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Public Works seeks federal reimbursements for storm repairs; warns roads funding gap will keep pavement index flat
Summary
Public Works told supervisors that $65 million in storm‑damage projects remain to be reimbursed by FEMA and Cal OES, and that maintaining the county’s pavement condition index will require sustained funding of roughly $15–25 million annually.
Public Works told the Board of Supervisors on April 14 that the county is managing a large volume of capital work while waiting for federal disaster reimbursements and facing ongoing maintenance cost pressures.
Director Chris Sneddon and CFO Julie Hagen said the department is carrying about $65 million in outstanding storm recovery work that was performed in 2023–24 and is awaiting reimbursement from FEMA and Cal OES; if reimbursements are delayed the department warned it will need to delay other capital projects. The department expects to complete roughly $62 million of projects this fiscal year, leveraged by more than $25 million in outside grants.
Pavement Condition Index: Public Works highlighted a long‑running pavement concern. The county’s pavement condition index (PCI) is roughly 57 and the department said preserving the current PCI requires roughly $15 million annually, while improving the index toward a recommended target (approximately 70) would require $20–25 million or more in sustained annual spending. The board’s existing 18% deferred maintenance allocation has stabilized the decline but not improved the overall index.
Technology and efficiency: Public Works described an internal technology modernization plan and said the department is building in‑house platforms (in coordination with county IT) to manage maintenance requests and inspections rather than buying a vendor‑hosted system; staff said this will save six‑figure licensing costs and allow future customization at lower marginal expense.
Resource recovery and waste management: Sneddon highlighted progress at the county resource center and the anaerobic digester/composting sequence, and reported the facility is now certified as a high diversion site under state law — a key milestone for greenhouse‑gas reporting and organics diversion requirements.
Why it matters: the county’s roads and flood control systems are high‑visibility services for residents; delays or funding shortfalls can reduce access and raise the long‑term cost of repairs. Supervisors asked staff to keep pursuing federal reimbursements and to report on options to close the road‑maintenance funding gap.
Quote: "If you want to get ahead of pavement deterioration you need sustained investment," Director Sneddon said, noting that a one‑time infusion can delay decline but recurring investment is required for measurable improvement.
Board follow‑up: staff will return with any updates on FEMA/FHWA reimbursements and a multi‑year maintenance funding plan as part of the June budget adoption materials.
