Oakdale outlines 2025 capital projects, reports 1,700 tons removed in wastewater pond dredging

Jeff Gravel, Oakdale’s public services director, on Tuesday presented the city’s planned capital improvement projects for 2025 and updated the council on a recently completed wastewater aeration-pond dredging effort that removed about 1,700 tons of sludge.

Gravel told the council that the capital improvement program “is a list of prior prioritized projects” drawn from the city’s utility and street master plans, and described a slate of street, utility and park projects that staff expect to start in the 2024–25 and 2025–26 fiscal years. He said some projects are funded in part by grants and that staff will return to council with contract awards in the spring. “This project was approved by council on November 18 and construction is to begin sometime in, I believe mid February of this year,” Gravel said of the Southwest Downtown ATP/safe-routes-to-school pavement rehabilitation project.

Why it matters: The work targets several neighborhoods and public facilities that the city and residents have identified as in poor condition or needing upgrades. Several projects rely on external grant funding; one project is expected to be funded about 95% by a roughly $900,000 grant for pavement work on Albers Avenue. Construction and utility upgrades will require traffic control and resident notification, city staff said.

Major projects and timing

- Southwest Downtown ATP / Safe Routes to School (pavement rehab and wet utilities). Gravel described this as among the city’s most ambitious street projects; construction was approved earlier by council and staff expect work to begin in mid-February. He said part of the funding is “through a grant that we received, about a million dollars or just under a million dollars.”

- Albers Avenue (Albers from Warneville to the south city limit). Gravel said the city won a grant “just over $900,000” that will cover about 95% of the project; the city is completing environmental reviews before bidding and expects to return to council in spring to award a contract and schedule construction for summer.

- Gilbert Avenue (between G Street and J Street). Planned as a full rehabilitation with wet utility and storm-drain improvements to address localized drainage near the high school; staff expect to pursue this in the 2025–26 fiscal year and return after July 1.

- Third Avenue (F to G) and East Street improvements (including lighting, irrigation, curb/gutter/sidewalk and possible arch feature). Staff said designs are in progress and some features remain contingent on cost reviews.

- Slurry-seal program for neighborhoods identified as Areas 6 and 7, covering the Vineyards community, Crane, J Street and parts of Odessa; staff described a two-stage approach to correct failing pavement and then slurry-seal the area.

- North Seventh Avenue (pavement rehab), Cedar Place (complete rehab with utility upgrades), and G Street pedestrian/pavement project (staff submitted a fast-track grant application and received a verbal approval; environmental work is ongoing).

Parks, wells and facilities

- Brandon Park: first-phase work expected to come to council this spring would modify the basketball/skate slab area to add a futsal court that can double as a half-court basketball surface, install lighting and upgrade court surfacing; future phases could include a playground and perimeter pathways.

- Gilbert Park: project includes replacement of Well 3 with a new well (Well 12) and related park improvements including a bathroom, court surfaces and lighting. Gravel said preliminary state applications for a well have been submitted and the city expects to test a proposed new well in spring.

- The city is reviewing additional sports-field capacity needs with local youth sports groups and developers; staff noted constraints on new fields due to limited available land.

Traffic control and public notice

Council members asked about traffic impacts and parking near the high school and other work zones. Gravel said the city is sending resident notices, will require contractors to submit traffic-control plans for review by police and fire, and will coordinate with the school district. “The contractor, based on the phasing of the project, they will be submitting a traffic control plan, which is subject to our review,” Gravel said. For larger rehabilitation projects the city will attempt to schedule the most disruptive work in summer months.

Wastewater dredging report

Gravel also reviewed a recently completed dredging of two aeration ponds at the wastewater treatment plant. He said a contractor used a flotation-mounted vacuum and a centrifuge system to remove and dewater sludge; the project ran about five to six weeks. “We’re able to pull out, 1,700 tons of sludge…which equates to about 90 semi trailer trucks,” Gravel said, adding the plant’s capacity has improved since the work was completed.

Gravel said the dredging temporarily reduced populations of microorganisms that help digest sewage; the city procured active microorganisms from other plants and accepted spent grain from a local brewery to help re-establish biological activity. He said the city plans to schedule similar dredging on a roughly five-to-seven-year cycle.

Funding and next steps

Gravel identified multiple grant opportunities the city pursued and said staff aim to keep projects shovel-ready so Oakdale can compete for funding. For projects that require external approvals or environmental review, staff will return to council with bids and contract awards after those steps are complete. He repeatedly noted that other utilities (PG&E, AT&T and irrigation districts) can be invited to participate in undergrounding or related work when the street is under construction.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: motion to approve the consent agenda passed by roll call, 4–0. (See provenance below.)

What’s next: Staff will return to the city council with design updates, environmental clearances and contract-award recommendations in spring; several projects are targeted for construction in late spring or summer, depending on funding and permitting.