Council approves 12th street improvements, bid
The Paso Robles City Council approved 12th Street improvements from Spring to Fresno streets on a 3-1 vote. Councilman Jim Reed dissented and Councilman John Hamon Jr. did not vote due to living in the affected area. Because he lives close enough be affected by the council’s decision, the city attorney said he would be permitted to speak on the issue as a member of the public, rather than having to leave the room as is the usual protocol for council members who step down from an issue.
The improvements will be paid for in part by Proposition 84 funds of $1,150,000 and the rest covered by the Supplement Sales Tax fund at $1.2 million.
The main elements of the project include:
- Storm drain pipeline from Spring to Olive streets, which is consistent with the Storm Drain Master Plan
- Minor pavement re-striping and pipeline trench restoration from Spring to Vine streets
- Reconstruct/install missing sidewalks and curbs and gutter as well as driveways along the north side of 12th from Vine to Fresno streets and install linear storm water retention areas
- Pave 12th Street from Vine to Fresno streets — 36 feet wide
- Minimum landscape restoration from Vine to Fresno streets
- A bulb-out storm water retention at south side Vine Street – all others (north side) to be linear
- Reconstruct four curb ramps at Vine, Olive and Chestnut streets, and two corners on Townhouse Terrace and Fresno Street
- Reconstruct cross-gutters at Fresno Street, Townhouse Terrace, Chestnut Street and Olive Street
- Install eight infiltration dry wells
- Install sediment vault at southwest corner Fresno/12th streets
- Pervious pavers for new sidewalk areas
Council members brought up concerns about a 100-foot section on 12th Street near Vine Street that would be 29 feet wide. Ditas Esperanza of the city explained the project. It has a 36-foot wide road for most of the project, which is nine feet narrower than its current 45 feet width. In Councilman Steve Gregory’s motion, which failed for a lack of a second, he moved that council approve the project with the inclusion of widening the entire project by two feet. Mayor Pro Tem Fred Strong’s motion to direct staff to prepare bid documents increased only the 100-foot section’s width by two feet. Concerns also arose on the turn radius of emergency vehicles at 12th and Vine streets because of the narrow road.
Paso Robles Emergency Services Chief Ken Johnson said he is unsure if a fire truck would be able to make that turn. Both Gregory and Strong included in their motions the need to increase the radius.
Part of the project is to install a storm drain pipeline which is being paired with necessary street repairs. Esperanza said some of the homes along 12 Street will need to replace their sewers, but because public funds cannot be used to pay for private improvements, each homeowner will have to replace his or her own sewer.
“[It] doesn’t seem smart to leave the sewer improvements up to the homeowners [because they might not do it before the road repairs are complete] and may need to rip up the road to put it in the future,” Reed said. “Is there a way around it?”
During public comment, Hamon suggested that the city pay for the needed sewers up front on a financial need basis. City Manager Jim App suggested that an assessment district be formed for the sewer replacement. In both motions, Gregory and Strong included that staff look at the sewer options.
To read the entire staff report on the project, go to www.prcity.com.
