Scotts Valley Council approves emergency repairs after sinkhole damages Scotts Valley Drive intersection

At a special meeting, the Scotts Valley City Council voted to declare an emergency and authorize immediate repairs after a sinkhole opened on Scotts Valley Drive near the Granite Creek intersection. The council authorized the city manager to secure contracts and mobilize resources without formal competitive bidding under applicable Public Contract Code provisions.

Public Works Director Udolpho told the council that the sinkhole developed on January 5 and showed photos of collapsed signal equipment, undermined sidewalk and debris. "This report is on the sinkhole that developed on Scotts Valley Drive near the Granite Creek intersection on January 5," Udolpho said, and described the damage to conduit and signaling equipment that has created an urgent safety problem.

Udolpho said the police requested maintenance support at about 6:20 p.m. on January 5 and that the roadway failure expanded by about 7 p.m. He said crews assessed the condition on January 6 and confirmed a sinkhole that must be repaired. The director said water is still flowing at the outfall and that some Caltrans-owned signal equipment and conduit were affected.

Council members pressed staff on the public impacts. An unidentified speaker asked whether the right lane would remain closed until repairs are finished; Udolpho confirmed the right lane will likely remain closed and said the city will notify schools and other stakeholders through social media and direct outreach. When Vice Mayor Clark asked for an optimistic timeline, Udolpho said, "Weather permitting, we think this could take 3 to 4 weeks to complete."

Vice Mayor Clark moved to approve resolution 2082, an emergency declaration authorizing the city manager to secure contracts and proceed with repairs without formal competitive bidding, citing the need to act quickly for public safety. Clark said the move to an emergency declaration was "for the greater good of the community" and added the action did not constitute an admission of responsibility for the cause of the failure. The mayor seconded the motion and the council voted to adopt the resolution. The council recorded unanimous support among members present (Council Member Tim was noted as absent earlier in the meeting).

The resolution authorizes use of emergency procurement procedures consistent with the Public Contract Code sections cited in the staff presentation to expedite contracting and repairs. Council members asked the public to follow city social media and the city website for updates on closures and repair progress.

The council meeting record indicates staff expect to begin work as soon as contracts are secured and conditions permit; Udolpho gave an initial repair estimate of three to four weeks, subject to weather. The city said it will provide additional updates as crews mobilize and work proceeds.