City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: September 18, 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 Design/Build Team was approved at the 6/5/2023 Council meeting. The Notice to Proceed for design services for 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. UPDATES:
• The Project Team is holding weekly progress meetings. • Staff provided a progress report at the 8/21/2023 Council Meeting and presented a follow-up report at the 9/05/2023 Council Meeting
• On 9/05/2023 Staff and the Design/Build team met with interested residents and a business owner and discussed the Community Hall and Commercial Kitchen. • On 9/07/2023 WRNS Studios (project architect) emailed their 50% Design Development submittal to City staff for review.
• On 9/12/2023 City staff and the Design/Build team met with the GYC and other high school students at the High School Quad over the lunch hour to get their input on the design aspects of the Teen Innovation Center.
WASTEWATER
1. Industrial Wastewater (IW) System – Construction documents for the IW Conveyance and Treatment Facility were 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).
AGENDA
ITEM
11 2. Water/Sewer Rate Study – A contract with Lechowicz & Tseng to prepare a Water/Sewer Rate Study was approved at the 11/21/2023 Council meeting. They reviewed the City’s rate structure, utility billing data, impact fee studies and capital improvement programs and developed a financial model.
On 8/07/2023 Staff and consultant met with Industrial Business Park facilities managers and presented an overview of the Water/Sewer Rate Study. Staff and the consultant presented the initial rates at the 8/07/2023 Council meeting. UPDATES:
• On 9/18/2023 Staff and consultant will meet with Industrial Business Park facilities managers to discuss the Draft Water/Sewer Rate Study.
• Staff and consultant will present the Draft Water/Sewer Rate Study at the 9/18/2023 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.
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 (King City staff is the representative for South Valley Cities and our City Manager is the Alternate).
ROADS
1. Fifth Street Truck Ban – This project was issued for public bid on 7/17/2023 and one bid was opened on 8/17/2023. The Design Consultant is reviewing the single bid as it exceeds the cost estimate.
PARKS
1. 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). UPDATE: Staff attended a follow-up meeting with County staff on 8/16/2023.
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 Building Official met with the applicant to discuss the building plan review process and the expected construction schedule.
OTHER PROJECTS
1. Computer Network Server Replacement – Alvarez Technology is replacing the computer servers for City Hall, Fire Station and the Police Department. This $130,000 effort began with an eight month procurement phase and the physical work is being performed over a six month period which is expected to be completed by the end of October 2023.
2. 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. UPDATE: Staff is currently reviewing an encroachment permit application to extend the fiber to the Police Station where the IT Servers for City Hall, Police Department and Fire Department reside.
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 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.
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. FEMA did not revise the flood maps based on City review comments and the new maps are effective 11/30/2023.
5. Transportation Agency for Monterey County – Patrick Dobbins attends the monthly Technical Advisory Committee meetings and is the TAC Vice Chair for 2023.
PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
WASTEWATER
Staff performs testing and daily inspections of the influent and effluent at the wastewater treatment plant.
Staff repaired one of the grinders at the headworks. Staff also removed and repaired two of the aerators in the treatment ponds. The percolation ponds are regularly disced and ripped to ensure good percolation.
Staff also performed rodent control and weed abatement at the WWTP.
Staff attended Sanitary Sewer Overflow training and drills with the South County Public Works crews.
WATER
Staff continue to test and maintain the water system. Staff has repaired several meter leaks this month.
Staff performed dead end line flushing this quarter. Staff also keeps the pool clean.
Staff repairing a water line. Staff repairing the pool cleaner.
STORM WATER
Staff continue to perform dry weather maintenance on storm drains inlets. Staff is beginning to prepare for the winter storm season.
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 perform work on the redwoods to ensure they are getting the proper water and care needed to thrive.
Staff performed inspections of the playground equipment. Staff refilled all park playgrounds with engineered wood fiber and removed broken equipment.
Staff perform maintenance at Central Park, Centennial Park, Meyer Park, Venice Park, Canyon Creek Park and Canyon Creek Tot Park.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Staff continue to perform maintenance of the City owned buildings. Staff replaced filters in all buildings this month as a part of regular maintenance on the HVAC units. The air conditioner at the PD server room was replaced.
STREETS
Staff continue to paint street markings. Staff recently replaced several street name signs.
TRAINING
Staff participated in Sanitary Sewer Overflow classes and drills. Staff learned how to better estimate overflows, more thorough documentation, and prepare for Sewer Overflows.
Sewer overflow drill for estimating spill amounts.