Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Improvements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Huntington Park details capital-improvement timetable, playground and water-well work
Summary
Public Works Director Gerardo Lopez told the council that several park and infrastructure projects are moving forward — some near close-out, others out to bid — and outlined a phased plan to rehab city wells while maintaining supply.
Public Works Director Gerardo Lopez gave the City Council a quarterly update on Huntington Park’s capital improvement projects, describing completed work, active construction and near-term bids for park and water-system improvements.
Lopez told the council that Cycle 4 pedestrian-safety work and Cycle 5 neighborhood-safety projects were completed in August 2024 and are nearing final close-out, and that a notice of completion for the Saltzman project appears on the consent calendar. He listed in-progress efforts including playground renovations at Salt Lake Park and Freedom Park (plans received; bids anticipated as early as March), Keller Park (a single bid came in at 100% of budget; staff will revise scope and re-bid), and the Salt Lake Park building renovation (in plan check; staff hope to put it out to bid as early as April). "This is Cycle 4, the pedestrian safety project. This was completed back in August 2024," Lopez said.
Lopez outlined water-system work, saying three wells are currently operational and describing a phased approach to rehabbing others so the city can remain serviceable while upgrades proceed. "All our wells need help," he said, and staff plan to keep two wells running while taking others offline for complete rehabilitation; the city will supplement supply from the Metropolitan Water District as needed. He also reported that Well 16 pump-station improvements are under construction (expected late this year) and Well 14 upgrades are slated with a projected September completion.
Other items covered included an Emergency Operations Center under construction (staff expect it finished by May), City Hall and council-chambers renovation plans currently in plan check with bidding expected in March and completion targeted by year-end, and Green Streets and litter-abatement projects that would include cameras to deter illegal dumping. Lopez described the Metro Southeast gateway (Sewell) light-rail project as a major regional undertaking, with two Huntington Park stops planned at Pacific & Randolph and Florence & Salt Lake.
Council members asked detailed follow-ups on timelines, accessibility during the City Hall elevator modernization and why bids have been high on recent park projects. Staff said the elevator modernization will likely take more than six weeks and offered to set up a downstairs viewing area and remote (Zoom) option for constituents who cannot use the stairs. On procurement, Lopez attributed higher bids in part to scope growth and said future bids will be scoped to match grant requirements and include alternates for additional features.
What’s next: staff said they expect to solicit bids for several park projects in the coming weeks to months, to complete the EOC by May at the latest, and to continue phased well rehabilitations while maintaining service from remaining wells and the Metropolitan Water District.
