In response to a pair of fatal car accidents that occurred in the last five years, the council approved an improvement project for a curve on Alisal Road about a half-mile south of the Santa Ynez River. In the other consent agenda item, the council members awarded a construction agreement for a drainage improvement project on Oak Street.
The Alisal Road project was awarded to Calportland Construction in the amount of $184,910, with a contingency amount of $18,491. About 90% of the cost will be reimbursed through a grant under the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program, according to the staff report.
The project will consist of widening the road shoulder, edge stripping, adding retaining walls at the existing storm drains and other minor pavement repairs.
Mayor Richardson said that the project has been on the city’s agenda for the last few years but has been delayed due to financial and planning reasons. He expects the construction to begin next month and wrap up in October.
The Oak Street drainage improvement contract was awarded to Dechance Construction in the amount of $151,545, plus an available contingency of $15,154. The project will involve replacing approximately 236 feet of existing 27-inch diameter storm drain pipe with larger 36-inch pipe, and other miscellaneous related items along the north-south portion of Acorn Way at Oak Street.
Outside of the council chambers after the meeting concluded, Richardson officially announced that he will be running for a third mayoral term.
Richardson, who kicked off his re-election campaign earlier in the day, said the key items on his platform will continue to be reducing water rates, working against gambling in the Valley, and pushing for public parks. To the latter point, he said he will look to continue to push the Valley Blueprint, which is in year 12 of a 20-year plan.
“Through that, we’ve got two parks, which is great,” he said, “but we need more.”
While he acknowledged that he and the council recently raised water rates, Richardson said that he is a strong supporter of using the resources here in the Valley to bring those rates back down. “That’s our goal,” he said.
Richardson said that much of what he has been able to accomplish in his two terms as mayor were thanks to support and teamwork among his fellow council members and the city staff. He said those relationships would continue in a third term. “We as a team have accomplished quite a bit,” he said, “and I want us to continue.”