Temple City approves plans to bid FY 2024–25 pavement rehabilitation, adds $1.5 million for Santa Anita Avenue

Temple City’s City Council on March 4 approved plans and authorized staff to advertise bids for the FY 2024–25 Pavement Rehabilitation Project (CIP 25‑01), adopting a package that mixes conventional cold‑mill-and-overlay work on major corridors with a thinner, preventive “AAM” (aggregate/asphalt membrane) treatment on selected residential streets.

City Manager introduced the project, saying about 40% of the city’s residential and collector streets have been paved over the past five years but that reserves are declining and staff must stretch funding. Michael Lloyd, senior project manager, told the council the recommended approach focuses on the worst streets and uses a combination of methods so the city can do more work cost‑effectively than full reconstruction on every block.

Lloyd said the plan proposes a 3‑inch grind and overlay for Santa Anita Avenue (funded with Prop C), a one‑to‑1.5‑inch grind and overlay on 29 residential and collector streets, and an additive alternate using a rubberized aggregate membrane (AAM) on other residential streets with thin or macadam subbases. He said the AAM is typically about 3/8‑inch thick, acts as a preventive surface and can be significantly less expensive per unit area, and recommended bidding the AAM as an additive alternate so the city can award a base project even if AAM bids are higher than expected.

Councilmembers pressed staff on performance in cul‑de‑sacs and heavy‑turning locations (trash and delivery trucks), cure time, contractor quality control and warranty enforcement. Lloyd said heavier vehicles and allowing traffic onto a surface before proper cure are the main causes of early failure, that contractors have typically repaired problems under one‑year warranties, and that preconstruction coordination and inspections would be emphasized.

A member of the public asked for the square‑foot cost and examples of AAM installations; staff estimated a conservative planning cost of $2.50 per square foot for AAM and offered to follow up with nearby examples and timing guidance, saying spring and fall are generally the best paving seasons.

Councilmember Man moved to approve the plans, authorize advertise‑for‑bid actions for CIP 25‑01 and to authorize a budget amendment of $1.5 million in Prop C funds for Santa Anita Avenue; the motion was seconded and approved on a roll‑call vote (Councilmembers Chen, Man, Sternquist and Mayor Pro Tem — all yes). The approved action allows staff to return later with bid results and a recommendation to award contracts based on the base bid plus any affordable additive alternates.

The project documents identify funding from gas tax, RMR/Measure R and Measure M and other CIP sources; staff told council that bid results will determine final scope and any additional funding decisions. The council did not vote on specific contractor awards at the meeting; staff will bring contract awards back after bids are received and analyzed.