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 jurisdictions; the city reported two County subawards for Soledad: a professional‑services subaward of a little over $500,000 (used for salaries, motel vouchers and debris removal) and a $2,100,000 award for site development and modular units. AMEC is the vendor the city selected to provide, build off‑site and install the modular units; Blanca’s Construction’s role is to complete the below‑grade and hook‑up work so AMEC can set and connect the units.

City staff and council discussed costs and timing. Community and Economic Development Director Beatrice Trujillo told the council the provisional encampment has been expensive to operate, noting the site runs on a generator and citing around $1,000 a week for propane and generator costs. Staff said Monterey County advanced $2.1 million for site development in March and provided an additional $168,000 to support the provisional encampment; staff also said the ERF round‑3 award to the county totaled about $4.7 million and that a portion was routed to the city for professional services.

Trujillo described the procurement: the city advertised the site‑preparation bid, received a single responsive bid from Blanca’s Construction and recommended awarding the contract within the budgeted range. She also requested a 5% contingency to cover unanticipated items common with modular projects. Trujillo said the modular site will be located on the parcel currently used for the provisional encampment and that much of the provisional site area will become parking for the interim housing site after installation.

Council members pressed staff on public outreach, transparency and oversight. Several members urged a public town hall or hybrid information session to explain the project, funding sources and oversight. Council asked for a simple, one‑page breakdown of funding sources and how the grants and reimbursements are being spent. Staff said the city would provide educational materials and social‑media messaging explaining that the ERF grant is state funding administered through Monterey County to the City of Soledad. Council also requested close supervision of the site‑preparation contract, noting the risk of change orders and the expense of the provisional site.

Timing and operations: staff said the Blanca’s Construction contract carries a 90‑day window to allow for site prep and anticipated completion by late August or September, with additional time reserved for post‑installation fixes. Staff said the modular units themselves are being finalized and that, once installed, the site will connect to PG&E service rather than rely on generators. Staff also said the modular site will not require 24‑hour private security once occupied; security needs will change to daytime/overnight staffing and likely be lower cost than current around‑the‑clock security at the provisional encampment.

Council action: a council motion to approve Resolution No. 6265 and a motion to approve Resolution No. 6266 both passed by unanimous vote, recorded as "motion carries unanimously." The meeting record does not list individual vote names or a numeric tally in the transcript.

Next steps: staff said they will proceed with contract execution for site preparation and continue coordination with AMEC, PG&E and county partners, and will return with updates. Council asked staff to propose formats for a public town hall and to provide a one‑page funding summary for council and the public.