Soledad council approves site‑preparation contract and extends security for interim housing site

At a special meeting July 16, the Soledad City Council approved a construction contract to prepare the interim modular housing site at 990 Los Coches and voted to extend a security contract for the provisional encampment while the city moves residents into modular units.

Council adopted Resolution No. 6265 authorizing a contract with Blanca’s Construction Inc. to perform site preparation — grading, trenching and utility work — to make the parcel ready for modular units. The city reported the contractor’s bid at about $544,000 and requested a 5% contingency; staff stated the contract amount is not to exceed $571,733. The council then adopted Resolution No. 6266 to amend and extend Benitez Security Services Inc.’s agreement, increasing the contract not to exceed $100,224 and extending the term through Sept. 28, 2025.

Why it matters: the work is part of an Encampment Resolution Fund (ERF) program — state funds funneled through Monterey County — intended to move people off a long‑running riverbed encampment into a modular interim housing site. City staff said the county awarded funds to the county that were allocated to…