TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Sydney Barclay, Associate Engineer
SUBJECT: Project creation and budget amendment for the “Pueblo Area Ditch Project”
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize creation of Capital Improvement Project 25049 “Pueblo Area Ditch Project,” RDS 25-36 and approve a Budget Amendment. (Fiscal Impact: $55,000 Expense; Capital Improvement Projects Fund; Not Budgeted; Discretionary)
[4/5 vote required]
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BACKGROUND
The Pueblo Area Ditch Project involves critical repairs and improvements to two existing open-channel drainage ditches commonly referred to as the “Sandra-Kathleen Ditch” and the “West Pueblo Ditch.” These ditches are located within an unincorporated subdivision in the City of Napa (historically known as the “Vista Manor”) and were originally developed in the 1950s. While the City and County of Napa share jurisdictional boundaries within this subdivision, the County holds ownership and/or easement rights over both ditches.
The original subdivision plans indicated these ditches would be enclosed in 24-inch diameter pipelines; however, the developer did not complete this design and left the channels as open ditches. Properties along Sandra Drive, Kathleen Drive, West Pueblo Avenue, Edith Court, Margo Court, Geraldine Court, and Burnette Court back up to these drainage corridors, and privately-owned fences currently delineate the edges of the County’s drainage easements.
Over time, both ditches have experienced significant erosion and degradation. Originally designed with approximately three feet of walkway space on either side, many sections now have less than one foot of clearance and are no longer safely accessible for maintenance without creating a tripping or falling hazard. The ditches are unlined and lack erosion control, resulting in undermining of adjacent private fences and associated property impacts.
In addition to structural concerns, there are ongoing public health and safety issues. Some property owners have historically disposed of trash and fecal matter into the ditches behind their fences, creating hazardous working conditions for County maintenance crews and requiring the removal of illegally discarded materials. Due to access limitations, maintenance must be performed by hand, and the ditches are now overgrown with non-native and invasive plant species, including palm trees, bamboo, and Himalayan blackberry.
To address these issues, the Public Works Department proposes to install subsurface storm drain pipelines within the existing ditches and backfill with compacted soil. This design would stabilize the area, eliminate ongoing erosion and property loss, and improve long-term maintenance access. Napa County’s current Road and Street Standards would not permit the use of unlined open-channel ditches under similar circumstances, and the current conditions present clear safety, erosion, and contamination concerns. Staff therefore recommends proceeding with the proposed improvements to construct pipelines and restore functionality and safety within the affected area. The urgency of this situation was only recently identified, after adoption of the most recent budget.
Requested Actions:
1. Approval of a Budget Amendment for the following (4/5 vote is required):
a. Increase Transfers Out appropriations by $55,000 in the Capital Improvement Projects Fund (Fund 3000, Sub-Division 3000000, Account 56100) offset by use of its available fund balance to transfer to Project 25049 and increase to its Transfers In revenues (Fund 2040, Sub-Division 2040500, Project 25026, Account 48200); and
b. Create a new Project 25049 for the “Pueblo Area Ditches” and increase Engineering Services appropriations by $55,000 in Project 25049 budget (Fund 2040, Sub-Division 2040500, Project 25049, Account 52145) offset by a Transfer-In revenue from the Capital Improvement Projects Fund.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Repairs are necessary to prevent further damage and ensure public and County employee safety. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Funding is needed in FY 2025-26 for design and construction is expected to occur in FY 2026-27. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
More erosion will occur which would lead to losses in private property and potential claims against the County. |
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Additional Information |
The County is providing repairs to a short 240 foot segment of the West Pueblo Ditch in September 2025 as a property owner has already filed a claim against the County for damages to their property. The City of Napa has required that property owners pipe the section of ditch behind their property in order for owners to obtain building permits. In addition to some areas of the ditch being piped, in 2009 the County installed a retaining wall structure for a short segment of the Sandra-Kathleen Ditch due to erosion concerns. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: Consideration and possible adoption of a Categorical Exemption Class 1: It has been determined that this type of project does not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. See Class 1 (“Existing Facilities”) which may be found in the guidelines for the implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act at 14 CCR §15301; see also Napa County’s Local Procedures for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act, Appendix B.]