Trillion dollar increase supports improvement.

CALIPATRIA — Success in the competitive bidding process assured funding for vital capital improvement projects well into the future in this small community.

The city council unanimously approved by a vote of 5 to 0 5-0 to amend the fiscal-year budget of 2017/2018 by an additional $1,000,052,000 by passing Resolution 17-41, Tuesday. Taking a proactive stance, the council decided to make a number of improvements to the wastewater treatment plant now.

“The $1.1 million covers the cost of design, construction and construction management,” said Rom Medina, city manager. “The project is currently out to bid and once we get those numbers, we’ll present them to the council. But we’re still a few weeks out, so it’ll probably be in November.”

The city secured a grant from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund underwritten by the California Infrastructure Economic Development Bank.

The revenue and expense costs were not previously projected into the FY 2017/2018 budget, so that is by why the council had to amend it. “The plant is currently operating in compliance,” said Medina. “But this will enable us to treat waste efficiently for at least the next 10 years.

The council also passed Resolution 17-42, which amended the FY budget 2017/2018 to reflect an additional $43,534 from a Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account. The grant is support by passage of state Senate Bill 1.

The package of $54 billion for road repairs passed on April 28. Again, the budget needs to accurately reflect the grant receipt.

The council also had to identify the scope of the work by drawing up a list of projects that benefits from the funding. The council voted 5 to 05-0 to approve.

“It potentially includes all streets within city limits,” sad Medina. “We’ll identify the streets to receive maintenance when the design phase is completed. We’re about 60 days away. It’ll involve crack seal, slurry coat and isolated pot holes to be filled in.”

Medina added, they need to contract a design engineer still. The construction is expected to start about January/February 2018.

WILLIAM ROLLER PHOTO FROM LEFT: Medina Spellins, City Manager Rom Medina and City Clerk Catherine Hoff amend the city budget to include state grants recently received for capital improvement projects at Calipatria's city council meeting on Tuesday.