Angels Camp – *City looks to bridge expense gap

Alicia Castro Tuesday, July 22, 2014 Calaveras Enterprise –

It’s been nearly a decade since the Highway 4 bypass was built, and the issues surrounding its traffic impacts still need to be smoothed out.

An item came before the Angels Camp City Council at its July 15 meeting involving the bridge and intersection at Vallecito Road and Highway 49. To complete what are deemed necessary upgrades, city Planning Director David Hanham estimates an expense of up to $15 million.

“It seems to me that we’re looking to spend money unnecessarily,” said Vice Mayor Jack Lynch. “The present situation is very satisfactory to me,” adding there has been only one minor accident, a fender bender, at the intersection in three years.

But this isn’t the first time the council has looked at plans for bridge upgrades.

In November 2003, the city and Caltrans entered into a cooperative agreement for the completion of the Highway 4 bypass. Caltrans took control of Highway 4 as well as the bridge and intersection of Vallecito Road and Highway 49 south of downtown.

Upon requirement, the state completed a project study report in 2005 to consider operational improvements to this intersection, but the project never materialized. With an amended cooperative agreement, the city now has until June 2017 to decide how to mitigate traffic impacts at the bridge intersection.

At the July 15 meeting, councilmembers were given two options: work with the Calaveras Council of Governments to get the project in the 2018 funding cycle, or work with Caltrans and come up with a cost for the repair and relinquishment of the bridge.

“Either we can do it, take our local monies; or Caltrans just comes through … and just does it, and we don’t have a lot of say,” Hanham said.

Staff recommended the city work with both the CCOG and Caltrans on the item in coordination with other long-term regional projects.

But some councilmembers still weren’t satisfied upgrades are necessary.

“We’re looking at a multimillion dollar project,” Lynch said. “There are negative feelings from councilmembers on proposals. … Why are we doing the project?”

Mayor Elaine Morris said she agreed with Lynch’s concerns, but Councilman Bert Sobon said repairs and upgrades could be a preemptive approach.

“There are some questions that it’s a justifiable expense, but I think sooner or later, we’re going to have to address this,” he said.

After extensive discussion, the council opted to continue the item at an upcoming meeting for further consideration.

In other council action:

• The city appointed Calaveras County’s health officer, Dr. Dean Kelaita, to authorize declarations of health emergencies within the city’s borders. City Attorney Derek Cole said an example would be a declaration concerning the seasonal flu. Cole said there may be costs associated with this work but those were unknown at the time of his report.

• The council also named Golden State Surveying Engineering Inc. as the contracted city surveyor.

“An effort was made to use a local surveyor, but because of the small amount of available work, this effort has proven difficult,” said city engineer David Myers in his report to the council.

The Sonora-based firm will be contracted to check maps, write descriptions and perform various physical surveys.

“Presently the land surveying workload is small,” Myers said. “There are two parcel maps, a lot line adjustment and a large subdivision.”

He said costs will be based on the specific project.

• Additionally, the city is now seeking to establish an advisory committee for the Angels Camp Highway 4/49 Gateway and Corridor Study to work with a consultant and staff through the duration of the project. The study will address circulation needs and traffic concerns of the busy intersection, and the committee will likely include between 12 and 15 members involving various stakeholders, agencies and at-large community representation.

Applications are due by Aug. 12 for consideration and appointment on Aug. 19. More information can be found at angelscamp.gov.