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Council approves street rehabilitation list under SB 1 funds; staff warns of data gaps, asks for asset-management software
Summary
The Sierra Madre City Council approved a list of streets to receive state RMRA funds for fiscal-year rehabilitation, but members pressed staff for better coordination with water-main replacements and a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to track pavement and pipe repairs.
The City Council voted Sept. 9 to adopt the fiscal-year street rehabilitation list required for receipt of Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funding under Senate Bill 1, but the discussion highlighted internal data gaps and the need for better project coordination.
Why it matters: Sierra Madre must submit an annual RMRA designation to the state to receive SB 1 funds. Council asked whether the city's selection process used an engineering triage, how priorities link to planned water-main replacements and whether the list is coordinated with past repairs and emergency work after last year's disasters.
Budget and scope: Director of Public Works (Jose) Yanez said the RMRA allocation estimate had grown from $275,000 to $303,000 since the June budget and that the total budget for street rehabilitation in the fiscal plan is roughly $1.2 million. The resolution approved by council (Resolution 25-51) designates candidate streets and authorizes the program.
Council concerns and staff responses: Several council members highlighted specific problem streets — notably South Mountain Trail, which has repeated patching and localized potholes — and asked why some shorter or visibly poor stretches are not prioritized. Director Yanez said his selections used the city's pavement-surface index (PSI), age of materials, visible root and surface damage and carryovers from the prior year. He acknowledged the selection process relied on in-house records and public input and that he intends to ‘‘daylight’’ (pothole-core) areas like Mountain Trail before beginning full resurfacing to ensure underlying water mains are not at imminent risk of failure.
Data and process changes requested: Council members and the city manager identified a need for a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) or similar work-order platform to log complaints, track repairs (e.g., pothole repairs, water-main replacements), and plan capital outlays. The city manager advised a phased acquisition could take six to nine months to implement and recommended budgeting for the tool in the next cycle; staff said costs depend on scope.
Decision and follow-up: Council approved Resolution 25-51 designating the FY street rehabilitation program and asked staff to return with: (1) a clearer 3–5 year pavement plan tied to water-main replacement schedules; (2) an evaluation and cost estimate for a CMMS; and (3) project-level cost estimates for short segments residents flagged (e.g., Mountain Trail and Monterey Lane). The city will submit the RMRA list to the state by the end of the month as required and can amend the list subsequently if conditions change.
Ending: The council approved the program but asked for near-term action to fill information gaps and to avoid repaving streets where a water-main replacement would quickly reopen the surface.
