Is Elk Grove's zoo financing detrimental to citizens, neighborhoods? Increased flood risk?

Every California municipality is required to produce a balanced budget annually. While the general fund budget, where items like law enforcement are funded, is the most visible, for most cities, the largest portion of the budget is attached to capital improvement projects (CIP). 

Elk Grove is no exception. 

For the current fiscal year 2025, which started on July 1, 2024, the general fund revenue is $104 million, while the total budget is $374 million. About 41 percent of the $374 million total budget is dedicated to capital improvement projects. 

These projects are typically planned out over a longer horizon than the annual general fund budgets. One such project, which has been planned for years, is now being re-calibrated and scaled back. 

That project is for drainage and flood protection in old Elk Grove - the portion of the city east of Highway 99. The Bond Road Storm Drain Project has been planned since 2011.

According to correspondence to the city of Elk Grove from one of their consultants, West Yost, the City's 2011 Drainage Master Plan, which identified this area as deficient, requiring the current Bond Road Storm water pipe to be up-sized to accommodate more storm runoff. 

That study was part of the 2011 Storm Drainage Plan and was conducted by West Yost. Subsequently, Elk Grove hired Dokken Engineering to conduct a revised study. 

The study area includes the Elliot Springs subdivision, located on the northwest corner of Bond and Waterman roads. A 12-acre portion of that development cannot be developed until this issue is resolved. 

Additionally, the approved EIR to the Elliott Springs subdivision states, "The existing Bond Road drainage system has deficiencies that require mitigation. Impacts to the Bond Road trunk pipe are potentially significant." 

The new Dokken study claims current drainage systems are adequate, requiring no improvements or upsizing. Under the currently approved plan, when that 12-acre site is developed into single-family units, the developer will be required to pay a portion to upsize the Bond Road trunkline drainage system. The upsizing would be necessary before building permits are issued. 

Not surprisingly, Dokken Engineering's findings were different from those of the West Yost study. Specifically, Dokken Engineering's report to the city said the current "Bond Road storm drainage system meets the City's Storm Drainage Master Plan performance criteria; therefore, mitigation is not necessary, and no offsite drainage improvements are required to support the Elliott Springs Development." 

It is not clear why the city's public works department decided to spend the money to reexamine the project other than to detour funds to other high-priority projects of Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen, such as the planned $300 million first phase of the Sacramento Zoo construction project. 

In 2011, the Bond Road Upsizing project was estimated to cost $4.3 - $6 million. Residents in the area have expressed concern that abandoning the project will make their neighborhoods more vulnerable to flood events. 

The area of Bond Road between Waterman and Elk Grove-Florin roads has a noticeable depression that is amenable to flooding if there is an undersized drainage trunkline. Many of the streets in neighboring Quail Ranch Estates and in Fallbrook currently flood with moderate but steady rain. Upsizing the trunkline could alleviate this condition. 

The city has reportedly promised to conduct a workshop during the week of February 17 to discuss the possible elimination of the upsizing project from the city's CIP.