The focus on streets, highways, overpasses and sewer systems is not a topic that is usually discussed with enthusiasm, save for engineers and city planners or unless there is an infrastructure disaster.
Last month’s Skagit Rive Bridge collapse in Washington state and Minnesota’s I-35 Mississippi River Bridge tragedy in 2008 drew attention the nation’s faltering infrastructure, and in Culver City and Los Angeles there have been numerous water main leaks in recent years.
Culver City Public Works Director Charles Herbertson said the city’s infrastructure is not crumbling but there are areas of concern that he and his staff are looking at and trying to develop strategies for over the next few years that will allow the city to function at a high level.
Herbertson noted that the nation is still recovering from the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s and funding is not at the levels that it was a decade ago to maintain or add to existing municipal infrastructure. “There are some funding sources that we’re looking at from the state and federal governments but it’s going to require a significant investment (to maintain the city’s infrastructure),” he said.
The American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure estimated that there is a $549.5 billion shortfall in investments in roads and bridges and an additional $190.1 billion shortfall in investments in transit.
Councilman Jim Clarke said the 2013-14 municipal budget will include funds for infrastructure.
“I am pleased to note in our fiscal year 2013-14 proposed budget, staff is recommending a transfer of $963,000 from the general fund for capital projects. That is an increase of $463,000 from the previous fiscal year,” Clarke noted.
“Counting all of our various funds, we will be committing $3,897,624 to capital projects.”
The budget allocation breakdown by project type has $836,000 for streets and alleys $1,136,520 for traffic signal and lighting improvements, $325,000 for facilities improvements, $70,000 for new computer, $100, 000 for equipment acquisition, $81,000, for parks and park facilities projects, $700,000 for sewer improvement projects, $100,00 for refuse improvements and $549,104 other projects.
“It is evident that we are putting a substantial amount of capital funds into streets and alleys and traffic signals and lighting improvements because it is a priority to have our streets looking well and functioning well,” Clarke said.
One area that has not been discussed at any length is the maintenance of city assets. At the June 3 City Council meeting the Culver City Chamber of Commerce made a presentation that focused on City Hall. The presentation pointed out that its carpets have not been replaced and how the 20 year-old building has never been painted.
Steven Rose, the president of the Culver City Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the city council from 2000 to 2008. Rose was the only councilman to talk openly about the need to budget for deferred maintenance during his tenure on the city’s governing body. “And there’s been no money set aside for that,” he said.
As an example of how critical maintenance is for a city, Rose mentioned a recent street repair project on Sepulveda Boulevard south of Culver Boulevard. He has noticed that there are weeds in the new flower boxes that have not been removed in several months.
Herbertson realizes how important it is to maintain a city’s infrastructure and feels that governments often neglect it at their own peril. “Infrastructure needs are not always the highest priority,” he said. “That is a trend that needs to change.”
Stormwater infrastructure is one area that can be burdensome regarding new regulations as well as the cost of installing new equipment. “There’s lots of very onerous requirements that go along with (stormwater regulations),” Herbertson noted.
Municipalities as well as Los Angeles County could have benefited from a parcel tax on property owner through the “Clean Water, Clean Beaches” initiative, according to county water officials as well as several environmental organizations.
Revenue from a proposed $54 property tax assessment could have been used to fund local water-saving programs as well as creating regional watershed authorities
Without that potential revenue stream, cities must be creative in their search for funds to curtail stormwater runoff. “We many have to do something on our own,” Herbertson said of developing another approach to the problem.
The city will be replacing the Higuera Street Bridge in east Culver City but the others are not in a serious state of disrepair, said Herberston. “Our bridges are inspected every two years,” said the public works director.
Some lawmakers are looking at the state of the nation’s roads, bridges, aquifers and transportation hubs seriously. One legislator’s proposed bill could also benefit regions close to Culver City.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D- Westchester) introduced legislation March 13 called the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants for Job Creation Act, which would provide $1 billion over a two-year period for transportation infrastructure.
“The economy is struggling to recover from the recession,” said Waters. “The unemployment rate is nearly 8% nationwide and is even higher in minority and disadvantaged communities.”
Public Works has also identified all of the sidewalks in Culver City that are in disrepair and has a plan to fix a portion of them annually. “Our goal is to eliminate the areas of concern,” he said. “We reassess a quarter of the city every year.”
Asked if large-scale developments also have the potential to take a toll on a city’s infrastructure, Herbertson answered in the affirmative. “Any kind of significant development has to go through an assessment,” he added.
Clarke feels the council still needs to do more regarding enhancing Culver City’s roads, sidewalks and water systems. “We still need to be able to put aside more funding for capital improvements. What we are doing this year is a good start and the first time in many years where we have had the capability to do more but it is only a start,” he said. “I think ideally we would like to be contributing about $2 million a year from the general fund for capital projects.”
Rose said neglecting infrastructure and focusing on building new projects makes for sexier headlines than paying attention to deferred maintenance. “It’s a lot easier to support a building with your name on a plaque than it is to keep the plaque clean and properly maintained,” he said.