San Benito County wins federal road and mitigation grants; board readies project list for Jan. 27

San Benito County officials on Jan. 13 detailed how recent federal grants could fund repairs and flood mitigation on several county roads and watersheds and asked the Board of Supervisors for direction ahead of a Jan. 27 vote.

County staff told the board the county is eligible for Community Development Block Grant—Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) funds administered by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). Staff reported a disaster infrastructure allocation of about $1.9 million and mitigation program funds reported around $9.5–$9.6 million, and said HCD encouraged counties to request an amount above their initial award in case additional unused funds are reallocated. Separately, the county was awarded a U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All grant of $7.6 million focused on collision‑reduction measures such as striping, signage and intersection improvements.

Board materials and the staff presentation listed the projects staff and the roads ad hoc recommend prioritizing for HCD review: reconstructing Lovers Lane (raising the road and improving drainage), finishing an unbuilt segment of Shore Road (Frasier Lake Road to Highway 25), resurfacing and shoulder work on Salinas Road, downstream cleanup of Pacheco Creek (including work beginning at the Lovers Lane bridge), San Juan Creek cleanup planning, a remaining segment of Cienega Road, and the King City–Bitterwater Road (an evacuation route). Staff said some work will require coordination with private property owners or special districts when project footprints extend beyond county jurisdiction.

Public commenters who live or work on Pacheco Creek urged quick action. "We need this watershed study — without it we cannot access other grant funds," said Michelle Schroeder, president of the Pacheco Stormwater District, urging support for the Lovers Lane repair and Pacheco Creek cleanup. Property owner Bill Florek told the board trees and sediment are blocking debris flows along his frontage and asked the county to appropriate funds for repairs. Lucinda Voorhek, a Lovers Lane resident, said expedited action is needed to avoid losing future grant opportunities.

Supervisors discussed related funding sources and delivery risks. Board members noted existing SB1 (state gas‑tax) receipts could fund finishing work on Union/Fairview segments when balances accumulate and recommended hiring a grant‑funded project manager or consultant to ensure timely design, procurement and construction so the county meets state performance expectations and can capture any reallocated funds.

Staff flagged next steps: the board will review and (if it chooses) adopt a resolution and project list at its Jan. 27 meeting; if approved, staff will submit project entries to HCD and begin issuing RFQs for environmental and engineering services by March to meet CDBG requirements. Staff also said they will return with details on the Safe Streets grant match requirements before formally accepting that award.

The presentation repeatedly cautioned that CDBG‑DR and MIT projects must show a tie to the February–July 2023 storms or reduce long‑term disaster risk to qualify, and that FEMA reimbursements for earlier emergency work continue to be processed separately.

The board did not take formal action on the project list at the Jan. 13 meeting; it is scheduled for consideration with a resolution on Jan. 27.