SUBJECT: ADVERTISE AND AWARD A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE PRESIOCA STREET SIDEWALK PROJECT AND RELATED CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICT: 1)
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OVERVIEW
The Department of Public Works (DPW) strives to provide pedestrians with safe and accessible sidewalks to enhance active mobility within communities. DPW identifies opportunities to construct new and infill sidewalk locations through mobility studies, including the Pedestrian Gap Analysis, and Local Road Safety Plan, while also incorporating community group and stakeholder priorities. The Presioca Street Sidewalk Project will provide approximately 400 feet of new curb, gutter, and sidewalk along a section of Presioca Street between Birch Street and Jamacha Road in the unincorporated community of Spring Valley. These improvements will fill a critical gap in pedestrian and accessibility connectivity for the public in an area surrounded with high-density housing, businesses, recreation, schools, and transit stops. The project will meet the standards for Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accessible facilities, including pedestrian curb ramps and full-width concrete sidewalk. This new section will connect to existing sidewalk on both ends of the project to provide continuous and active pedestrian access to community resources for the public. Additionally, this project directly supports Climate Action Plan goals as these new ADA ramps and sidewalk help provide active transportation alternatives to car trips that would produce greenhouse gas emissions. .
This project began in response to a community recommendation in 2020 to address a pedestrian gap in front of this high-density residential block. The County’s application for federal project funding was not successful, but local funds were allocated to complete the project design. In Fall 2025, construction funding was secured, allowing the project to advance toward full completion. The Presioca Street Sidewalk Project is a top project for the Spring Valley Community Planning Group in its 2025 Capital Improvement Program priority list.
This is a request for the County of San Diego Board of Supervisors (Board) to approve the advertisement and subsequent award of a construction contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Project. Upon Board approval, the Department of Purchasing and Contracting will advertise and subsequently award a contract for construction. Construction is scheduled to begin Summer 2026 and be completed in Fall 2026. The total estimated project cost is $1,250,000, which includes $600,000 for design, environmental review, right-of-way acquisition, and contract administration, and $650,000 for construction, including a 25% contingency for unforeseen conditions. The funding source is Fiscal Year 2020-21 available prior year General Fund fund balance ($450,000) and bond proceeds ($800,000).
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find in accordance with Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines that the Presioca Street Sidewalk Project is categorically exempt from CEQA review because it involves the installation of new curb, gutter and sidewalk involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.
2. Authorize the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting, to take any action necessary to advertise and award a contract and to take other actions authorized by Section 401 et seq., of the Administrative Code with respect to contracting for the Presioca Street Sidewalk Project.
3. Designate the Director, Department of Public Works, as the County Officer responsible for administering the construction contract in accordance with Board Policy F-41, Public Works Construction Projects.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The County of San Diego is committed to supporting a transportation network that is safe and accessible for all users. The Department of Public Works (DPW) considers community health, safety, and accessibility indicators to ensure that transportation investments benefit all residents. The proposed improvements will support equitable mobility by improving safety and access for pedestrians and people with mobility disabilities in the community of Spring Valley. By providing safe dedicated pedestrian facilities outside of the roadway travel lanes, this project improves safety for motorists, bicyclists and all users. The County pursues delivery of these services in a fair and equitable manner and actively works to remove barriers by providing information in multiple languages, encouraging participation, and providing competitive opportunities for small businesses. The project will be procured in accordance with Board Policy B-53, Small-Local Business Policy requiring a three percent (3%) Small-Local Business subcontractor participation requirement, and will include the County’s Skilled and Trained Workforce Requirements as well as payment of prevailing wages to workers. The County construction contracts are competitively and publicly advertised and bid, and help stimulate the local economy, primarily by creating construction-related job opportunities.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Installing fully accessible pedestrian facilities provides new, safe mobility options and connections to non-vehicular transit. Providing this new infrastructure has economic, health and well-being, and environmental sustainability benefits. These new structures promote safe transit options within two communities of unincorporated San Diego County and provide opportunities for residents to connect to transit hubs across wider areas of the county. These pedestrian facilities will improve mobility and quality of life while enhancing pedestrian accessibility and safety along existing public roadways, which also supports the County’s Climate Action Plan in improving roadway segments as multi-modal. These improvements will help to create resilient communities while contributing to the County’s sustainability goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing just and equitable access for residents. Increasing walkability will further County of San Diego sustainability goals of reducing vehicle miles traveled and emissions.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 Operational Plan in the Department of Public Works (DPW), Road Fund. The total estimated project cost is $1,250,000, consisting of $600,000 for design, environmental review, right-of-way acquisition, and contract administration, and $650,000 for construction, including a 25% contingency for unforeseen conditions. The funding source is FY 2020-21 available prior year General Fund fund balance ($450,000) and bond proceeds ($800,000). There will be no additional change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
This project will improve the condition of the road which will facilitate the transit of goods and ease movement to jobs, schools, shopping and other services. County of San Diego construction contracts are also publicly advertised and competitively bid and help stimulate the local economy. Construction is administered in conformance with federal standards for labor practices, wage requirements, safety standards, the County of San Diego’s Working Families Ordinance and are subject to ongoing reporting and verification of compliance with these federal provisions. All workers employed on public works projects must be paid prevailing wages determined by the California Department of Industrial Relations, according to the type of work and location of the project. Construction activities may cause temporary changes to access for businesses and residents along Presioca Street during work hours. The Department of Public Works will coordinate with affected property owners and provide advance notice of construction schedules to minimize disruptions.
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
On February 10, 2026, Department of Public Works staff met with the Spring Valley Community Planning Group (CPG) to present the Presioca Street Sidewalk Project. Of the 15 Board members on the CPG, 10 voted in favor of the project, zero opposed, two abstentions, and three were not present. The vote supported the project and the Spring Valley CPG recommends approval of the project.
BACKGROUND
The County of San Diego (County) has sponsored numerous studies to identify locations and strategies to improve pedestrian mobility in the community of Spring Valley. These studies include the Department of Public Works (DPW)’s Pedestrian Gap Analysis, Local Road Safety Plan, and the Spring Valley La Presa Pedestrian Area Plan. DPW also solicits input from the Spring Valley community and stakeholders to understand mobility priorities for local residents. This project began in response to a community recommendation in 2020 to address a pedestrian gap in front of this high-density residential block. The County’s application for federal project funding was not successful, but local funds were allocated to complete the project design. In Fall 2025, construction funding was secured, allowing the project to advance toward full completion. The Presioca Street Sidewalk Project is a top project for the Spring Valley Community Planning Group in its 2025 Capital Improvement Program priority list.
Jamacha Road is a main thoroughfare for accessibility along the heart of Spring Valley, and provides access to major commercial, recreational, and educational community resources. While Jamacha Road provides pedestrian facilities in the project area, adjoining streets have inconsistent connectivity. Presioca Street is a key intersecting street with Jamacha Road, and the Presioca Sidewalk Project would provide approximately 400 feet of new curb, gutter, and sidewalk along a section of Presioca Street between Birch Street and Jamacha Road. These improvements will fill a critical gap in pedestrian and accessibility connectivity for the public in an area surrounded with high-density housing, businesses, recreation, schools, and transit stops. The project will meet the standards for Americans with Disability Act (ADA) accessible facilities, including pedestrian curb ramps and full-width concrete sidewalk. This new section will connect to existing sidewalk on both ends of the project to provide continuous and active pedestrian access to community resources for the public. These improvements directly support the County’s Climate Action Plan by increasing active transportation solutions with new ADA ramps and sidewalk.
This is a request for the Board of Supervisors (Board) to approve the advertisement and subsequent award of a construction contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Project. Upon Board approval, the Department of Purchasing and Contracting will advertise and subsequently award a contract for construction. Construction is scheduled to begin Summer 2026 and be completed in Fall 2026. The total estimated project cost is $1,250,000, which includes $600,000 for design, environmental review, right-of-way acquisition, and contract administration, and $650,000 for construction, including a 25% contingency for unforeseen conditions. The funding source is Fiscal Year 2020-21 available prior year General Fund fund balance ($450,000) and bond proceeds ($800,000).
Prior to the start of construction, DPW will provide notifications such as mailers, door hanger notices, social media postings, and signage that describe the nature and expected duration of the construction activities. The notifications will be provided in English and Spanish, which are the primary languages spoken in these communities, and we will provide access to the project information in other threshold languages as needed by members of the public. Project information will also be available through the DPW webpage. The project will be constructed within the public right of way and during construction, traffic control measures such as cones and signage will be in place for temporary traffic detours to limit impacts on the community.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
The project is categorically exempt from CEQA review, pursuant to Section 15301: Existing Facilities, of the state CEQA Guidelines because the project involves the minor alteration of existing public facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The key consideration is whether the activity involves negligible or no expansion of an existing or former
use. The proposed action will provide sidewalk, curb, gutter, and ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps to enhance pedestrian accessibility and safety along existing public roadway segments involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Therefore, the proposed action is not subject to CEQA review.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions to approve the advertisement and subsequent award of a construction contract for the Presioca Street Sidewalk Project supports the sustainability, Community, and Equity Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2026-2031 Strategic Plan by providing infrastructure to improve the economy, quality of life, and economic opportunity for all residents and to invest in communities that have too often been left behind.
Respectfully submitted,
DAHVIA LYNCH
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT
A. Vicinity Map