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Council endorses SB1 project list; residents press for clearer road maps and pothole accountability
Summary
City staff presented an SB1-funded project list and explained the pavement prioritization matrix; council directed staff to improve public-facing mapping and communications after residents questioned why some streets are prioritized over others.
City engineering staff presented Resolution 26-56 asking the council to adopt a list of FY26'27 projects funded by Senate Bill 1 (the Road Repair and Accountability Act). Senior engineer Christian Asuncion walked through the city's approach to selecting pavement projects, which relies on a pavement condition index (PCI) and additional factors such as bicycle lanes, schools and emergency routes.
Asuncion described the distinction between preservation (extending the life of good roads with a sacrificial overlay) and rehabilitation (deeper reconstruction where roads have failed). "Preservation is a layer of sacrificial material that prolongs the life of good roads... Rehab, on the other hand, are roads where it has failed," he said, explaining why some streets receive different treatments.
Public commenters and several councilmembers pressed staff for more transparency. Residents asked whether the pavement management index and prioritization matrix can be posted in a more digestible public format with maps and benchmarking against prior years or similar-sized cities. Staff and GIS team members said a dashboard exists on the capital projects website but agreed it needs updating and may be made more user-friendly; staff agreed to provide council and the public with clearer maps and explanations of program distinctions.
Council action: The SB1 project list was placed on the consent agenda and approved as part of the consent vote. Councilmembers noted they want follow-up communications and town-hall-style outreach to explain the difference between preservation and rehabilitation and to demonstrate how Measure O funds and the city's road crew contribute to daily pothole work.
Context and impact: The presentation emphasized that SB1 funds are for larger rehab projects, while Measure O and the city road crew address ongoing pothole response and smaller repairs. Several councilmembers said they will request more accessible web resources and possibly town halls to help residents understand timelines and funding constraints.
