City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: February 18, 2025
FROM: Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Works/City Engineer Department Activity Report
WASTEWATER
1. Industrial Wastewater (IW) System – Construction of the IW Pipeline began on 11/04/2024 and is approximately 50% complete. The contract for the IW Treatment Facility was issued for public bid on 1/15/2025. Staff held a Prebid Meeting on 1/24/2025 attended by 13 contractors. The bid opening is scheduled for 2/26/2025.
2. WWTP – City staff provides the Regional Board staff with updates on the operations and maintenance efforts on the WWTP and our progress on constructing the IW System. Staff submitted the quarterly report for October, November and December to the Regional Board on 1/30/2025.
BUILDINGS
Community Center Complex Project – Construction Manager Luis Flores provided the attached memo regarding construction activities during January 2025.
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.
Staff attended the most recent meeting on 11/13/2024.
AGENDA
ITEM
13 OTHER PROJECTS
1. Emergency Preparedness – The PW Director and PW Supervisor meet monthly with Fire Chief Jason and Police staff to discuss Emergency Preparedness.
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). Other mapping efforts include assessing sidewalks to map uplifted or missing sidewalk panels and performing a street sign inspection.
3. South Salinas Valley Broadband JPA – On 2/09/2025, the City received the completed Design Package for the fiber optic project funded by a Local Agency Technical Assistance (LATA) Grant from the CPUC. The next step is securing funding for construction.
4. AT&T Encroachment Permit – During the last week of January and first week of February, a contractor for AT&T installed fiber optic cable on utility poles along Fifth Street and Alta Street
PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
WASTEWATER
Staff check the influent and effluent at the wastewater treatment plant on a daily basis. The effects of high flows from October and November are still impairing the plant. The new discharge pond is working well, but we still need to get rid of a large amount of water. Staff are working on emptying Pond A for rehabilitation. Ponds B and C are full of treated water but slowly draining.
PW Staff clearing a sewer back-up on South Belden
Staff, making sure new blow off is clear.
Staff works with Sierra Construction to ensure that the proper information is used for collabaration of any discrepancies in the plans for the new IW Pipeline.
WATER
Staff tests for chlorine residual daily, and maintenance on the water system. Staff repairs chlorine leaks and performs maintenance on the wells.
Staff addressed all the SWRCB’s requests from the December 2024 Sanitary Survey.
1. Fill in rock around the base of the flush valve discharge to keep the water from undermining the adjacent ground.
New rock around the base of Flush chamber at Well 5.
2. Replace the sample tap at Well 6.
Sample tap repaired.
3. New Air Relief Valve at Well 6.
New Air relief valve, Well 6
For the month of January, all water samples taken at the sampling stations for water system tested negative for coliform. Water test results from the County of Monterey Environmental Health are attached.
Staff repaired three leaks at residents’ meters in January.
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.
Staff took down Christmas decorations in the park and down Fourth Street.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Staff clean the Vosti Center restrooms daily. Staff cleans the Council Chambers weekly. Staff made small repairs at City Hall including the front window.
STREETS
Staff continue to fill potholes and clean the bioswales along Center Street.
EVENTS
Staff have been participating in in-house training. Staff will be participating in Arc Flash training in Soledad on February 26, 2025. Staff will also participate in Ladder safety and ergonomics in King City In March. Some staff were sent to Salinas to participate in Pesticide Applications Professional Association training on February 5, 2025.
Attachments:
1. GCCC - January 2025 Monthly Progress Report