City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: April 15, 2024
FROM: Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report
BUILDINGS
Community Center Complex Project – Staff presented a progress report at the 2/05/2024 Council meeting. On 2/28/2024 the Otto/WRNS team submitted 100% Construction Documents (plans, structural calculations, and technical specifications) to the city. This represents a major milestone as it completed the design phase of the Community Center Complex Project. On 3/08/2024 the Construction Documents were uploaded for building code review by 4Leaf (contract building department staff). The city will hold a Groundbreaking Ceremony at the site on 4/27/2024 and construction is expected to begin in early May 2024.
WASTEWATER
1. Industrial Wastewater (IW) System – Construction documents for the IW Conveyance and Treatment Facility were completed in September 2022. Staff 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 (SWRCB) regarding the City’s State Revolving Fund loan application. On 1/11/2024, SWRCB staff emailed City staff that SRF Agreement is with their Contract Department, and it will take three to four months for them to email us the SRF Agreement.
On 3/20/2024, SWRCB staff said it would be approximately eight weeks to receive the SRF Agreement. Staff has been connecting with State Legislators and staff to see if that timeline can be advanced.
2. RFQ for Program and Construction Management services - On 01/30/2024 staff issued a Request for Qualifications for Program and Construction Management services for Wastewater projects. Four firms submitted Statement of Qualifications by the 2/29/2024 deadline. At the 3/18/2024 Council AGENDA
ITEM
13 meeting, a contract with MSN Engineers to provide Program and Construction Management services for Wastewater projects was approved.
3. RFQ for Wastewater Design services – On 3/28/2024 staff issued a Request for Qualifications for Design Services for Wastewater projects. The deadline for consultants to submit a Statement of Qualifications is 4/25/2024.
4. Wastewater Treatment Plant Repairs – At the 2/05/2024 meeting, the City Council authorized emergency work to repair the berms and improve the percolation at the disposal fields. This was based on staff observing the percolation of treated wastewater in the three disposal fields slowed over the last two weeks due to a higher water table because of the higher-than-normal rain last year and this winter’s rainfall. Staff engaged Swift Tectonics to regrade the berms at the disposal fields that should restore the capacity of the disposal fields. Staff also had Rain 4 Rent to provide and install a temporary pipeline to pump treated wastewater from the disposal fields to the emergency overflow basin near the WWTP headworks. Swift Tectonics completed the grading work to restore the disposal fields to their design configuration.
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. The 90% Design Submittal was received on 12/22/2023. Staff reviewed the submittal and provided Schaaf & Wheeler with our comments. Upon receiving the 100% plans and technical specifications, staff will issue the project for public bid in the very near future.
ROADS
1. Fifth Street Truck Ban – This project was issued for public bid on 7/17/2023 and one bid was received and opened on 8/17/2023. The submitted bid was double the $35,000 estimate by the designer, so the project will be rescoped and additional funding must be identified to install the signs.
2. Safe Routes to School Steering Committee – The community member Steering Committee led by TAMC staff continues to hold their monthly meetings.
3. Monterey Salinas Transit Circulator – Over the last two years, MST staff has coordinated with city staff to replace the Dial-a-Ride Service with a fixed route bus service in Gonzales. MST and city staff met on 10/09/2023 and drove the proposed route to observe the various stops and developed some adjustments to the bus route. On 1/03/2024 staff emailed our review comments on the 60% design submittal to MST staff. MST’s design consultant is working on the 90% design submittal.
MST staff presented the project at the 4/01/2024 Council meeting.
4. Railroad crossing at Fermin Lane/Alta Street – UPRR is planning to remove and replace the crossing arms and related warning lights and related electrical gear in the near future. On 4/02/2024 Staff attended a site meeting with staff from UPRR, CPUC and representatives of adjacent property owners (D’Arrigo Bros, Gonzales Irrigation, Caraccioli Cellars, and Agri-Frame Welding) 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. On 1/24/2024 staff met with residents of the California Breeze Subdivision and discussed park maintenance and some improvements. They were made aware of the need to increase the Parks/Open Space Assessment to fund any improvements.
SOLID WASTE
1. 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.
2. 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. Staff from the four cities reviewed the proposals and ultimately decided to negotiate a fiveyear contract extension with Tri-Cities Disposal & Recycling
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. In October 2023 Tilson Technology (network design consultant) began the Low-Level Design for installation of 40 miles of fiber optic cable in Gonzales. Staff is working with Tilson Technology on siting a fiber hut for the fiber optic cable and connectivity components at the city Corporation Yard.
2. Transportation Agency for Monterey County – Patrick Dobbins attends the monthly Technical Advisory Committee meetings and is the Chair of the Technical Advisory Committee for 2024.
PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
WASTEWATER
Staff perform testing and daily inspections of the influent and effluent at the wastewater treatment plant.
In the last month, staff cleaned several sewer lines and responded to sewer backups due to grease build up. Staff have been performing rodent control at the wastewater treatment plant.
WATER
Staff continue to perform testing and maintenance on the water system. Staff continue to actively map the water and sewer system for GIS.
Staff replaced the filter media in the sand filters at the pool in preparation for the swim season. Staff also cleaned the deck and is almost complete making repairs to the pool deck. Delivery of the pool heater has been delayed until May due to a shortage of parts. Staff coordinating with the contractor on locking down the new delivery date.
STORM WATER
Staff continue to clean storm drains before, during and after each rain.
PARKS
• Staff mows turf areas in city parks on a bi-weekly basis during storm season. • Staff cleans restrooms, cleans trash, and makes repairs in parks regularly. • With the winter storms decreasing, staff is turning on the sprinklers in the landscape areas and parks. • Staff is performing as-needed rodent control using a non-toxic product that uses pheromones to chase squirrels away.
• Staff continue to work on the community garden finishing up the third planting box and building sheds for the garden.
• Staff to clean the restrooms and grounds at Meyer Park.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
• Staff maintain all city owned buildings.
• Staff clean the Vosti Center restrooms daily.
• Staff cleans the Council chambers weekly.
STREETS
Staff have been busy filling potholes after the recent storms. With wet weather ending, staff will begin street striping again.
EVENTS
Staff will be helping with the April 20 Car Show and the April 27 Community Center Groundbreaking events.
TRAINING
Staff will participate in training in Soledad in April.