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Watsonville updates major infrastructure projects including $37M wastewater headworks
Summary
Public Works and utilities staff reported on completed and upcoming capital projects: Freedom Road reconstruction, landfill and Zone 2 reservoir work, and a $37,000,000 headworks wastewater project with Army Corps grant requests and a state revolving fund loan as backup.
City public‑works staff used the workshop to review completed work and near‑term capital needs, and to outline financing options for a major wastewater headworks project.
Public Works reported recent wins — Freedom Road reconstruction, a successful landfill rebid and foundation excavation for Zone 2 reservoir — and said those projects had been delayed previously because of project‑labor agreement issues. On the horizon, staff described the headworks wastewater project as the most complicated item: design costs exceed $1,000,000 and the total project is estimated at about $37,000,000. Staff said they are pursuing as much grant funding as possible, including Army Corps grant requests, and intend to use a state revolving fund loan as a backup if necessary.
The department also described FEMA funds used for electrical upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant (approximately $17,000,000) to elevate electrical equipment out of flood zones, and a pavement management program moving into Year 1 for dig‑outs and slurry seals. Staff said aligning recycled‑water projects with regional partners (PV Water) improves funding prospects because the plant supplies irrigation water critical to the agricultural economy.
Council asked for more detail on timelines and funding conditions; staff committed to include funding scenarios and schedules in the follow‑up work plan.
