Loomis faces unexpected costs for Sierra College Boulevard project

The Loomis Town Council gave final approval Tuesday for the $1.6-million Sierra College Boulevard widening project, along with an additional $400,000 to pay for unexpected environmental costs. As part of the Costco development, Loomis must widen Sierra College Boulevard to six lanes from Brace Road to Taylor Road with sidewalks and bicycle lanes. Loomis Town Council gave final approval Tuesday to project plans and authorized construction bid advertisement. Construction professionals told Loomis officials there could be a six- to nine-month delay to deliver traffic signal poles and related signal equipment. Along with the likelihood that nesting birds will be found along the way, also delaying work, the project is set in three phases, according to the staff report. The second phase will widen the road and install temporary traffic signals if necessary. If all goes as scheduled, Costco is expected to open for business in early fall, said Loomis Town Manager Sean Rabe. The town of Loomis also approved up to an additional $400,000 to pay for unanticipated wetland and wildlife mitigation around the project. Because the unexpected costs were not in the budget, the town will use the General Fund transportation reserves to cover it, ranging from $150,000 to $395,000, staff said. The additional costs will depend upon if seasonal wetland and vernal pool "credits" from "mitigation banks" can be substituted for riparian and streambed credits, according to officials. If the town can't do that and is required to pay into an in-lieu fund, it's the most expensive option at $395,000, according to the staff report. "I was wondering why this was not anticipated," asked Loomis resident Pam Blake. Said Loomis town engineer Merrill Buck, "We missed it." News of costly permits, which are required by the Army Corps of Engineers, state Water Quality Control Board and California Department of Fish and Wildlife, emerged recently during the ongoing, complicated, environmental review, according to Buck. New faces In other business, the town welcomed a new traffic enforcement enforcement officer and Planning Commission replacement. Rabe also announced the new Loomis code enforcement officer is James Jonte, who will work two days a week. The new traffic officer, Deputy Jeff Bilodeau, has been with the Placer County Sheriff's Office for five years with 24 years in law enforcement. "Mainly having to do with traffic enforcement," Bilodeau said. Meanwhile, Loomis Mayor Danny Cartwright appointed eight-year Loomis resident Nathan "Nate" Dipillo to the Loomis Planning Commission. Cartwright's first choice last month, John C. Bailey Jr., declined the seat. Dipillo is an appointee to the California Governor's Office, working specifically in the State Threat Assessment Center. The father of two young girls earned a master's degree in domestic security management after 12 years in the California National Guard. "I love this town!" Dipillo said Tuesday, introducing himself to the Town Council. "This is one of the best communities I've ever lived in."