As 2023 comes to a close, I want to share with you many of the wonderful improvements being made by your city government. With a focused City Council and dedicated city staff, positive changes were made in 2023 for our community.
First, we repaired more roads in 2023 than in previous years. Many city roads have been neglected for over thirty years.
Overall, construction of 30,605 feet (5.80 miles) of streets has been completed in 2023 and an additional 18,944 feet (3.59 miles) are in construction and are slated for completion in 2024. Also, 42,230 feet (8.00 miles) of roads are currently in design with construction scheduled for 2024.
The following 17 streets were repaired in 2023: Alaska Street, West Avenue, Sunnyside Drive, S Orange Street, Lander Avenue, Wayside Drive, Fosberg Road, Delbon Avenue, 20thCentury Blvd, Flower Street, N Orange Street, Spruce Street, Locust Street, Mira Flores Drive, Corello Street, Julian Street, Park Street, E Avenue, Carrigan Street.
The following 22 streets are scheduled for 2024: Mission Street, Tokay Avenue, N Quincy Road, El Capitan Drive, Kenneth Drive, El Camino Drive, La Linda Ct, Murphy Drive, Columbia Avenue, Lane Street, S Beech Street, S Laurel Street, Farr Street, Lincoln Avenue, Monroe Avenue, Wolf Avenue, N Thor, N Center Street, Colorado Avenue and South Broadway Avenue.
Also, Geer Road is being analyzed now to determine how and when it will be repaired.
For specifics on the status of our Roads Program:
1. Go to our City of Turlock website at cityofturlock.org
2. Click on the “Streets & Traffic” icon at the bottom of the page
3. Click on the “Roads Program” icon on the new page.
Second, thanks to increased staffing paid for by Measure A, crime is down and fire response times have improved. Your Turlock Police Department is using the latest technology to monitor some parks, downtown businesses, and local traffic for suspicious activity.
Third, our City Manager, Reagan Wilson and his team continue to deliver services efficiently and within budget while meeting the needs of Turlock residents, businesses, and visitors. The City Manager along with the outstanding fiscal leadership of Finance Director Isaac Moreno and the hard work of his staff, have kept the City of Turlock not only operating with a balanced budget but also increasing the City’s budget reserves. Those reserves are important to help us soundly navigate the next economic downturn.
Fourth, along with the City of Ceres, we opened the new Stanislaus Regional Water Authority, surface water treatment plant, which will provide over 15 million gallons of water to Turlock and Ceres residents daily. This plant diversifies our drinking water sources and secures our long-term water supply future.
Fifth, the revamped Columbia Pool and Montana Park are scheduled to open this summer. Thanks to the support from our state/ county elected officials, the facilities will be opened in a state-of-the-art fashion, emphasizing meeting the needs of our residents with physical challenges.
Sixth, our local economy is doing well, led by the Monte Vista Crossings shopping complex along Highway 99. Remarkably, Monte Vista Crossings is ranked as the fifth most successful retail “power center” in California and ranks number nine in the United States.
Finally, we are the only city in California where any older Turlock resident caring for a loved one at home can access respite care or homemaker services care without a fee. We renewed the pilot program and hope to prove to county and state governments that such a program is worth their investment to help keep older persons out of hospitals and nursing homes by modestly assisting their care givers at home.
None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support of our residents.
Thank you so much for allowing me to serve as your mayor for a second term. In 2024, I expect more exciting accomplishments, and I always welcome your input and comments on how we improve Turlock. Email me at abublak@turlock.ca.us.
On behalf of my City Council colleagues and City staff, I'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas, a very happy and blessed holiday season, and the best for the New Year.
