Yuba City council approves $1.8 million 2025 residential resurfacing project to go to bid

The Yuba City City Council on Tuesday approved plans, specifications and an estimated $1.8 million budget for the city's 2025 residential resurfacing project and authorized staff to put the work out to bid.

The project is a maintenance-focused program of surface treatments across multiple neighborhoods that uses rubberized cape seals and slurry seals rather than full asphalt overlays. Staff said the work is intended to preserve existing pavement and delay more costly full-depth rehabilitation.

Ben Moody, a city staff member who presented the project, described the materials and intent. "It's got a little bit more elasticity; it helps absorb the cracks," Moody said of the rubberized cape seal, adding that the city receives a small state reimbursement for using rubberized products made with recycled tires. Moody told council the work is spread across the city and that the contract documents approved Tuesday will allow staff to solicit bids and return to council later to authorize award.

Vice Mayor Boomgarden and Council Member Cole both emphasized the preventive nature of the work, saying it buys time before more expensive full road reconstructions are needed. "This slurry seal, with the new stuff, is being used to preserve the current road base so it doesn't deteriorate into a position where we have to do a total rehab," Vice Mayor Boomgarden said during the discussion.

Moody and council members outlined operational details: the project will include slurry and rubberized cape seals (a surface treatment that is not a new asphalt overlay), coordination with solid-waste and mail pickup during work, and ramp and striping upgrades where needed. Moody said the city tries to avoid re-treating streets recently treated and that an ideal preventative cycle would be seven to ten years, but constrained funding makes a full citywide cycle infeasible.

There was no public comment on the item. A motion to approve staff's recommendation carried with the council voting in favor; the motion directs staff to advertise the project for bids and return with a recommendation for contract award.

Council members asked staff to publish the specific street list and the map included in the packet so residents know which blocks will be affected when construction begins this summer. Moody said staff will post the list and coordinate public notices before work starts.

The council's approval covers the plans, specifications and engineer's estimate only; authorization to award the contract will come in a future council meeting after bids are opened.

Mayor Dave Shaw read the motion and the council voted to approve the project authorization. Ending: Staff will advertise the work for bids this summer and return to council to seek contract award approval.