Bids Open For Verdugo Street Beautification Project

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — It's been a long time coming, but beautification efforts will be underway as soon as bids for the process are turned in. At the recent city council meeting, members voted 4 to 0, with one recused, to approve the project and open the proposal plan.

The project will include sidewalks with planters and pots for trees, maintaining adequate pedestrian walking space, which was up for much discussion during the session.

The improvements will include:

• Reduction of the overall roadway width
• Widening of the sidewalks in addition to the rolled curbs
• New bulb-outs at the intersection of Verdugo Street and Camino Capistrano
• Installation of colored concrete and decorative pavers.
• Modifications to existing storm drain catch basins
• New landscaping and irrigation
• Enhanced lighting and public seting
• Installation of ADA ramps

Trees planted in large and small pots were discussed at length by both the council and the public, present. Kathy Hobstetter, a resident, calling the planned pots "horrendous" and noting that they are "big" and would take up "a lot of pedestrian room."

The construction of the project would begin in September, ideally, and be completed by March of 2020, in advance of the summer season, the Capistrano Dispatch reported.

According to the council, there has been $153 million reserved for the budget, though thus far estimates for the rebuild range in the $188 range. Council will reallocate the shortfall in the budget from the Citywide Sign Replacement Program and the Systems Development Tax Fund, they decided.

Council member John Taylor recused himself from the vote, citing the Fair and Political Practices Commission Rule.