Council authorizes emergency culvert repair at 4700 West End Road, approves reserve spending

City Engineer Net Chakatri told the Arcata City Council on May 6 that crews discovered sinkholes over a failing 30-inch culvert at 4700 West End Road and classified the work as an emergency requiring immediate repair. Chakatri said the city followed municipal-code emergency procurement protocols, solicited five bids and received a low bid of $121,000. He said staff anticipates total costs will not exceed $200,000 and that the project would be funded from the city’s reserves.

Chakatri described the planned repair work: rerouting a segment of the creek, installing a new culvert (proposed 48-inch) and daylighting an open channel to improve habitat. He said permitting agencies reviewed and supported the emergency approach. "The low bid was in the amount of $121,000," Chakatri told the council.

Members of the public asked that the city address potential contamination because the area was a former mill site. Public commenter Joan McGary urged consistent cleanup protocols for hazardous materials on city projects; Chakatri said the city had contracted consultants specializing in hazardous materials and would coordinate remediation measures with the contractor.

Council member Schaefer moved and Council member Meredith Matthews seconded a motion to find the procurement necessary, to authorize the city manager to proceed with procurement, to use reserve funds (not to exceed $200,000), to find the project exempt from CEQA under the city’s emergency rules, and to authorize execution of applicable documents. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote of the four members present (Mayor Kimberly White, Vice Mayor Atkins Salazar, Council member Meredith Matthews and Council member Schaefer).

Next steps: staff will proceed with the awarded contract, monitor remediation consultant recommendations, and list the procurement as a consent item at subsequent meetings until the project is complete.