City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: September 15, 2025
FROM: Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Public Works/City Engineer Departments Activity Report
WASTEWATER
1. Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility – The Contractor (Gateway Pacific) began construction on 7/21/2025. The contractor, construction manager, design consultant and City staff hold weekly progress meetings to discuss open items, status of submittal review, project schedule and other business.
2. Rehabilitation of Brick Sewer Manholes – Staff is preparing a bid document for the rehabilitation of ten sewer manholes made of brick. These are older manholes that are not as strong as concrete manholes and can allow ground water into the sewer system
3. Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) – Regional Board staff visited the WWTP on 8/04/2025 to observe the treatment process and see the construction of the IW Treatment Facility.
WATER
1. Alpine Camp – The State Water Resources Control Board engaged NV5 (engineering consultant) to prepare technical studies, environmental studies and real estate appraisals and to support a grant application to connect Alpine Camp to the City water and sewer systems. A kick-off meeting was held on 7/23/2025 and the project team holds monthly coordination meetings.
BUILDINGS
Community Center Complex Project – The project is on schedule to be completed by 11/15/2025.
The electric switch gear was delivered on 7/15/2025, 60 weeks after being ordered. The electrical subcontractor installed and wired the switch gear and PG&E field crews connected the switch gear to AGENDA
ITEM
14 PG&E power on 8/26/2025. Current work includes interior painting, carpeting, concrete walkways in the courtyard, and site landscaping/irrigation.
STREETS
1. 2025 Slurry Seal Contract – The contract with Pavement Coatings has been executed and the field work is expected to begin in mid-October.
2. Fourth Street Pavement Rehab – Harris & Associates is preparing the construction documents to reconstruct the 100 Block of Fourth Street and the 400 and 300 blocks of Alta Minor. Harris & Associates submitted 65% plans, technical specifications and cost estimate on 8/08/2025.
3. TAMC Safe Routes to School Program - Staff engaged TL Engineering to prepare several alternatives for pedestrian safety improvements along Fifth Street from the Southbound Highway 101 on/off ramps. On 5/09/2025 TL Engineering submitted draft alternatives for City staff review. Funding is a $250,000 RSTP grant from the TAMC.
4. TAMC Vision Zero – Staff met with the Vision Zero Project Manager on 7/11/2025 and discussed potential traffic safety project to be designed and implemented. On 8/28/2025 a draft list of safety projects was emailed for City staff’s review.
5. Fifth Street Truck Ban – Bid opening for the traffic signs for the truck ban was 7/23/2025 and a single bid of $121,436 was received. Staff will present a staff report for award of this contract at the 9/15/2025 Council meeting. Funding is $16,788 in RSTP Fair Share Reserve Funds and $113,512 in a Mid-Cycle RSTP Grant from the Transportation Agency for Monterey County.
SOLID WASTE
Quarterly Tri-Cities Franchise Agreements Meetings – The new 10-year contract with Tri-Cities Disposal was approved at the 6/16/2025 Council meeting. The most recent quarterly meeting with SVSWA, Tri-Cities Disposal and City staff was held on 8/12/2025.
OTHER EFFORTS
1. PW Field Person Recruitment – Recruitment to fill the open PW position has been completed and the new employee will start on 9/22/2025.
2. Geographic Information System (GIS) – City staff continues to work on the City’s GIS mapping system by inputting field data for water, sewer and storm drainage systems. Staff hold monthly meetings with ProWest (GIS consultant) to seek their assistance with our mapping efforts. Other mapping efforts include assessing sidewalks to map uplifted or missing sidewalk panels and performing a street sign inspection.
WASTEWATER
Staff check the influent and effluent, run daily inspections and testing of Dissolved Oxygen levels, pH, and conductivity at the wastewater treatment plant daily. Staff performed weed control and rodent control at the wastewater treatment plant.
Staff is using the new flood fields on the IWTF site to percolate the treated wastewater. Staff have been repairing several of the WWTP levies. Staff made sandbags for the upcoming storm season.
WATER
Staff tests for chlorine residual daily, and maintenance on the water system. Staff repairs chlorine leaks and performs maintenance on the wells.
Well 4 is down for repairs. Maggiora Bros will begin cleaning Well 4 soon.
For the month of August, all water samples taken at the sampling stations for the water system tested negative for coliform.
Staff addressed two water leaks this month. These leaks were on the homeowner’s side of the meter.
PW staff distributed 57 seven-day notice door hangers and there were ten disconnects because of nonpayment.
Staff found a landscape crew draining a pond into the storm drain over on Herold Parkway. Staff educated the crew and homeowner that this was not allowed and about stormwater management.
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 is preparing Centennial Park for soccer season and repaired several irrigation leaks.
Staff installed a light on the flagpole in Centennial field. Staff regularly weed and clean Bio Swales and the redwoods along Alta Street.
GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Staff clean the Vosti Center restrooms daily. Staff cleans the Council Chambers weekly. Staff orders supplies for City buildings and disburses them appropriately.
With the roof repair finished at the Fire House, staff completed the removal of concrete and prepped the floor at the fire house where the BBQ pit was located.
STREETS
Staff continue to fill potholes, especially in the Industrial Business Park.
EVENTS
Staff participated in stormwater training event in Greenfield. Staff will also participate in the Monterey Bay Water works training and expo on September 18.
Staff also participated in the Monterey County Fair with the Water Awareness Committee.