Mayor’s $75 million allocation includes several La Jolla projects

By the Numbers

Of the $75 million, about $30 million is slated for citywide roadway resurfacing; $8.2 million for ADA upgrades to streets and facilities; $15.5 million for storm-drain repairs; $16.3 million for firehouse, library and other facility upgrades; $2.6 million for streetlight upgrades; and $1.5 million for park and recreation upgrades.

By Pat Sherman

Mayor Jerry Sanders’ plan to invest $75 million in infrastructure throughout San Diego includes several La Jolla projects, including repairs to storm drains, a coastal bluff and a garage used by lifeguards.

On April 9 the San Diego City Council approved Sanders’ allocation, which calls for the issuance of $75 million in bonds and includes about $30 million (or 40.8 percent) in citywide street resurfacing. The location of streets slated for resurfacing have yet to be finalized, city officials said.

Three years ago the city issued $100 million in capital-improvement bonds to resurface more than 100 miles of street and complete other infrastructure repairs.

James Nagelvoort, an assistant director in the city’s public works department, said the plan calls for spending 85 percent of the funds by June of 2014 and 100 percent by January 2015.

• The city will spend $65,000 to repair a coastal bluff at the foot of Midway Street in Bird Rock that eroded during the 2004-2005 storm season. The job also includes reconstruction of a protective barrier at the top of the bluff.

• The city will spend $131,000 to repair a garage used by lifeguards at 811 Nautilus St., across from La Jolla High School. The one-story, 1,700-square-foot facility was built in 1985 and has a leaking roof and termite damage. The building is adjacent to Fire Station No. 13, and provides a staging area and designated parking for lifeguard employees. • More than $1.3 million will be used to rebuild the La Jolla Cove Lifeguard Station at 1100 Coast Blvd., which was built in the 1950s and is considered inadequate to support staff needs. The project, which already has received more than $508,000 in city funds, includes an observation tower, first aid room and locker.

• $4.1 million will be spent to replace existing storm drainage along Avenida de la Playa with reinforced concrete. The project will provide a low-flow diversion feature to pump drainage to the sewer system.

In an e-mail description of the project, Nagelvoort said the work would be completed in two phases.

Phase one will include an outfall structure at the beach end of Avenida De La Playa and replacement of storm drain pipes (built in the late 1950s) along the street from Camino Del Sol west to the outfall structure.

Outfall is the point at which a storm drain pipe ends and the runoff is discharged into either a body of water or a canyon. The Avenida de la Playa outfall structure, located on the seawall, will reduce the amount of sand transported into the storm drain during high tide and serve as a final barrier against trash flowing onto the beach from the storm drain.

The second phase of the project, for which funding has yet to be located, will replace drainage pipes on Avenida De La Playa from La Jolla Shores to Camino Del Sol.

The project is required by the state due to an expanse of ocean and coast between Goldfish Point and Scripps Institute of Oceanography that is designated as an Area of Special Biological Significance (ASBS).

“The area was designated an ASBS by the state of California because of the diversity of biological species and habitat, and because of its proximity to Scripps,” Nagelvoort said. “Because of the severely undersized pipe, there is localized flooding approximately once per rainy season. In addition to contributing to the rise in beach and ocean pollution, this flooding impacts traffic in the area, degrades the condition of the street, and erodes the boat launch area (in La Jolla Shores).”

• In addition, $483,000 will be spent for the design of storm drains at 6453 El Camino del Teatro (near Muirlands Middle School) and at 9900 Campus Point Drive (Northeast of Scripps Memorial Hospital).