City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: October 21, 2024
FROM: Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Works Activity Report
BUILDINGS
Community Center Complex Project – Main efforts over last month were completing the installation of the underground utilities and constructing the building walls for the Library and Teen Center. A “topping out” ceremony was held on 10/11/2024. Staff presented a progress report at the 9/16/2024 Council meeting and will provide an update at the 11/18/2024 Council meeting.
WASTEWATER
1. Industrial Wastewater (IW) System – The IW Pipeline Contract was awarded at the 9/03/2024 Council meeting to Sierra Construction & Excavation. A preconstruction meeting was held on 10/03/2024. Staff and the MNS Construction Manager have been meeting with the various property owners and presented them with the temporary and permanent easements needed for the pipeline contract.
2. WWTP – Regional Board staff visited the WWTP on 8/22/2024. City staff provided the Regional Board staff with updates on the operations and maintenance efforts of the WWTP and our progress on constructing the IW System. Staff is preparing the quarterly report due to the Regional Board by 10/30/2024.
ROADS
1. Safe Routes to School – TAMC staff presented the steering committee’s two recommended projects at the 6/17/2024 Council meeting. Staff is reviewing a proposal from a consultant to design the two recommended projects.
AGENDA
ITEM
12 2. Monterey Salinas Transit Circulator – Over the last three years, MST staff coordinated with City staff to replace the Dial-a-Ride Service with a fixed route bus service in Gonzales. MST staff issued the project for bid and Don Chapin Company was the low bidder. Construction began on 9/12/2024.
SOLID WASTE
Quarterly Tri-Cities Franchise Agreements Meetings – Staff from the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, Tri-Cities Disposal 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.
OTHER PROJECTS
1. GIS – City staff continues to work on a GIS mapping system by inputting field data for water, sewer and storm drainage systems. Staff hold monthly meetings with ProWest (GIS consultant). Current mapping efforts include assessing sidewalks to map uplifted or missing sidewalk panels and performing a street sign inspection.
PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
WASTEWATER
Staff perform testing and daily inspections of the influent and effluent at the wastewater treatment plant.
Staff have been discing at the existing and new treatment plant property. Staff perform maintenance at the sewer lift stations.
The percolation ponds at the WWTP are not percolating as they should, staff continue to try different options to make the plant run better.
WATER
Staff tests for chlorine residual daily and maintenance on the water system. Staff repairs chlorine leaks and perform maintenance on the wells. Staff continues to map the water and sewer system for the GIS mapping.
Staff are working on a lead and copper survey for the State.
Staff inspected and observed the hot taps used to install the water lines (domestic, fire, and irrigation) at the Community Center. Staff observed the chlorination of the new lines, the flushing and testing of the new domestic and fire lines.
Staff observed the hot tap connection for the water lines at the Community Center.
STORM WATER
Staff continue to clean and maintain bioswales. Staff began annual maintenance of the perc ponds and outfalls. Staff clean storm drains and hot spots before the rainy season.
Staff found a collapsed storm drain, Staff dug out the old storm drain and made a temporary repair.
Field staff investigating a collapsed storm drain
at the intersection of Fifth Street/Elko Street
PARKS
Staff mows turf areas in the City parks regularly. Staff cleans restrooms, cleans trash, and make repairs in parks. Staff repair and maintain irrigation in Central and Centennial Park.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Staff continue to maintain all City owned buildings. Staff clean the Vosti Center restrooms daily. Staff clean the Council Chambers weekly.
Staff are performing maintenance of the HVAC units on City owned buildings. The HVAC unit at the Vosti Center and the Medical Building need repair and maintenance due to the excessive heat this month.
STREETS
Staff continue to fill potholes. Staff continue to paint street markings including red zones.
EVENTS
Staff participated in the Monterey Bay Water Works training event and Vendor Show on 9/19/2024.
TRAINING
The City of Gonzales hosted a Confined Space training, given by California Rural Water Association.
Employees from King City, Greenfield and Soledad joined staff for this training.
Intern Alejandra participated in Confined space training.