After a multitude of proclamations honoring Older Americans Month, National Police Week, Bike to Work Week, and National Public Works Week, the Oakdale City Council went to work approving funds for a host of projects across the city.
As part of the Valley View River Access Trail, the council approved $114,600 toward the total costs for the trail.
Last month the council approved $572,866 for the construction cost of the trail from a Prop. 84 grant financed construction budget of $738500.
Public Services Director Thom Clark told the council that the $114,600 was 10 percent each estimations for construction contingency and engineering costs and still leaves the city below the grant amount.
In another item, Clark requested authorization to spend $455,275 from Water Capital facilities funds to pay Roadrunner Drilling and Pump in Woodland for the drilling of Well 10 to be located on city owned property on Greger Street.
Clark said the city’s current wells were pumping below the needed requirement of 7800 million gallons per day (mgd). The new well, 660 feet deep, would become operational by July 2016 and bring the city’s pumping rate up to 9400 mgd.
Clark also asked 10 percent set aside for contingency costs and 10 percent for inspection and testing costs, bringing the total requested to $546,300.
Last year a Stanislaus Council of Governments (StanCOG) report listed the majority of Oakdale’s streets in “good” condition, however the report also indicated that a significant amount of repair and maintenance work was needed to prevent further deterioration of the pavement.
The city prepared a pavement maintenance project recommending resurfacing to South Yosemite Avenue from J Street to Warnerville Road.
According to Clark, these roads have cracked, uneven, and worn-out surfaces but are not yet failing structurally. Placing fiberized micro-surfacing on these streets would renew the road surface and extend the life of these streets. The road surfacing also includes reconstruction of pedestrian ramps to bring them into conformance with current ADA requirements.
Clark said when bids were solicited the city only received one bid, from VSS International, in the amount of $582,000 which was far below the city engineered estimate of $774,000.
“It’s unusual to get just one bid,” Clark said. “None of the usual street contractors put in.”
With $29,000 added for engineering costs and $58,000 set aside for contingency, the total cost Clark asked to be approved was $$693,625.
The financing for the project was available through dedicated Department of Transportation funds.
With the popular Dorada Park showing signs of age, City Manager Bryan Whitemyer told the council that local service groups have shown interest in its renovation with pledges of $10,000 from Oakdale Rotary Club, $5,000 from Oakdale Kiwanis Club, and $5,000 from Oakdale Women’s Club.
Whitemyer invited Leathers and Associates, the original designers of the park from 1992, to visit the park and conduct an assessment of the play structure.
Whitemyer said the anticipated costs for replacement of the facilities was close to $100,000 but believed once a design and structure rendering by Leathers and Associates was completed, that additional donations and pledges would be easier to receive.
Whitemyer asked the council to approve $33,500 for the rendering and project design.
“Once the renderings are completed the Dorada Park Rehabilitation Project will have a powerful tool that will help it move forward with additional fundraising efforts,” Whitemyer said.
Oakdale Rotary President Michelle Weber also spoke in support of the project stating the club, as a non-profit agency, would serve as the fiscal agent for the project which would mean that all donations for the project would be tax deductible.
The council approved all of the proposed projects unanimously.
