City engineer seeks roughly $350,000 in CDBG funds for Yale–Santa Fe–Princeton–Berkeley street repairs

Dave Grantham, Fullerton’s city engineer, presented a proposed CDBG-funded street improvement project for the Yale–Santa Fe–Princeton–Berkeley area on March 10.

Grantham described the work as full pavement and pedestrian improvements—reconstructing failing pavement, adding compliant ADA ramps, correcting tree-lifted sidewalks and installing curb-and-gutter where none exists—to improve safety and walkability in an area he described as primarily multifamily housing. “We picked this area because … these streets are the only ones that are in poor [condition],” he said, noting that once finished the neighborhood would have substantially improved street conditions.

The requested CDBG contribution is roughly $350,000 to pay construction costs; city street funds would supplement design, any construction cost above the CDBG allocation and management costs. Grantham warned higher oil and asphalt prices may raise construction costs and that the project could come in higher than budgeted if material prices rise, but said the department budgeted conservatively and would track costs.

Committee members asked about right-of-way, tree preservation and whether CDBG funds cover slurry seal vs. full reconstruction; Grantham said CDBG funds would not cover the full project cost and the city planned to use CDBG to pay the contractor while city funds would cover design and overages. Grantham estimated the project as serving around 128 families and said his team would preserve trees where feasible.

The committee did not vote on the request; the application will be considered during May deliberations.