The nuts and bolts of city services — things such as upgrading the water well treatment facilities to assure public health to foundational work for interchange updates — don’t attract much attention.
It’s because much of what the city does outside of police and fire protection, building and opening the McKinley Avenue/120 Bypass, and tasks such as solid waste collection are done away from the public’s eye.
It is such non high-profile endeavors during the later part of the last decade that went off the rails during a rapid turnover of six city managers in five years and the accompanying revolving door involving department heads that delayed needed projects and let fees for everything on growth to water and sewer operating costs to not be updated.
As part of the effort to not just correct problems but to make sure there is no repeat, the current council imposed two key reporting mechanisms.
One involves quarterly updates on the council level of the city’s financial conditions and investment funds.
The other is a twice a year status report on priorities established by the council.
The fiscal report on investments and such were always being done although the city fell several years behind annual audits and have just become current in the past few weeks.
It is designed to keep elected officials 100 percent in the loop along with other processes such as a two-member ad-hoc committee of council members that keeps a closer eye on municipal finances than elected leaders have done in the past.
There are five categories where goals have been established by the council for staff to implement.
They are Updating City Infrastructure and Facilities, Economic Development & Vitality, Public Safety, Expand Homelessness & Housing Options and Solutions, as well as Stabilize City Finances.
The following is a rundown of some of the 55 infrastructure priorities established by the council in Match for the fiscal year that started July 1 and their status as of the end of September.
*Develop plans for updating city infrastructure and facilities. The council just adopted an update of the growth fee for government facilities while work on the facilities master plan is underway.
*Conduct master plans for wastewater and water plus related rate studies. The master plans have been completed. The rate studies are expected to be completed by the end of 2024.
*Interim wastewater treatment plant capacity project. The bid was awarded in September with work to be completed by the end of 2026.
*Public Facilities Improvement Plan update for sewer, water, storm system, and streets. Work is expected to be completed by year’s end.
*Design for upgrades of drain zone improvements in southwest Manteca. Design is 90 percent complete with permitting and utility relocation in progress. Estimated competition of preconstruction work is expected by the end of December.
*Replacing the central trunk sewer line and Union Road lift station due to deterioration and aging issues. Requests for proposals are being formulated and will go out by year’s end.
*Annual pavement maintenance work. The projects at Del Webb and around Manteca High are nearing completion.
*Installing well 30 to supply Nile Garden School. Construction expected to be completed by end of 2025.
*TCP mitigation in well 29. In progress with construction expected to be completed by end of 2025.
*Project study report — the first step toward converting Airport Way interchange at the Bypass to a four lane diverging diamond interchange — and awarding environmental assessment work. The initial study is competed to be completed by end of December with requests for proposals for environmental assessment to be issued in 2025.
*Project study report — the first step toward converting Main Street interchange at the Bypass to a four lane diverging diamond interchange — and awarding environmental assessment work. The initial study is competed to be completed by end of December with requests for proposals for environmental assessment to be issued in 2025.
*Highway 99/120 Bypass connector project that includes an $8 million city contribution so the Austin Road interchange bridge replacement will be four lanes instead of just two lanes. The project being managed by the San Joaquin Council of Governments is underway with the first phase targeted for completion in 2026.
*Various Safe Routes to School sidewalk and crosswalks throughout Manteca. The $1.5 million Measure K funded endeavor will have design work completed by year’s end with construction are expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
*Citywide traffic signal update and synchronization along with installing more reflective traffic signs. The traffic signal project design is expected to be completed by end of 2025 while the sign upgrade will be completed by the end of December.
*Main Street safety improvements have been designed and are awaiting Caltrans approval. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025 on work between Alameda Street and Northgate Drive.
*Yosemite Avenue safety improvements between downtown and a point east of Union Road. Requests for proposals for design and construction have been issued with work targeted for completion in 2026.
*Road improvements on Lathrop Road between Union Road and Highway 99 plus Louise Avenue between Main Street and the roundabout east of Highway 99. Construction of both projects are now underway.
*Implement weekly collection of recycling and organics along with trash. Five new CNG trucks are being built that the city will lease and are targeted for November delivery. Estimated start up is the end of December.
*Lighting for Woodward Park basketball court. Light fixtures and poles have ben ordered. Delivery expected by early 2024.
*Design for splash pad at Woodward. Design and public outreach are in progress.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
