City officials put off two items on the capital projects list because the mayor and a councilman are exploring the idea of using a more natural process that could curtail odor issues from the industrial pond.
Hollister council members Monday approved a multimillion-dollar capital projects plan that includes work on roads, the lack of which in recent years became the focus of criticism from the mayor.
Council members Monday approved an amended capital improvement project plan – taking out two wastewater treatment items up for further consideration – which included about $2.2 million in new spending allocations and about $500,000 toward road projects.
Those plans for road work became a subject of contention during the meeting. City engineering official David Rubcic had told council members in his report that staffing shortages were to blame for a lacking priority list for road work. The city plans to assess roads and have a priority list ready for approval before possible construction starts next summer.
Mayor Ignacio Velazquez told Rubcic that “accepting an excuse” about short staffing is “unacceptable.”
“The condition the roads are in is unacceptable throughout the city,” Velazquez said.
Velazquez urged council members to table the two wastewater treatment items – for disposal beds and an energy efficiency project – because he and Councilmay Ray Friend had been exploring a possible wetlands-type project as an alternative.
Velazquez and Friend at the meeting claimed the idea could save the city significant money.
Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia, who is finishing 16 years on the council, said road conditions haven’t improved since she joined the council. She made note of downtown streets as being in particularly bad shape.
