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Council allocates $2.8 million carryover to traffic-congestion program; staff say resurfacing will continue next year
Summary
Councilmembers questioned why $2.8 million was carried over to traffic congestion relief rather than spent on street resurfacing this fiscal year; city staff said new state funds and staffing shortages constrained current-year completion and that the money will be used next year to finish committed miles.
Councilmembers pressed city staff on May 21 about a $2.8 million carryover that was moved into traffic-congestion relief (TCRP) rather than being spent this year on local street resurfacing.
Councilmember Antonio Savornich asked whether the money had been diverted away from neighborhood paving. City street-services representatives and CAO staff explained that the $2.8 million came from unexpended carryover funds tied to resurfacing work the department had planned but could not finish because of workforce and equipment constraints. They said the city also received roughly $28 million in additional state funding, which changed scheduling and accounting, and that the result was a plan to complete the committed resurfacing miles over the coming fiscal year.
Staff acknowledged that hiring and crew availability (operators, finishers, curb crews) constrained how much concrete and paving work they could complete this year. Several councilmembers asked whether the department had audited past performance to verify miles completed relative to the money spent; staff said the weekly reports and annual audits on special funding streams (gas tax, TCRP, STP) show the department's progress and that they expect to finish the committed miles.
Council directive and clarifications: Council accepted staff explanations but asked for better notifications to council offices and residents ahead of sidewalk or paving work. On a related motion (item 62), council asked the department to report on a notification system for council offices and for residents near sidewalk repair work.
Ending: The council approved item 14 (the appropriation/carryover action) on a recorded vote and directed staff to report on implementation schedules and outreach measures.
