City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: September 19, 2022
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Activity Report - August 2022
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From the period August 9, 2022 through September 13, 2022 (Reporting 35 days) the City issued 8 permits from the Building Division for a 600 square foot detached ADU, plumbing, reroofing, electrical associated with solar roof projects, and a water heater replacement. The estimated valuation of all improvements was $166,194.00.
BUSINESS LICENSES
The City presently has issued licenses for 253 business conducting activities in the City of Gonzales. These licenses represent our long-standing agricultural businesses, downtown business, commercial district businesses, home occupation businesses, as well as consultants and other contractors who have jobs to do within the City.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The City presently has three active Code Enforcement cases and others calls that we field responses to that do not rise to official “cases.” These cases involve rubbish in yards that need to be removed and the City’s perennial problem with vehicles parked on residential lawns and RVs not regularly moved, or RVs being connected to house utilities while in driveways and streets.
AGENDA
ITEM
9 A long standing issue for the City has involved the abandoned residence at 324 Tenth Street.
This property has been purchased by a local realtor who is planning on making comprehensive improvements to the property and has met with our new Building Official, Jose Martinez, and Development Services Technician, Alejandra Flores to become versed on plans that need to be submitted for repairs or replacement. Very encouraging.
POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
Mann Packing has expressed a desire to roughly double the size of their Gonzales facility.
Their architect is advancing designs and site plans. The city is open to facilitate conversations and cooperation and having the development review processes be smooth and understandable. Mann Packing has expressed an interest in entering into a Reimbursement Agreement with the City, once their legal team has reviewed our standard city language in such agreements. The City will be ready to move on this once it is ready.
The potential 18-room hotel at 34 & 51 Fourth Street. Use Permit approved, January 2022.
The property owner and architect are non-responsive. (New call left on message 09/13/2022).
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Helping restart the City of Gonzales Chamber of Commerce with Maria Orozco. Taven and Maria have met on several occasions to discuss the foundation and structure of a new chamber, membership outreach, and other items. Taven has offered a regular once-a-month meeting with Maria to demonstrate that the city is at the table and ready to assist with outreach or other efforts for our local business community.
Business Loans. Recently the City Loan Committee issued a $100,000 loan to Ramsey Highlander Incorporated for working capital, machinery, equipment and inventory. This is a low interest loan with a 15 year term. The City has another $100,000 to loan in the community, as other businesses that previously received city loans have been making payments on earlier loans.
GENERAL PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Sphere of Influence Area
1. City staff continues to work with Pembrook Development Group (Vista Lucia Specific Plan) and Jackson Family Investments (Puente Del Monte Specific Plan) and the Rianda Family Trust on developments in the City’s Sphere of Influence. a. VLSP recently submitted a WSA Water Supply Assessment for City review and comment. Additional conversations are presently underway with the County of Monterey regarding Associated Lane to be improved in the County’s jurisdiction to serve the specific plan area in the City limits once incorporated. The City’s coming Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance and VMT Vehicle Miles Travelled Policy will have a bearing on this project.
b. PDMSP. Recent conversations with the developer indicate that the Rianda Cooler project proposal has to be considered in reshaping or modifying the PDMSP once more is known an certain about how the Rianda Cooler moves through city development review and LAFCo processes.
c. Rianda Family Trust (Rianda Cooler). The Cooler team recently completed their project description by clarifying the land use and zoning map changes needed to enable the development of an industrial cooler at this location adjacent to the City of Gonzales. Additionally, the City is preparing an RFP for continued environmental services for the project and will be back at City Council with a consultant recommendation in October.
Housing Element Preparation.
We are underway with Harris and Associates for $65,000 worth of effort towards the $460,000 Housing Element update and will soon have a kick-off meeting and plan our strategy for strong community engagement.
Housing Element Funding.
Staff was directed to uncover all potential financial resources, whether administered by AMBAG, the state or at the federal level. The City Council is aware of the funding shortfall and will likely need to engage multiple strategies to close the funding gap before the consultant runs out of the first phase monies.
Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance. (A requirement of the 2014 MOA with County) On August 29, 2022, the Gonzales Agricultural Committee met to discuss the City’s previous efforts to craft an Ag Mitigation Program. Staff and the Committee are addressing several issues that have come to light regarding the timing of agricultural mitigation, the ratio of mitigation, and how easements are appraised and secured. The ALT or Agricultural Land Trust (of Monterey County) has written a strong response and rebuff to the City’s plan (as it was formerly written in March of 2021) and has expressed a strong willingness to work with the City now to develop an ordinance that meets the test of environmental law as well as practicality. We are also reminded that the County of Monterey (party to our 2014 MOA) is also refining/updating their agricultural mitigation ordinances and is also engaged with workshops and the community. The two Ordinances will need to be complementary and not counter to each other. When “City” agricultural lands are to be developed, the “mitigation lands” will be in the County.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTIVITY
Meeting of September 12, 2022 – Action on VMT Policy, Recommendation coming to City Council for October 3, 2022 after public notice.
The Commission also recommends that the City Council consider engaging an update to the City’s parking ordinances City-wide.
OTHER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES
Anticipated Ordinances and Policies that are needed and are being worked into the department’s work program:
a. Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance
b. Vehicle Miles Travelled Policy
c. Electric Vehicle Charging Ordinance / Policy
d. Water Efficiency Landscaping Ordinance (update to the 2015 effort) e. Updated adoption of the new Building Code to take effect January 2023 f. Administrative Citation /Code Enforcement Ordinance strengthening, (and working with Police Division)
DR Horton continues in their due diligence and exploration of development of the 178 acre D’Arrigo Property in the city limits.