Carmel-by-the-Sea public works crews remove about 60 stumps; storm-drain project paused by weather

Carmel-by-the-Sea public works staff reported this week that crews removed about 60 tree stumps in the downtown area, repaired rock walls and pavement at several locations, and have paused work on a major storm-drain capital project at Second and Lincoln because of weather, staff said at a council meeting Friday.

The work is part of an effort city officials described as focused on beautifying the public right of way and addressing pedestrian safety. "In the public works department this week, our forestry division, they had removed, 60 stumps in the downtown areas," a Public Works staff member said during the meeting. The staff member said crews completed stump removals with help from Community Tree Service.

Public works crews also performed rock-wall repairs and pavement fixes at Piccadilly Park and Flanders Mansion, and at the intersections of Scenic and Eighth and Scenic and Santa Lucia, the staff member said. The streets division has been targeting trip hazards, carrying out paver replacements and placing asphalt to reduce pedestrian tripping risks.

Work on the storm-drain project at Second and Lincoln has been temporarily suspended because of weather, and staff said crews expect to resume in about a week and aim to complete the site by mid-April. "They're still active on the Second and Lincoln site, so they'll progress and hopefully get it completed. Get that site completed by mid April," the Public Works staff member said. Staff indicated the storm-drain project is a major capital item for the year and that, after Second and Lincoln, the next expected site work would be at Santa Fe and Nate.

Council members and meeting leaders thanked public works staff for the efforts. Mary Bilsey, identified in the meeting as acting public works director, and Javier Hernandez, identified as assistant director, were present and named by the meeting chair while summarizing recent department activity and upcoming agenda items.

Meeting remarks also noted that the council has emphasized beautification of the public right of way as a priority this season, with the stump removals, sidewalk repairs and pavement work called out as actions that support that goal. Staff clarified the weather-related pause on the storm-drain project but gave no new firm change to the project budget or contract terms during the meeting.

Council leaders listed several items to appear on upcoming meetings, including further work on the Police and Public Works building project, review of the draft capital plan and a housing element annual progress report required by the state Department of Housing and Community Development; specific dates and additional details were not specified during the public-works update.