Not too long ago, the Ripon City Council helped pave the way for plans to move forward with the Park View Elementary Safe Route to School Project.

Included was the hiring of T&S West, Inc. as the contractor for building the safe, convenient and fun route for children to walk or bicycle to and from school – the goal for Safe Routes to School is promoting health and fitness by getting more children to enjoy the outdoors in a safe environment.

In order to continue as planned, elected leaders will hold a special session at 12:30 p.m. today in the Council Chambers, 259 N. Wilma Ave.

They’ll look to entering into an Encroachment Agreement with the South San Joaquin Irrigation District to permit the installation of City facilities within the SSJID easements.

“Prior to starting work within an SSJID easement and in addition to the contractor obtaining an encroachment permit, the City, as the project owner, is required by SSJID to enter into an encroachment agreement for the facilities,” Engineering Supervisor James Pease said in his report.

Under the original schedule from T&S West, he noted that staff was anticipating on bringing this matter before Council members at next month’s meeting for consideration.

But the earlier-than-usual delivery of materials accelerated the contractor’s schedule.

The encroachment agreement with the City and SSJID is suddenly necessary to avoid any delays not to mention remobilization costs.

The encroachment permit from SSJID would enable the contractor to work uninterrupted above the SSJID pipeline at the West Santos Avenue crossing – between Calhoun Avenue and Viggio Place – while maintaining one-foot clearance. The other encroachment is located at Fulton Avenue (northwest of Park View Elementary School) past Cindy Drive and near the West Santos Avenue roundabout.

For more information, log on to www.cityofripon.org.