Thursday, September 13, 2018

City Council Report: Measure I projects running over budget

La Mirada City Seal

Sept 13, 2018

La Mirada-  A report reviewed by the City Council Tuesday updating Measure I spending shows spending so far is well over budget for at least three of the four phases of work. With about 20% of the money raised by the half-cent sales tax still remaining, close to half of the city still has not seen improvements even begin.  The Measure I tax ended on March 31, 2018.

A review of the reports indicates expenditures far exceeding amounts originally budgeted for work completed so far by more than $2 million dollars for Phases 2, 3, and 4.

                                          Budgeted Amount               Final  Amount

Phase 2                                    $3,880,000                      $4,670,000      

Phase 3                                    $6,689,000                       $7,460,000

Phase 4                                    $4,697,219                       $5,560,000*

* Phase 4 is complete, but the city states there are still outstanding invoices for work completed.

Figures were not immediately available for the amount budgeted for Phase 1, but the ending expenditure for the project was $4.89 Million.

The report from the citizen's committee that oversees Measure I spending states that $23.1 million of the $29 million collected by the sales tax has already been spent.

Invoices are still expected in the just completed Phase 4 area, and with Phase 5 budgeted at $8 million scheduled to begin late this year, the city will use road and transportation funds to pay for work after the Measure 1 funds have been depleted.

After the Phase 5 work that covers the area mostly south of Gardenhill Park to Rosecrans Av areas remaining have infrastructure work done consists of neighborhoods north of Biola University, the Kling Center area and Hillsborough.

New Dial-a-Ride buses coming soon

A request by city staff to replace Dial-a-Ride buses that have reached the end of their useful life for transit operations was approved by the council.

Three 16 passenger buses and one 20 passenger bus will be ordered at a cost of $415,000 and will be purchased with funds earmarked for transportation programs.  

The city is also purchasing ten fareboxes to equip the entire fleet which is operating with them currently.

Meeting Notes

An update was provided for the new slide to be added at Splash!  The project is currently in design, and construction is tentatively set to commence in February 2019.  The slide will have six mat runs and two tube slides.

Former City council member and Mayor Art Leslie attended the regular meeting.

Former Community Services Commission member Dustin Dahl's culinary skills were a big hit at the Maddi's Closet fundraiser at Splash! Saturday evening and was one of the event's highlights.

Mr. Dahl has been doing all the right things, becoming more and more visible in the right circles, and must be considered a serious contender to become the first council member in the new District 5 in 2020.  Dahl has not made a public statement on his future political plans yet, but stay tuned.

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