Salinas Valley Public Works Managers group, staff participated in stormwater training hosted by the City of Greenfield on 8/02/2023.
Staff will participate in Sewer Emergency Response Plan (SERP) training at the end of August. The State Water Board have updated their requirements for SERPs and staff will participate in the updated training and drills.