Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in San Luis public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
12 issues in water utilities
Cellular service gaps in east San Luis
A family's scare when a teenager's phone signal stuck at one location during a park visit highlighted poor cell reception in the east side of town, where new housing keeps growing. The resident asked the city to proactively push carriers for better coverage as a necessity, not a luxury.
Cesar Chavez Boulevard water and sewer connection planning
The city pre-planned where future water and sewer hookups go along the rebuilt Cesar Chavez Boulevard so developers building on vacant parcels — mostly state land — won't have to cut into the new road. Council debated whether to charge developers for the infrastructure or use it as a business incentive.
Well Site #4 water storage tank rehabilitation
The city's Well Site #3 tank at Sixth Avenue and B Street needs rehabilitation — the tank, hydropneumatic tanks and piping were flagged in a 2023 inspection. A $65,940 design contract with Kimley Horn gets the project bid-ready by fiscal year end.
West Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion
The city is upgrading sewer capacity in phases; this contract replaces roughly 2,800 feet of force main from Lift Station 300 to the treatment plant. Council members noted sharply rising construction costs.
Backup generator at San Luis High School lift station
A new backup generator keeps sewage flowing at the high school lift station during power outages. Low bid came in at $109,645.90.
US 95 water and sewer main design
The council hired Core Engineering for $93,558 to design about 1.5 miles of water and sewer mains along US 95 — the next step in a $1.2 million federal grant project with local match, supporting growth along the highway corridor.
East Wastewater Treatment Plant CMU wall
Money earmarked for a slow-arriving generator was shifted to build the treatment plant wall, doing the work in-house for about $65,000 instead of the $118,800 low bid.
Well Site #3 water storage tank rehabilitation
The city's water tank gets sandblasted, recoated and recertified for $640,046 — part of a 10-15 year recoating cycle for all steel tanks. Well Site 4 is next in next year's budget.
Irrigation fees on homes without irrigation access
A resident reported homes on Morrell Avenue being billed thousands by the Yuma Water Association for canal water they can't use — bills reaching about $5,000. The council took no action but the issue was aired.
Water system improvements
The city needs a permanent easement across land it doesn't own near the detention facility to build a water line loop at Avenue D and County 23.5. The connection makes the water system more redundant and reliable for residents.
Water and wastewater master plans
The city has no master plan for either system; Engineering asked $50,000 each to start a wastewater and water master plan, splitting the work across two fiscal years to guide growth and secure the 100-year assured water supply designation.
Well Site #6 booster pump expansion — east side water capacity
The east side of San Luis is at water pumping capacity. The Kimley Horn design contract moves forward a booster pump station expansion planned since a 2016 study, with construction expected in fiscal 2027.