As required by state law in AB 1600, last week the Ceres City Council held its annual public hearing and review of the funds amassed from the fees paid by developers to the city.

Developer fees help the city pay for new infrastructure which is caused by new growth.

When any funds remain unspent for five years or more, the city must make formal findings, identifying the purpose of that fee, the relationship between the fee and its use and the expected funding sources and timelines for the planned improvements.

City Engineer Mike Beltran broke down the funds and their intended use:

General Government

The five-year remaining unexpended balance for General Government is $129,698, which is earmarked for:

• Corp yard facility improvements;

• Transit Center parking structure, and Transit Center to be completed beyond FY 2031.

Police

The five-year remaining unexpended balance for Police Facilities is $306,541.

Planned Community

The five-year remaining unspent balance for Planned Community is $581,634, which is designated for:

• Corp yard Facility Improvements;

•Transit Center Parking Structure, and Transit Center to be completed beyond FY 2031.

Public Works

The five-year remaining unexpended balance for Public Works is $1,562,376, earmarked for:

• Corp yard Facility improvements to be completed beyond FY 2031.

Fire 

The five-year remaining unexpended balance for Fire is $ 304,358, which is required for the following project:

• Fire Training facility enhancements to be completed beyond FY 2031.

Neighborhood parks

The five-year remaining unexpended balance for Neighborhood Parks is $357,831, which is earmarked solely for Lions Park to be completed beyond FY 2031.

Sewer main line

The five-year remaining unexpended balance for Sewer Main Line is $4,825,380, which is required for:

• Crows Landing Road Rehabilitation to be completed beyond FY 2026;

• WWTP Tertiary improvements;

• North Ceres Pump Station and Force Main;

• North Ceres 24 downstream upsizing;

• Wastewater Treatment Plant tertiary effluent improvements to be completed beyond FY 2031.

Water supply extension

The five-year remaining unexpended balance for Water Supply Extension is $5,491,579.67, which is required for:

• Hatch Road Water Main Phase 2 to be completed FY 2026;

• Hatch Road Water Main Phase 3 to be completed FY 2026;

•Replacements of well 14, 23 and 32;

• SRWA Phase 2 Expansion;

• River Bluff Pump Station expansion;

• One million gallon storage tank and its pump station;

• SRWA South Water Transmission Main to be completed beyond FY 2031.

Vice Mayor Daniel Martinez asked Beltran if the city corporation yard at Smyrna Park can be relocated elsewhere.

“If it is a desire, then yes, that is an option,” replied Beltran. “There’s no planning currently in process for that but if that’s something in the future that would like to be looked at between Public Works, Engineering and the council, if that recommendation is made, we’re more than happy to look into it.”