Prioritizing projects on tap

Another step in 2018-19 fiscal budget process

The Porterville City Council today will consider and provide direction in the establishment of priority projects for the upcoming 2018-2019 fiscal year.

The city council has scheduled the study session for the purposes of defining its priority projects for the upcoming 2018-2019 fiscal year, as city staff has initiated the new fiscal year budget development process, said City Manger John Lollis.

At its meeting on April 17, Lollis said the council directed that each member of council be allowed to submit up to three projects for consideration.

Mayor Milt Stowe’s top three picks include tertiary treatment, street improvements and recreation facility. Vice Mayor Brian Ward didn’t submit any projects.

Councilmember Martha Flores chose Villa Street Bridge Slough Crossing, Westwood Bridge, and Union Avenue Reconstruction Indiana to Jaye Streets as her top three choices. Councilmember Cameron Hamilton chose two projects — Henry Street Park Improvements and New Recharge Basins Completed.

Councilmember Monte Reyes chose Henderson Avenue/plano Street Intersection, Union Avenue Reconstruction Indiana to Jaye Streets, and Henry Street Park Improvements as his top three picks.

For the council’s information and consideration, Lollis said the

city’s departments have identified their own potential priorities, which the department directors would be able to provide further detail and explanation.

The top three picks in the city’s administrative services department include Personnel System Rules and Regulations Update, Employee Labor Relations Resolution Update and Records Management.

In community development, the top two picks are Industrial Land Annexation and Circulation Element/land Use Plan Update.

Funding strategy for

unfunded liabilities for CALPERS and OPEB was the only pick in the city’s finance department.

In the fire department, the top picks include Zoll Fire Response Management System, replacement of three apparatus — two patrols and one water tender — and department reorganization — captain (arson investigation to training).

The city’s parks and leisure services department chose library restrooms renovation, veterans park trailway phase two, and relocation of leisure services staff from the Heritage Center as its top picks.

In the police department, a new animal shelter facility, an upgrade to its dispatch center and a force option simulator came in as its top picks.

In public works, water main extensions and connections

with regard to SGMA and code enforcement, street projects such as the Jaye Street Bridge closeout, and field services division personnel reorganization came in as its top picks.

In addition to the priorities, Lollis said many other projects are currently in process or expected to begin in the coming fiscal year.

With the animal shelter facility, Lollis said with city staff’s preliminary engineering assistance, an architect has been selected and contract negotiations are underway to provide necessary engineering plans and specifications for construction, which he said is anticipated to begin in Spring 2019. Lollis added that the required asbestos and lead survey of the facility

is currently underway.

With regard to the community garden, Lollis said in collaboration with both Leadership Porterville and the Porterville Unified School District’s Pathways, a preliminary design has been approved by council for the establishment of a drought demonstration garden on the southeast corner of D Street and Morton Avenue, with the pathways expected to complete the project in the coming fiscal year.

In terms of the community recreation facility, Lollis said with the council’s approval to proceed with the sale of the Heritage Center to the Porterville Unified School District, council directed the establishment of a new youth center and indoor recreation facility within the community. Lollis said several sites have been evaluated, with council showing preference to the city property located on Fourth Street along the Rails to Trails. Lollis said staff is currently working with HUD in structuring the sale of the Heritage Center and Section 108 loan payoff, and planning for the programming of CDBG funds toward a new youth center and community recreation facility.

Also, should Proposition 68 ($4 billion state bond for parks and water projects) be successful on the June 2018 ballot, Lollis said city staff would apply for competitive grant funds to benefit disadvantage areas, similar to the funding received for the construction of Fallen Heroes Park.

For the Henderson Avenue Reconstruction, Lollis said council recently awarded the contract for rehabilitating the segment between Newcomb and Patsy Streets, which he said should be completed this Summer. Lollis said plans for reconstruction between Indiana and Jaye Street are undergoing

necessary peer review, with construction expected this Summer. Lollis said micro-surfacing between Main and Second Streets, as well as reconstruction between Second and Plano Streets, are proposed for the coming 2018-19 fiscal year.

For the Henry Street Park Improvements, Lollis said city staff is coordinating with CSET Youth Corps in the utilization of grant funding for the rehabilitation and improvements to the pond area of the property, similar to what was completed by CSET across the street for the Murry Park pond. Lollis said staff is also evaluating the phased construction of the planned replacement facility, utilizing fire loss insurance proceeds. He said staff further proposes in the coming fiscal year to widen Henry Street and install both water and sewer lines to serve the property.

With the library remodel project, Lollis said architectural plans have been completed for the remodel of the upstairs restrooms and the establishment of a family restroom on the ground floor. He said the required asbestos and lead survey is currently underway.

For the Murry Park Disc Golf Course, Lollis said city staff has completed the installation of the disc golf course and is in operation.

In terms of the Sports Complex Completion project, Lollis said should Proposition 68 be successful on the June 2018 ballot, the city would receive formulaic funds for park improvements, which he said could be matched with current reserved funding to complete further improvements.

With regard to street improvements, Lollis said the improvement of Plano Street between Highway 190 and Henderson Avenue is underway, with the necessary replacement

of water lines complete, and the dig out and repair and required intersection concrete ramp improvements nearing completion, to be followed by micro-surfacing treatment. Lollis said council recently awarded the contract for rehabilitation of Orange Avenue between Main and Plano Street, as well as Henderson Avenue between Newcomb and Patsy Streets. He said the reconstruction of Henderson Avenue between Indiana and Jaye Streets is under peer review, with construction expected to occur this Summer.

For the Union Avenue Reconstruction, Lollis said city staff has begun preliminary design and environmental review, with planned construction in the 2022-23 fiscal year. Lollis said the installation of a sewer main and laterals will be installed in the next several months as part of the recently-awarded Annexation Sewer Extension Project, and city staff will follow with an overlay of the street as an interim measure.

With the Villa Street Bridge Widening, Lollis said city staff has begun preliminary design and environmental review as a self-funded bridge project, with planned construction in the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Lollis said the widening of the Porter Slough bridge would be considered a phase of the planned reconstruction of Villa Street between Olive and Henderson Avenues.

For the Wastewater Tertiary Treatment, Lollis said the city’s feasibility study in considering the options for implementation and method is underway and should be completed in the Spring 2019. Lollis said environmental review and preliminary design would be the next major milestones, followed by construction.

With the Westwood Street Bridge Widening, Lollis said city staff has coordinated with both county and TCAG staff in the prospective widening of the Westwood Street Bridge over the Tule River. Lollis said the bridge is not currently considered by FHWA as needing replacement and/or widening, thus presenting a significant challenge in receiving needed matching grant funds. Lollis said staff will continue to pursue bridge improvements along Highway 190 as part of the Highway 190 corridor improvements that Caltrans is currently planning.

The council meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. today in the council chambers at Porterville’s City Hall.