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The Sonora City Council on Monday authorized seeking bids for a $230,000 street-paving project, but not all councilmen thought it was such a good plan. The council in a 4-1 vote approved the project that would be funded with what’s left of money the city received from the Regional Surface Transportation Program and local transportation funds provided by the state’s Transportation Development Act.
“This will essentially dry up our accounts for paving, so in future years, we’re going to have to look for additional ways to fund these projects,” said City Engineer Gerard Fuccillo. Streets that will receive paving overlays include portions of Woods Creek Drive, Snell Street, Brookside Place, Otis Street, Golden Street and Barretta Street. Fuccillo explained these streets were identified because maintenance work had not been done to any of them in at least 20 years. The project is split into two phases, with work on Woods Creek Drive and Snell Street scheduled to begin early this summer and the rest to follow after work is completed on the Central Valley Independent Network’s fiber-optic cable project that will affect the other streets. Fuccillo said the council’s immediate approval was important so bids could be taken on May 29 and a recommendation of an award can be made at the June 4 council meeting. Councilman Matt Hawkins, who cast the only dissenting vote, said he and his neighbors on Snell Street had concerns that speeding might increase after it’s freshly paved. Hawkins asked if there was any way to incorporate adding a stop sign somewhere along the street or other structural elements that discourage speeding. City Administrator Tim Miller said the council had several options, which included removing Snell Street from the project and adding a different street because there will be enough money through Proposition 42 funds for another project next spring. “We’ll be able to do one more overlay project, but not of this magnitude,” he said. Mayor Bill Canning disagreed with Hawkins and moved to approve the project. “If people are speeding they’re speeding anyway,” he said. “It’s a maintenance factor for the city. The city looks at what it’s going to cost if the road goes down to a total deterioration, and it’s going to cost them three times as much to repair.” The council also endorsed the Tuolumne County Economic Authority’s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The new budget would see the city’s contribution increase by $1,215 for a total of $60,477. Miller recommended the council endorsed the budget, but reminded them the city’s contribution will come out of the general fund — the city’s main operating budget. The city’s annual contribution to TCEDA in previous years came from the Sonora Redevelopment Agency, but the state dissolved redevelopment agencies in legislation passed last year. |