City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: September 16, 2024
FROM: Taven Kinison Brown, Community Development Director THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Community Development Department Activity Report - August 2024
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Freeway Sign. On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, the Planning Commission reviewed and approved the Use Permit for the Freeway Oriented Electronic Reader Board, now approved for placement on the City’s 6-acre parcel adjacent to Highway 101, in the visual landscape of the Constellation Winery and the backdrop of the valley and Santa Lucia mountain range. (The Lease Agreement will be going to the City Council for approval shortly).
Monterey County Business Council, South County Round Table.
Staff continues to meet and collaborate once a month with our fellow cities of the Salinas Valley to seek opportunities to expand and support commercial services and industries and to further the creation of new housing. Presently, the group is reviewing a draft market study prepared by Kosmont Group and determining best strategies for our individual cities and the population of the Salinas Valley as a collective power to enhance and strengthen our retail and service sectors.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) (Urban County Entitlement). (See the staff report under separate cover this evening.) In 2025, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will consider adopting a new Consolidated Plan for the Urban County. The City of Gonzales has been invited to work with the County on drafting the Consolidated Plan and developing a funding allocation plan. The City of Gonzales is opting to continue with the County as a Participating Jurisdiction (PD) and CDBG Urban County. Over AGENDA
ITEM
11 the next 3 years the County expects to divide $6 million in CDBG funding and $3 million in HOME funding between the City and County.
HOUSING
Vista Lucia Specific Plan. Getting closer to the finish line on City review and coming project consideration by the City Planning Commission and City Council, staff is meeting and conferring daily on the last two remaining project documents: the Affordable Housing Agreement (AHA) and the Development Agreement (DA).
City staff met with the Pembrook Development Group on Wednesday September 5, 2024, to advance the Affordable Housing Agreement. Additional information is being exchanged and another draft will be presented in a group exercise to assure that the document represents the best interests of the City, Pembrook and the community. Additional meetings are scheduled for September. Staff hopes to share a calendar soon that will include a joint PC/CC Workshop, a Planning Commission public hearing and then the City Council public hearing. Following City Council action, the LAFCo application will be made.
A copy of the Vista Lucia Specific Plan EIR is available on the City of Gonzales website (https://gonzalesca.gov/services/community-development/development-activity-projects) under the Vista Lucia Project section.
Outreach. The City continues to add names and groups such as the Gonzales Rotary to the “Interested in Housing” list for our citizens (139 persons as of August 27, 2024). People on the list will be included in new meeting notifications and other outreach efforts regarding new housing in the City. People on the list will be notified of the coming Vista Lucia Specific Plan PC/CC workshop, Planning Commission public hearing and City Council public hearing. And when the LAFCo Commission brings the City’s Annexation proposal to public hearing, we will draw from the outreach list once again to invite public participation in these matters.
Housing Element. The City is responding to questions from HCD Housing and Community Development upon our first draft submittal. In late July, the City was presented with added resources to complete this task by offering and paying for new consultant efforts to further the 6th Cycle and respond to the State’s first round of comments and requirements of the City.
Senior Housing Proposal on S. Alta. The City has asked for more attention to this project from CHISPA, and we have now received reassurance from the Director that they will be re-engaging the project and have a progress response to us week ending 9/13.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
The City continues to meet with property owners, inspect potential violations and start documentation to progress to remedies. The City is engaging homeowners regarding dead trees that present potential falling and fire hazards, makeshift structures and tarp coverings in back yards that may not meet building and safety codes as well as coordinating with Gonzales PD on nonoperational vehicles stored/sitting on private property.
BUILDING DIVISION ACTIVITY
From August 1, 2024, to August 31, 2024 (31 reporting days), the City issued seven permits from the Building Division for roof repairs, code enforcement demolition and repairs in an apartment, and fire alarm and sprinkler permitting for the Community Center project under construction. The estimated value of all improvements was $165,061.
GENERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY
Potential mini storage and vehicle storage opportunity. The Community Development Department continues to work with an applicant as his proposal takes shape for new commercial/industrial uses on Gonzales River road on the western city edge. The potential here is to provide support for our major agricultural processing giants but will also include mini storage and vehicle storage opportunities for the greater public.
City’s Business License Ordinances. The Economic Development staff is looking into an update to the City’s Business License Ordinances that have not been revisited since 1972 (52 years).