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Hanford, CA – April 3, 2025
By Francisco Ramirez

Hanford city officials are raising concerns over the city’s aging storm drain infrastructure, highlighting a massive funding shortfall and urging action to avoid long-term risks. The issue took center stage during the April 1, 2025 Hanford City Council meeting, where leaders reviewed the city’s draft Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Financial Director Christopher Tavarez reported that Hanford collects only $16,000 per year for stormwater projects, despite an estimated $17.3 million in needs over the next five years. The gap, officials warned, threatens to delay critical upgrades that could help prevent flooding and property damage across the city.

“We’re facing years of deferred maintenance and very limited funding to catch up,” Tavarez told the council. “At this pace, our most critical stormwater needs will remain unfunded.”

Problem Areas Across the City

Several areas were flagged for priority attention, including chronic drainage issues at 8th and Irwin Streets and a problematic under-sidewalk drain system at Bush and Reddington. City leaders also noted stormwater challenges in the China Alley corridor, where utility infrastructure overlaps with other street improvement projects.

Vice Mayor Travis Paden and Councilmember Mark Kairis expressed concern that continued inaction could cost the city more down the line.

“If we don’t act now, we’ll be facing the same issues—only more expensive to fix later,” Paden said.

Proposition 218 on the Horizon

To address the funding crisis, the council discussed initiating a Proposition 218 process—a public vote required to adjust fees or impose new ones. Hanford’s current storm drain fee has remained unchanged for decades and is legally frozen under Prop 218 guidelines.

Mayor Lou Martinez acknowledged the uphill battle but stressed the importance of addressing the issue before a future storm causes avoidable damage.

“It’s not just about today’s needs. As we grow, these systems need to handle more runoff and protect more homes and businesses,” Martinez said.

Mapping the System and Laying the Groundwork

According to Frank Senteno, Hanford’s Director of Engineering, the first steps are already underway. The city is using limited funds to complete inspections, map its underground storm systems, and prepare engineering designs for future construction.

“We’re finally identifying what’s below ground, where our biggest vulnerabilities are, and how to phase the work,” Senteno said. “But even the design work takes seed funding—without it, nothing moves forward.”

The draft CIP includes a placeholder for annual storm drain improvement funding that would allow the city to respond to urgent repairs while larger projects move through planning and design.

Looking Ahead

The council will continue budget deliberations on April 15, with adoption of the final Capital Improvement Plan and city budget scheduled for June 3, 2025. City officials say the storm drain system will remain a top priority—and one that could soon require voter input.