Corte Madera — The Town Council on Sept. 16 authorized the interim director of public works to finalize plans, advertise bids and award a construction contract for the 2025 storm drain replacement project (25-301), with a base bid cap of $625,000 plus a 10% contingency. The motion passed unanimously.

Staff said the project packages several prioritized storm-drain repairs identified in the town's storm drain master plan, including capacity-related bottlenecks and multiple condition-related pipe failures. Interim Public Works Director Chris Good told the council the project mixes trenchless repairs such as fold-and-form and slip-lining with limited open-trench work where pipes have fully failed. "In one instance, off Sonora Way, there's already a massive sinkhole there. So this was kind of an urgent project that we're trying to get out quickly before the rainy season," Good said.

The nut graf: Council approved the bid authorization and award authority to allow staff to move quickly before rain season; staff said the engineer's estimate was about $540,000, anticipated total with contingency and testing roughly $609,000, and the town budgeted $760,000 for the project in the FY 25-26 capital budget, with funding from the Measure F sales tax fund.

Council members asked about construction impacts on Sonora Way and coordination with other utilities; staff said trenchless methods will be used where feasible to limit road restoration. Staff also noted the town aims to spend about $1 million per year on capacity and condition projects to address high-priority items from the master plan.

The motion passed with affirmative votes recorded from Council member Andrews, Council member Beckman, Council member Casiza, Vice Mayor Thomas and the Mayor. Staff will proceed to advertise bids and return to the council if bid awards exceed the authorized amounts.

Ending: Work is timed to begin before the region's rainy season to reduce flood and sinkhole risk; staff emphasized continuing coordination on paving and other capital projects to minimize repeated street disruption.