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Council approves traffic signal at Seagerstrom and Rosewood; staff cites 60 working days and material delays
Summary
Council voted to award a construction contract for a traffic signal at Seagerstrom Avenue and Rosewood, but staff and councilors debated schedule clarity after staff said the contract allows 60 working days and anticipated completion could be in the fall due to pole delivery and other supply delays.
The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved a construction contract to install a traffic signal at Seagerstrom Avenue and Rosewood, a project council members said is intended to improve safety near a nearby high school and reduce conflict for pedestrians and vehicles.
Councilmember Phil Becerra pulled the item for discussion and asked staff for a firm completion date. Public Works Director Nabil Saba and Deputy Director/City Engineer Rudy Rosa told council the contract is written for 60 working days; however, they cautioned that procurement and delivery delays for traffic poles and related signal hardware could push the practical completion into the fall. Rosa said the city requires contractors to submit a schedule at a pre-construction meeting and that staff tracks ‘‘working days’’ (days with active contractor work) and may assess liquidated damages if a contractor exceeds the 60 working days in the contract without an approved extension.
Councilmembers expressed concern that listing only a number of working days in the contract leaves the community and the council without a clear calendar date for completion. Several members asked staff to provide more explicit timeline information when similar items return to the council so residents and council offices can better explain construction impacts. Staff said the 60 working days clause is standard practice because contractors do not typically commit to subcontractors or material orders until a contract is formally awarded; nevertheless, staff committed to providing the project schedule after the preconstruction meeting.
Councilmember Becerra moved the contract for approval and Mayor Meskwah seconded. The motion passed 7-0.
The contract requires the contractor to complete the work in 60 working days from mobilization; staff said procurement delays, weather, underground utilities discovered during work, or third-party schedules (for example, utility coordination) can extend the calendar span of those working days. Staff also noted that the school district is funding the signal installation and contracting through the city, and councilmembers said they welcomed the planned safety improvement.
Vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. No abstentions.
