Ukiah reports paving, rail‑trail work, Perkins and Clay/Leslie grants; closes on Carousel 1 corporation yard

Ukiah’s public‑works team told the City Council July 2 that East Gobi Street paving is complete, rail‑trail phase 4 and associated concrete and wall work are underway, and the city has secured multiple grants to advance streetscape, bike and safe‑routes projects.

The update is significant because it describes projects that will reshape downtown circulation, add bike lanes and sidewalks near schools, and advance long‑term planning for Perkins Street improvements that the city hopes will win future construction funding.

Public works staff reported East Gobi paving was finished the prior week and that striping and bike lanes will be installed when the asphalt is allowed to settle. Rail Trail phase 4 crews are excavating the structural sections, pouring concrete for stairways and retaining walls and working toward project deadlines. Staff said the city applied for and received multiple grants: a construction grant supporting the Leslie and Clay Street project (project cost estimate referenced as $5.8 million, with a grant award component cited by staff as $2.4 million), a grant under the Active Transportation Program (ATP) process after a prior ATP application was not funded, and a Sustainable Transportation grant for Perkins Street planning and potential future construction.

Public works staff asked for community engagement around Perkins Street because design and Caltrans permitting will require extended public outreach, and they said the Perkins effort will include circulation concepts such as roundabouts and safety features.

City staff also reported the city has closed on the Carousel 1 property that will serve as an expanded corporation yard. Deputy city manager Riley and other staff led negotiations on the acquisition; staff said existing tenants at the site will continue as tenants for now and that the purchase was financed in part through bonds the council previously authorized. City officials said work is needed to ready portions of the building for city operations and that the corporation yard relocation is intended to free airport‑adjacent land for aviation‑support uses.

Council members and staff clarified the Leslie/Clay figure referenced by staff: a project total estimate mentioned during the presentation included the local match component, but the specific grant award portion was stated in the meeting as $2.4 million. Staff also credited the grants and engineering teams for securing the awards.

These items were presented as informational reports; the council did not take construction or funding approvals on these specific items at this meeting beyond prior authorizations to use bonds for capital projects and routine project management actions.