Council opts to apply for WAMPO funding for 69th Street bridge, to repair Seneca Street in-house

The Valley Center City Council voted to submit a WAMPO application prioritizing the 69th Street bridge replacement and to pursue an in-house repair for Seneca Street rather than wait for WAMPO funding.

City administration presented a list of eligible WAMPO projects and noted the application deadline required a decision. Staff warned that WAMPO awards are competitive and, if awarded, the full project would likely not be built until 2028–2030. Administration outlined options for funding and emphasized caution given recent increases in local bond and debt obligations.

Rodney, a city public-works staff member, described a lower-cost in-house method to address Seneca Street’s failing condition: "Basically, they would rip up everything that's there, put in, according to our standards, put in 6 inches of crushed concrete base, and then lay 5 inches of asphalt over the top of that," he said, noting past local projects used a similar approach. Staff and council acknowledged that this approach is less expensive and could be done sooner, but may have durability and drainage risks compared with a full WAMPO-funded reconstruction.

City administration noted the street budget currently includes roughly $400,000 per year that could be directed toward a local repair, with additional cash reserves available for a project expected to fall short of a full 40-year reconstruction. After discussion, a council member moved to apply for WAMPO funding for the 69th Street bridge replacement (BR25-25 or similar) and to proceed with Seneca Street repairs in-house using available street funds; the motion passed by voice vote.

Outcome: Council directed staff to submit a WAMPO application for the 69th Street bridge and proceed with an in-house repair of Seneca Street, dedicating available street funds (approx. $400,000 per year) and reserves as needed.