TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Dewey Phan, Assistant Engineer
SUBJECT: Approval of Plans and Specifications and Authorization to Advertise for Bids for the “West Pueblo Ditch Repair Project, RDS 25-36”
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve the Plans and Specifications for the “West Pueblo Ditch Repair Project, RDS 25-36” and authorization to advertise for sealed bids and opening of the bids at a time, date, and location to be published by the Director of Public Works pursuant to Section 20150.8 of the Public Contract Code. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
The West Pueblo Ditch Repair Project involves 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.
On 8/5/25, the Board of Supervisors approved $55,000 as a budget amendment for the engineering design of the project. The Engineer Estimate to construct the West Pueblo Ditch Repair Project is $225,000.
Fiscal Year 2026-27 recommended budget will include $14,850,000 million for new and existing Road Capital Improvement projects construction from the release of Accumulated Capital Outlay, SB-1 and Measure U Funds. It will be budgeted in RDS00 “Uncommitted Roads CIP.” As each project moves forward, budget will be reallocated from RDS00 to specific projects. The Plans and Specifications are complete and ready for approval by the Board of Supervisors. Staff will return to the Board of Supervisors at the time of construction to present a detailed project budget based on the lowest responsible bid.
Requested Actions:
Approve Plans and Specifications for the “West Pueblo Ditch Repair Project, RDS 25-36” and authorization to advertise for sealed bids.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
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? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Funding for construction is included in the FY 2026-27 Budget. |
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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. |
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Strategic Initiative: |
Build healthy, connected communities. |
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.]