Budget committee reviews $773 million draft CIP, asks for asset-condition detail and presses on San Lucas drinking-water gap

Monterey County public‑works staff presented a condensed draft of the five‑year Capital Improvement Program to the Budget Committee, highlighting active, pre‑funded projects, the scale of deferred maintenance and a schedule to take the draft to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors for adoption.

Staff said the draft CIP currently lists about 86 projects totaling roughly $191 million for the next fiscal year and about $773 million across five years. Presentation highlights included annual road programs (about 200 miles of restriping, a $2 million chip‑seal program), the Davis Road bridge and widening project (right‑of‑way acquisitions concluding), the Carmel Valley Road rehabilitation, Measure X corridor work, the Prunedale roundabout safety project and local road rehabilitation in communities such as Aromas, Bradley and Spreckels. Public‑works staff also highlighted active‑transportation and sidewalk projects in San Ardo, Chula and Castroville.

On facilities, staff cited near‑term projects such as the new Bradley Library and resilience center at East Garrison (bids incoming), County Jail ADA improvements, library EV charging stations (including San Lucas), the Puerto Ballego mansion restoration, and a DSSS Community Benefits Building replacement. Staff noted a significant deferred‑maintenance backlog for county assets and that some existing cost estimates are dated; they committed to updating data in coordination with the CAO and bringing more detailed inventories back to the committee.

Chair Church asked for more granular condition information—particularly which bridges, parks or facilities are at the most pressing risk—and staff responded that the county maintains a bridge inventory (175 bridges) with a subset inspected by Caltrans (structures over 20 feet) and others inspected internally. Staff described the $300 million bridge figure as a deferred‑maintenance component for county bridges and said the $700 million roads estimate represents funds forecast to bring roads to a county‑wide average "fair" condition; they committed to returning updated condition assessments and more precise figures.

Supervisor Alejo raised the San Lucas drinking‑water crisis, saying the community has been under a do‑not‑drink order for years and noting prior plans and cost escalations. Alejo said earlier efforts dated to 2011 and that a previously planned $8 million pipeline estimate has been eclipsed by a current $23 million filtration‑system alternative; supervisors urged staff to correct the CIP project sheet and to continue pursuing state and federal funding. Public‑works staff apologized for an error in the CIP project sheet, confirmed the drinking‑water issues date back to 2011, described prior work stoppage and rising costs, and said staff are coordinating with the State Water Board, U.S. EPA and legislative partners to seek additional tranches of funding and implement test wells and other interim measures.

Staff recommended the committee receive the report and outlined next steps: the draft CIP will go to the Planning Commission for conformity review and then to the Board of Supervisors for adoption in June; CAO and staff will continue to refine the Fund 478 allocation process and develop a supplemental list of unfunded requests for future board consideration. No committee action was taken on the report at this meeting.