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Santa Paula public works director details paving schedule, chloride study, reservoir security and solid‑waste updates
Summary
Public Works Director Clayton Saulnier reported on solid‑waste collection, wastewater chloride exceedances, reservoir security measures under an emergency decree, and capital projects including Harvard Boulevard, Mesa Tanks replacement and a pavement management program that includes sidewalk repairs.
Public Works Director Clayton Saulnier delivered the City Council's activity report for April through June, outlining solid-waste volumes, wastewater compliance efforts, staff certifications and an update on capital projects.
Saulnier said Athens Services collected roughly 5,400 tons of solid waste and about 2,500 tons of recycling during the quarter and emphasized the city's need to meet CalRecycle recycling-weight requirements. He said Athens has conducted account assessments, multifamily outreach and community participation activities and noted the city’s new management analyst, Bruce Beluski, will manage the solid-waste franchise and related energy-efficiency programs.
On wastewater, Saulnier said the city has exceeded an effluent chloride limit (the reported average for the quarter was about 113 mg/L versus the referenced 110 mg/L effluent limit) and described an ongoing chloride study to locate chloride sources in the collection system. He said sampling equipment was installed in July and a final draft report is scheduled for the Sept. 18 council meeting.
Saulnier also highlighted a used high-capacity blower gifted to the city (he estimated a comparable new unit costs $90,000–$95,000) and the completion of an ammonia analyzer installation as part of an earlier air-pollution settlement. On the water side, he noted operator training gains (more than 70% of operators achieved Grade 2 certification or higher) and said emergency security work at the main reservoir – including additional fencing, barbed wire, cameras and intrusion detection linked to SCADA – is proceeding under the council’s emergency declaration.
On capital projects, Saulnier gave construction timelines for Harvard Boulevard (near completion with ribbon-cutting planned), Mesa Tanks replacement (east tank complete; west tank near completion), crosswalk improvements including rectangular rapid‑flashing beacons and upcoming design procurements for signal, roundabout and Telegraph Road improvements. He said the pavement-management program will include fall paving in several neighborhoods and that the program will repair about 5,000 square feet of sidewalk and install roughly 30 ADA ramps as part of the current cycle.
Council members asked about the logic used to select streets for the current paving cycle and were told budget, grouping efficiencies and the need to sequence water-line replacements ahead of paving shaped the schedule. The city engineer noted rising per‑linear‑foot costs on waterline work (an example figure of $160 per linear foot for an eight‑inch line on an upcoming Mill Street project was cited), which constrains sequencing.
Saulnier and staff provided residents a reporting contact (PWDadmin@SPcity.org or (805) 933-4212 ext. 303) for specific sidewalk and street issues and said staff will use a sidewalk master plan to prioritize repairs going forward.
The report drew extended council discussion on funding, FEMA floodplain remapping progress for Santa Paula Creek and possible federal earmark pursuit for the Crosstown pipeline and other projects.
