City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: October 17, 2022
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Activity Report
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From the period September 14, 2022, through October 10, 2022 (reporting 27 days) the city issued 10 permits from the Building Division for two ADUs, reroofing, electrical associated with solar roof projects, and a new sign permit for Alta Market. The estimated valuation of all improvements was $235,084.
BUSINESS LICENSES
The City presently has issued licenses for 253 business conducting business 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 several 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
5 • 324 Tenth Street. This property has been purchased by a local realtor who is planning to make comprehensive improvements to the property. Very encouraging. • Potential unpermitted activities at the City’s 5th Street water tower with cell companies adjusting or changing antennas without electrical permits. While this has not been verified as to what new work may have been done, the City has changed locks to have companies be more accountable when they are gaining access to and working on City property. Parked rigs have restricted City employee entrance to the property on occasion.
POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL PROJECTS
Mann Packing has expressed a desire to 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).
Staff has fielded a call or two regarding the HC Heavy Commercial property on the corner of Fifth and Fanoe Road. There appears to be an interest to develop a moderate sized hotel with provisions (potentially half of the units) to allow worker housing during the high ag seasons. Such a facility could serve tourists and visitors, as well as worker housing.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Helping restart the City of Gonzales Chamber of Commerce. Taven and Maria Orozco have met on occasion 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 $100k 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 area to serve the Specific Plan in the City limits once incorporated. The City’s coming Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance and recently adopted VMT Vehicle Miles Travelled Policy will have a bearing on this project.
b. PDMSP. The Rianda Cooler project proposal will reshape the PDMSP once more is known and certain about how the Rianda Cooler moves through city development review and LAFCo processes.
c. Rianda Family Trust (Rianda Cooler). The environmental scope was approved at the Council’s October 3, 2022 meeting with approval of the consultant agreement. Staff and the consultant are laying out a chart of the processes and timelines for completing the project. Community Development staff has started an initials draft staff report for tracking the project through Planning Commission, City Council and LAFCo.
Housing Element Preparation.
While the Council authorized Harris and Associates to begin work within a $65,000 contract and constrained City budget, staff has learned that the City of Soledad was able to bring a Housing Element consultant online (Wednesday October 5, 2022) for less than half of what was thought to be our only (expensive) opportunity to get going. Staff has since taken the initiative to re-cast a second RFP solicitation among a wider view subscribed job board and distribution. Presently, there appears to be interest among about 5 firms, including the firm who bid on and secured the contract with Soledad. This is a developing story.
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 need to engage multiple strategies to close the funding gap.
Agricultural Mitigation Ordinance. (Also a requirement of the 2014 MOU 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 issues that have come to light regarding the timing of agricultural mitigation, the ratio of mitigation, and how easements are appraised and secured. The Agricultural Land Trust 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 engaged with workshops and the community. Additionally, staff met via Zoom with Landwatch Monterey County on Monday October 10, 2022 to keep them aware of our developing ordinance.
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.
Meeting of October 10, 2022 – The Planning Commission will be conducting a workshop and practice of parliamentary procedures / Roberts Rules of Order.
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. Electric Vehicle Charging Ordinance / Policy
c. Water Efficiency Landscaping Ordinance (update to the 2015 effort) d. Updated adoption of the new Building Code to take effect January 2023 e. Administrative Citation /Code Enforcement Ordinance strengthening, (and collaborating 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.