Logo courtesy of the City of Gridley

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Officials in Gridley said infrastructure demands are outpacing staffing and maintenance capacity as aging utilities, deteriorating streets and future development place increasing pressure on city operations.

At a strategic planning session earlier this month, Public Works Director Jerry Cox and City Engineer Dave Harden outlined concerns involving reduced staffing, water system upgrades, wastewater infrastructure, road repairs and expanding maintenance responsibilities tied to growth throughout the city.

Cox told the council the public works department is currently operating with nine full-time employees instead of the 11 positions historically used to maintain city services.

“We’re trying to maintain the city with the nine employees right now,” Cox said.

Cox said the city will likely need four additional employees in the future, including restoring two vacant positions and adding two more once the Highway 99 rehabilitation project is completed and the city assumes responsibility for maintaining landscaping, sidewalks, irrigation systems and other improvements along the corridor.

Council members expressed concern that staffing shortages are already forcing the department to fall behind on some maintenance responsibilities.

Cox said the shortage has reduced preventative maintenance and some state-required work, including water valve exercising programs, hydrant flushing and sewer line camera inspections.

Aging water and sewer infrastructure emerged as one of the city’s largest long-term concerns during the workshop.

Harden said recent geological testing complicated earlier plans to replace the city’s aging sewer force main beneath the Feather River, forcing engineers to reevaluate alternatives for the project. Officials are now studying whether the line could potentially be attached to the nearby bridge crossing instead of tunneling beneath the river.

The sewer line carries wastewater across the river to the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

Harden said the city recently received state approval to continue evaluating alternative designs and funding options for the project. He said future costs could depend on whether additional lift stations and supporting infrastructure also require upgrades.

“We need to know how much money to ask for and can we get it done,” Harden said.

Officials also discussed continued efforts to secure funding for water system improvements, including arsenic treatment work connected to the Wilson well and quarterly testing required under state drinking water regulations.

Street repairs and deferred maintenance were another major focus of the session.

Cox said the city plans to prioritize paving work on portions of Locust Street, Oregon Street and nearby residential streets where pavement deterioration has resulted in repeated patching and pothole repairs.

The city also expects additional maintenance demands from future subdivisions, drainage systems, parks and the developing sports complex. Cox said maintenance districts connected to Pacific Flyway and Stepping Stones Estates will add to the department’s workload in coming years.

Harden said the city is also working toward a geographic information system, or GIS-based asset management program, that would digitally track infrastructure conditions, repairs and maintenance schedules throughout the city. Officials said the system would improve long-term planning and help identify recurring infrastructure failures before they become larger problems.

The planning session was held separately from the city’s regular meeting to help council members set long-term priorities ahead of upcoming budget discussions.