City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: November 18, 2024
FROM: Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Works Department/City Engineer Activity Report
BUILDINGS
Community Center Complex Project – The contractor continues to construct various elements of the parking lot and is completing the framing and roof for Building A. The GYC toured the site on 10/24/2024. City staff and the Construction team met with the GYC on 11/07/2024 and the GYC performed a “sit test” of the proposed chairs for the different spaces in the Teen Center and provided feedback to the project interior designer. Staff will provide an update on the project 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 and the contractor began construction on 11/04/2024. Staff and the MNS Construction Manager have been meeting with the various property owners to obtain the temporary and permanent easements needed for the work. The contract for the IW Treatment Facility will be issued for public bid in January 2025.
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. TAMC staff will present the final version of the Safe Routes to School plan at the 11/18/2024.
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 and was substantially completed on 10/11/2024. The only remaining items are painting the red curbs at each stop by the contractor and for MST staff to install the bus furniture and signage.
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. Emergency Preparedness – the PW Director and Supervisor meet monthly with Fire Chief Jason and Police staff to discuss Emergency Preparedness. At the 10/9/2024 meeting, we stepped through a desk top exercise regarding closure of US101 due to a major vehicle accident.
2. 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 disposal fields at the WWTP are not percolating as they should, and staff continue to try different options to make the plant run better.
Staff performing weed control at the
Wastewater Treatment plant.
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 completed the lead and copper survey. Staff will be sending letters to residents with galvanized piping.
Staff have also completed the Annual Stormwater report by the 10/15/2024 deadline.
Staff continue to clean and maintain bioswales on Center 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. The irrigation has been out of order for a few weeks at Central Park. The electrical box was corroded and in need of repair. Repairs have been made and the irrigation has been repaired.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Staff continue to maintain all City owned buildings. Staff clean the Vosti Center restrooms daily. Staff cleans the Council Chambers weekly.
STREETS
Staff continue to fill potholes. Staff continue to paint street markings including red zones.
EVENTS
Staff have been participating in in-house training.
Staff participated in and set up for the Harvest Trunk or Treat festival.
Staff creating a “trunk or treat”
vehicle for Intern Alejandra.
Staff participated in the “Topping out Ceremony”
at the Community Center. Guests were invited
to sign the last beam to be placed.