Stockton's five-year CIP tops $1 billion; utility directors detail $240M wastewater upgrade and water recharge plans

Public-works and municipal-utilities leaders detailed a packed capital work plan and several multi-million-dollar projects during the council's budget study session.

Deputy Public Works Director Eric Alvarez said the five-year CIP totals roughly $1.27 billion with $63 million of projects proposed in year one, and highlighted transportation projects that attracted competitive grant awards (for example, the Main & Market and Miracle Mile programs). "For fiscal year 25-26 there are 51 projects valued at $63,000,000," Alvarez said.

MUD Director Mel Lytle described the regional wastewater treatment plant modifications project as the largest public-works project in city history, with total costs around $240,000,000 and mixed funding sources including federal EPA/WIFIA assistance (~$108M), a state revolving fund loan (~$48M), a state grant and ratepayer cash for the remainder. Lytle said the treatment-plant modifications will extend the facility's useful life for decades and that a final completion milestone is imminent.

Utilities staff also described a planned groundwater recharge basin project, an AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) meter program to reduce manual reads, and forthcoming rate studies for water and stormwater. Stormwater staff warned the stormwater fund is structurally underfunded and that a stormwater rate study and grant pursuit will be necessary to stabilize that utility.

Council asked for district-level CIP lists (sidewalks, ramps, arterial resurfacing) so members can inform constituents about timing and sequencing of street and sidewalk work.

Next steps: staff will provide project lists and funding sources in follow-up materials and will coordinate public outreach for major streets and neighborhood projects.