Calistoga public works outlines $120 million 10-year CIP, flags pond lining and microgrid work

Derek Raynor, Calistoga city engineer and director of public works, presented a capital improvement program (CIP) update that lists roughly $120 million in projects over a 10-year horizon, divided mainly among roads (about 35%), water (about 30%) and sewer (about 25%).

Raynor highlighted completed and current projects: a repaired sewer force main near Rancho Del Mobile Home Park, a grant-funded Tesla battery installation (about $2 million) to provide backup power to the wastewater plant, and paving work on Berry Street and Lower Washington. He also reported emergency replacement of an aeration-basin liner and additional liner work planned for other basins.

On future work, Raynor said the city has started the microgrid project on Lower Washington (construction staging and material removal in progress) and has opened bids for a multi-year riverside pond-lining project prompted by a cease-and-desist order that prevents the ponds from operating as percolation ponds under the current permit. He said the pond project will come back to the council in February and will span multiple years.

Council members praised staff for advancing many projects with a small engineering team and noted the city has been successful at securing grants, though a funding gap remains. Raynor and the city manager said capital projects are long-running and require multi-year scheduling and grant strategies.

Next steps: the city will return with bid awards and project-specific appropriation requests as the pond-lining and other large projects move from design to construction.