The Ceres Planning Commission, which has seen seven of its 11 meetings cancelled this year so far, failed to meet a quorum of three members Monday and unable to hold a scheduled public hearing.
Commissioners Gary M. Condit and R.J. Jammu showed up but members Dorie Perez, Gil and Dave Johnson were excused. Since three members are required for a quorum, the meeting couldn’t be held.
Lasting only about 44 seconds, Chairman Condit called it “probably the quickest Planning Commission meeting ever.”
When the commission meets next on Monday, June 16, it will be charged with reviewing the five-year Capital Improvement Projects list to determine if they align with the General Plan.
City Engineer Michael Beltran explained that the five-year CIP list contains important projects ranging from street improvements and “quality of life projects” like parks, to the multi-million dollar sewer plant renovation. The Engineering Division normally prioritizes the order in which projects are accomplished but ultimate say comes from the council, which also approve the funding. Department heads also come up with projects based on citizen and council input.
“That program actually gets added to every single year,” said Beltran. “Some projects, you’ll see, are actually beyond the five-year mark.”
The CIP includes pavement overlays, sidewalk improvements, traffic operation system upgrades, bike paths, interchange improvements for Service and Mitchell road intersection.
At times a project is placed into the CIP years out with the expectation that funds will come later, such as awaiting grant funds, said Beltran.
A number of the planned projects involve water and sewer with the biggest being a wastewater treatment plant upgrade that exceeds $20 million and likely won’t be completed until after the 2030-31 year.
Another grand project on the wish list is a planned transit center parking structure to serve customers who ride the ACE train once it reaches a planned Ceres platform. Beltran has that cost pegged at $13 million and well beyond the five-year scope of the CIP list.
Road projects on the list include a rehabilitation of Moffet Road ($1.54 million), Crows Landing Road ($359,175) and pavement resurfacing in the Northridge subdivision at a cost of $1.5 million, expected to take place in the 2029-30 year cycle. The same treatment for Lynley Manor will cost an estimated $1.2 million in the 2026-27 year.
Other road projects listed in the CIP, their costs and time frame are as follows:
• Central Avenue reconstruction from Davis to Promenade, $2 million, 2030-31;
• Central Avenue reconstruction from Railroad Avenue to Pine Street, $2 million, 2029-30;
• Richland Avenue reconstruction from Hatch to Herndon, $3 million, 2029-30;
• Downtown rehabilitation, $5 million, 2027-28.
