Board approves Measure AA early projects, redirects $1.6M to advance Dolan Road work

On Feb. 3 the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved the Measure AA standing committee’s list of early‑success projects intended to produce visible, rapid results in unincorporated areas. Staff reported Measure AA receipts of about $16.3 million to date and presented a two‑tier recommendation: a tier 1 list of projects that could be funded immediately and a tier 2 list to be advanced as more revenue arrives.

During debate supervisors raised equity and technical questions — including the use of in‑house overlay techniques that can extend road life at lower cost versus full rebuilds — and requested a stronger policy framework for future allocations. Supervisor Church asked that the board prioritize finishing contiguous road segments rather than funding piecemeal sections.

The board voted to approve the tier 1 package but amended the list to move two projects (Viera Canyon and Blackie Road) into tier 2 and reallocate their $1.6 million toward Dolan Road rehabilitation so a larger, contiguous segment can be completed sooner. Public works staff said Dolan Road rehabilitation is roughly $1 million per mile in current planning estimates; board members asked staff to bring back precise cost and schedule details at the upcoming pre‑budget workshop and to propose a policy for how measure funds are prioritized in future cycles.

What’s next: staff will track Measure AA receipts and, if receipts exceed current projections, bring tier‑2 projects forward in the prioritized order specified by the committee; the board asked creation of a citizens oversight process and a clearer policy for distributing Measure AA funds.

Action: motion to approve tier 1 with the replacement/substitution and direction to return with implementation details passed on a roll call vote.