COUNCILREFERRALMEMORANDUM
To: HaywardMayor andCityCouncilFrom: CityCouncil MembersAngelaAndrewsandJulieRocheSubject: Foothill BoulevardActionPlanDate: 1/20/24 Background:Council Member AndrewsandRocherequest approval of thefull Council for thisreferral tobeassignedtostaff topromptlyrevisit theDowntownSpecificPlanandEconomicDevelopment Plan. Wealsowouldliketodirect staff toevaluateaFoothill BoulevardActionPlantoaddresssupport for small businesses, stimulategrowth, andprovidesupport for thoseexperiencinghomelessness.
Foothill Boulevardisamajor gatewayandthoroughfare. TheCouncil hasprioritizedincreasingeconomicdevelopment throughout thecitybypromotingcompletestreets, providingsignageimprovement grants, recoverysupport, eventmanagement andother activitiesbut moreneedstobedone.
Wearerecommendingthefollowingactionstepsfor staff totakeandbringbackafull recommendationtotheCouncil:● Createataskforcetoincludethefollowing:○ EconomicDevelopment Department○ HaywardEvaluationandResponseTeams(HEART)○ MaintenanceDepartment○ PublicWorks○ Codeenforcement○ DowntownHaywardImprovement Association○ Local BusinessOwners○ Retail Consultant● Provideoutreachandresourcesfor thoseexperiencinghomelessness.● Educatebusinessesonbest practicesinsecurity, curbappeal andotheractivitiestostimulatebusinesses.● Providesupport tobusinessesexperiencingvandalismandtheft.● Reviewcirculation, signaling, andtrafficimprovements.● CreatesafepathwaystoincludelightingtobringpedestriansandvisitorsfromBARTandLincolnLanding.
● Landscaping improvements including trees and planters to improve curb appeal and create an attractive street to encourage pedestrian activity. ● Grants for higher visibility signage of local businesses. (Ex. Tin’s T eapot Bistro has received a grant to install public art and it has increased business for this establishment.)
● Consider new branding and create high visibility guides signage of local landmarks.
● Enhance parking delineators to encourage parking on Foothill Boulevard. ● Incentives to attract businesses to come to Foothill Boulevard. ● Work with local community groups to create street events on Foothill Boulevard (Ex: tabling, street art, etc.).
● Install permanent public art including but not limited to murals, statues, interactive art, decorative crosswalks, performances, etc. ● Hiring of community ambassadors to guide visitors and pedestrians to resources and businesses.
● Work with A.C. Transit to provide a shuttle on Mission and Foothill to connect to BART to increase visitors downtown.
We believe adopting the requested resolution is necessary to ensure effective ways to address homeless, vandalism, and support small businesses on Foothill Boulevard. With this model we hope to replicate for other streets throughout the city including but not limited to T ennyson, Mission Boulevard, and other streets.
Timeline: 2nd Quarter of FY24
______________________ ______________________
Angela Andrews Julie Roche
City Council Member City Council Member
References:
https://smartgrowthamerica.org/resources/evaluating-complete-streets-projects-a-guide-for-pract itioners/
https://simonwhite.au/2015/09/18/improving-our-streetscapes-as-an-economic-development-stra tegy/
https://www.pps.org/article/artfunding
https://economicdevelopment.business.ca.gov/