City staff report progress on library, pool and community-center capital projects

Chad Reid, director of public works, updated the Strong Communities Advisory Committee on March 13 that multiple Strong Communities capital-improvement projects are underway across Stockton, including the Ursula Meyer Library and Community Center, the Cesar Chavez Library design, and several park pools.

Reid said the Ursula Meyer Library and Community Center project is “roughly 70% complete,” with electrical subcontractors replacing damaged components, HVAC rough-in nearly finished, drywall installation under way and concrete walkways being poured. He said the project remains on track for a November 2025 delivery.

Reid said the Cesar Chavez Library design is about 40% complete and that design options tested to maximize footprint produced cost estimates that “far surpass the available funding.” He identified the project’s available budget as $24,000,000 and said the design consultant will provide renderings and revised estimates that align with the intent of the grants and the city budget. Reid also said the city has a $10,000,000 grant tied to the Chavez project with an action deadline in March 2026 and that staff expects to “execute on the grant on time and not lose funding.”

At Victory Park, Reid said construction was about 30% complete: underground utilities finished, foundation and concrete masonry block work in place, the swimming pool excavation and plumbing completed and rebar now being installed. He said weather delayed planned gunite work by about one week but that the project remained generally on schedule.

McKinley Park’s renovation is roughly 80% complete, Reid said. He described the pool-filtration system as about 95% complete and explained that the project team elected to remove and replace all pool decking instead of applying a rubberized topping, citing lower long-term maintenance needs for new decking.

Reid said Oak Park Pool design is about 15% complete; structural assessments of existing masonry walls are pending to determine whether the facility can support the planned roof and to produce a cost estimate. He also described a citywide community-center public-address system that will include two-way radio intercoms, ribbon message boards and indoor/outdoor speakers; quotes were expected the week of March 21 with an estimated cost of about $50,000 per community center and available funding of roughly $750,000. Reid said the project intends to expand later to five libraries.

Committee members asked whether the Chavez design schedule risks the $10 million grant. Reid said the team had previously reported a higher percent complete while they were developing multiple concept options; when updated cost estimates returned higher than available funding, the team “regrouped” and reduced scope to deliver what the grant intends and what the city can afford.

The committee also questioned whether rooms downstairs at Chavez that had been considered for staff use would remain part of the design. City staff said they are evaluating two design options: one that retains staff offices downstairs using areas where abatement has occurred, and a single-floor plan if the cost to create safe pathways from upstairs to abated areas is too high. Staff said the current designs both include a second-floor conference room that seats about 75 people.

Reid concluded by answering member questions about timelines and next steps for design, structural assessment and procurement.

Less urgent capital details, including contractor sequences and expected procurement weeks for the PA system, were discussed toward the end of the presentation.