The Reconstruction of 8th, 16th, and Installation of Valley Gutters on Fair Oaks Avenue Project (Project) involves the roadway reconstruction of 8th Avenue from Middlefield Road to Edison Way, and 16th Avenue from End to approximately 789 16th Avenue in the unincorporated North Fair Oaks Area. The Project scope also requires sanitary sewer pipe replacement, sewer manholes, and drainage infrastructure on both 8th and 16th Avenue.

The majority of construction scope of work on 16th Ave is completed as of November 2024. This included survey layout, USA coordination, mobilization, notifying the public of the work, installing a stormwater pollution prevention plan and best management practices, sewer pipe installation, placement of new asphalt pavement and striping. Sewer work on 8th Ave is ongoing. Other construction work on 8th Ave will be dependent on weather this winter.

Get additional Project updates here: https://www.smcgov.org/publicworks/8th-16th-avenue-reconstruction

Photos: New asphalt concrete and valley gutter concrete work both on 16th Ave.

The Santa Cruz/Alameda de las Pulgas Complete Street Project Avy Ave to Sand Hill Road (Project) consists of reducing the number of travel lanes by constructing bicycle and pedestrian improvements, including concrete islands, bulb-outs and curb ramps; removal of damaged sidewalk, roadway and miscellaneous concrete; re-aligning curb line, gutter, sidewalk and driveways; drainage improvements consisting of new storm drain inlets and lateral pipes; utility adjustments; removal of old roadway striping and markings, restriping; installing pavement markings and markers, signal light modifications, and updated pedestrian crossings.

The Contractor, RK Engineering Inc., has completed approximately 18% of the concrete work for this project. Starting at Avy Avenue, they have been progressing southward along ADLP and are currently working toward Campo Bello Lane. They have extended sidewalks on both sides of the street and upgraded all the ramps along the way to meet ADA compliance standards.

Get additional project updates here: https://www.smcgov.org/publicworks/santa-cruz-avenue-and-alameda-de-las-pulgas-improvement-project

Photo: Freshly poured concrete for sidewalk, curb, and gutter along Alameda de las Pulgas.

The Maple Street Correctional Center is a high-performance facility that has earned a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. As a 24-hour operational facility housing occupants, it has significant energy demands, leading to high utility costs, including electricity and natural gas consumption.

To help reduce these costs, a new solar system will be installed and generate up to 9% of the facility's electricity needs, providing substantial savings on utility expenses. This system is being installed as a Solar Shade Structure in the North-facing, fenced employee parking lot. The design of the system allows for future expansion, which will enable it to offset up to 42% of the facility's total electricity consumption. By generating renewable energy onsite, the system will not only reduce the facility’s dependence on the grid but also support the County’s and Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to sustainable operations and the path toward achieving Net Zero Energy.

The Department of Public Works has engaged the professional architectural services of Bartos Architects and SBAY Inc. for the construction of the first phase of the Maple Street Correctional Center Photovoltaic System. The construction of the piers is complete, and the system is expected to be fully operational by May 2025.

Photos: The lot where the solar system will be installed and a rendering of the new solar system.

Congratulations to the Crafts team on their big win at the County's Pumpkin Display Contest that was held on October 28, 2024. Their winning display was hand carved, multiple pumpkins, and included lights and sound. 

Photos: The team celebrating with their trophy, and their award- winning pumpkin display.

The Facilities Division completed the set-up for the North Fair Oaks Community Celebration/Fiesta Navideña event that was held on Sunday, December 8, 2024. The event was held on the Middlefield Road and 2nd Avenue parking lot and featured mariachi, family activities, and food. Thank you, Facilities! 

Photos: The Facilities Division; a mariachi band performs; and attendees enjoying the community celebration.

Road Services successfully deployed their annual pre-made sandbag reservation program for unincorporated County residents. This is a proactive measure to combat potential flooding during the winter season. Since the program's kickoff in November there is significant engagement from the community, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and community support.

Road Services utilized the Microsoft Booking tool to streamline the reservation process. Since the program's launch, a total of 23 online reservations were made by residents, resulting in requests for 320 pre-made sandbags. By scheduling sandbag pickups residents have benefited from a hassle-free experience that includes reduced wait times and ensuring sandbags are available when needed. The reservation program also minimizes traffic impacts to local streets.

Road Services are committed to the safety and well-being of County residents. The success of the sandbag reservation program highlights the effectiveness of combining technology with community services to address seasonal challenges.

Photo: A Road Services employee helps load sandbags into a vehicle.

BSS is excited to announce the acquisition of a Parallels license which will soon enable us to transition from Citrix to a more efficient and streamlined virtual environment. We're getting everything ready for this change and look forward to the improvements it will bring.

The development of the new Cardkey request site created with Jira is nearing completion. This updated platform will simplify the process of obtaining a cardkey, ensuring a more user-friendly and efficient experience. The Cardkey team is also diligently wrapping up year-end reports. This task involves the compilation and modification of all the county's cardkeys for account reconciliation/general housekeeping.

In the spirit of the season, decorations have magically appeared around some of the cubicles in the BSS section. Please stop by and see the office winter wonderland.

Fun Facts:

- San Francisco Garter Snakes (SFGS) have a red head and often a turquoise-colored underside.

- SFGS may produce a mild venom and bite but are not considered dangerous or a serious threat to humans.

- They are only found on the San Francisco Peninsula. While exact numbers are unknown, the population could be as few as 2,000 remaining individuals.

- They are considered federally endangered, and one of their favorite foods is the federally threatened CA red-legged frog. 

Habitat:

SFGS are listed as federally endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Mating typically occurs in spring and live young are born in summer or fall. They are often found feeding in pond and creek habitats with abundant vegetation (such as willows or cattails) for cover. SFGS feed on California red-legged frogs and Pacific treefrogs. They often use upland areas for basking (banks and roads) and use rodent burrows for cover and overwintering (grasslands). Adults typically measure 18-55 inches long.

SFGS have been documented in the following watersheds and locations: Cupid Row (San Bruno), San Francisquito Creek near Searsville Lake, Crystal Springs Reservoir, Mori Point (Pacifica), Denniston Creek, Pilarcitos Creek, Purisima Creek, upper San Gregorio Creek, La Honda Creek, upper Pomponio Creek, Pescadero Creek, Arroyo de los Frijoles, Butano Creek, Gazos Creek, Ano Nuevo, Whitehouse Creek, and Cascade Creek. Please watch for SFGS when working near creeks, ponds, and marshes and reach out to a DPW biologist if you have questions.

Mirada Road between Magellan Ave and Cortez Ave

The Mirada Road Emergency Repair Project (Project) includes repairing a damaged roadway section of Mirada Road in Half Moon Bay, CA. The roadway damage includes pavement failures, erosion of the roadway's supporting material, pavement settlement, and subsurface damage at several locations along the westerly side of Mirada Road, which was caused by tidal wave actions and the 2023 winter storms.

The Project includes two phases of work. Phase I is almost complete with the emergency repair work of restoring, repositioning, and adding rocks to strengthen the rock slope protections (RSP) along Mirada Road from Magellan Avenue to Cortez Avenue and reconstructing the west side of the roadway with controlled low strength material (CLSM). Reinforcing the existing RSP on the roadway embankment with additional rocks will lessen the impact of future tidal wave actions on the roadway. Phase II is a work in progress with the long-term vision for Mirada Road; it is a requirement from the California Coastal Commission and will require obtaining necessary funding and input from the community.

The Project highlights the teamwork in DPW. Road Services, Engineering, a consultant team, and contractor assembled to work on emergency repair plans, community engagement, and development of a workplan for long-term solutions.

Get additional project updates here: https://www.smcgov.org/publicworks/mirada

Photos: Pre-emergency repair work - damaged sections of Mirada Road, placing additional rocks on the RSP, paving work, and finished emergency roadway repairs.

Andres joined Road Services in September of this year and has been a great help to the Department. His positive attitude and great work ethic allowed him to seamlessly fall into place on our La Honda maintenance crew. We look forward to many more years of his dedication and efforts to keep our County’s roads in tip top shape. 

In his spare time Andres raises show sheep and is studying to hopefully obtain his class A commercial driver’s license in the near future. 

Carlos has a strong background in aviation operations. He worked as an Operations Specialist at the Palo Alto Airport where he gained firsthand knowledge of airport logistics and safety.

Carlos enjoys spending time at airports, fixing things, and staying active through his love of working out and snowboarding. When not at the gym or the slopes, he enjoys relaxing with movies and sharpening his problem-solving skills through hands-on projects.

Rolando Zepeda brings valuable experience in maintenance from his previous roles at PG&E and Tesla, where he honed his skills in technical problem-solving and infrastructure management.

Outside of work, he enjoys watching sports, especially the 49ers. Catching movies, exploring new restaurants, and spending quality time with his loved ones. His passion for teamwork and attention to detail make him a vital asset to the team.

We are pleased to have Richard Auelua join our team here at DPW. Richard is stepping into the role of Construction Inspector II with the Engineering team. With five years of experience as a Construction Inspector specializing in material testing for the City of San Jose, his expertise will be a valuable asset to our team.

Richard enjoys spending quality time with his wife and kids.  He loves all sports, but football is his favorite. His favorite teams are the 49ers, Warriors, and Giants. Richard has a great sense of humor and always has a joke ready. He has a sweet tooth, so feel free to share your favorite dessert recommendations with him.                                               

Richard works at 555 County Center and is currently seated near the service elevator, right next to Joshua Rawley. Stop by to introduce yourself and say hello!

Anthony has been a dedicated and invaluable member of our team, consistently demonstrating exceptional commitment and expertise in maintaining and improving our County's roadways. His promotion to Road Maintenance Supervisor is a testament to his hard work, leadership, and the positive impact he has made on our community's infrastructure.

When not at work, Anthony enjoys hanging out with his son, playing tournament softball and riding Harleys.

Victor Soto joined our team February 2, 2024, as an extra help Automotive Service Worker-II. Previously he started his mechanic career at Engine Works in Alameda as a lube tech and smog inspector. Victor enjoyed working for the motor-pool, but an opportunity to move up to the heavy-duty equipment side presented itself.

Victor has many hobbies. He likes to go to the gym, play video games, and walk his 2 dogs Canelo and Walter. In his spare time, he is fixing up his 2000 Ford Ranger swapping in a 5.0-liter engine in it.

Cross Training Program

The Cross Training Program held five sessions in 2024 and will continue into 2025. In 2024, the sessions included presentations from Engineering (Construction & Design), Admin - Finance and later Contracts, PW Techs, and a Day in the Life of a Project Manager. The Cross Training Program is a great way to learn how a group or groups function within our organization. Please see the 2025 Cross Training Schedule below and we hope to see at an upcoming session!