Date: May 30, 2024
To: Dustin Claussen, Interim City Manager
From: Paul Nguyen, Chief Economic Development Officer
Re: Downtown Action Plan Working Group
On January 20, 2024, a referral was made by Council Member Andrews and Council Member Roche for staff to create a task force to evaluate and address downtown and Foothill Blvd. The referral directed staff to enhance physical improvements, provide support to businesses, and resources to those experiencing homelessness. The main goal of the task force is to deliver physical improvements that are easily implementable within 100 to 200 days.
The task force is comprised of representatives from the following departments: City Manager’s Office, Hayward Police Department, Public Works, Maintenance Services Department, Development Services Department, Library Services, and the Downtown Hayward Improvement Association (DHIA).
Based on the referral from Council, staff conducted a walking tour of downtown and held group discussions on how to improve its physical appearance. The table below includes each department, the projects each department will deliver, and the estimated timeline of each project.
Table 1: Downtown Action Plan Projects At-A-Glance
Department Project Estimated Timeline
City Manager's
Office 1. Business Resource Guide 60 days
2. Hashtag Hayward Grant Program ongoing
3. Library Café Marketing Materials ongoing
4. Postcard for Delivery Drivers 60 days
Hayward
Police
Department
1. Beat Officer Introductions to Business Owners/Managers (maps w/ contact information distributed to staff) In progress/ongoing
2. Communication Center to Create Calls for Service for Security Checks In progress/ongoing
3. Combined District Command/Downtown Business Meetings: (rotating location – date/time TBD) In progress/May 2024
4. Traffic Unit Regular Checks/Enforcement Downtown In progress/ongoing
5. Pedestrian/Grant Enforcement Operations In progress/ongoing
6. Speed Trailer Placed Downtown 1 to 3 months
7. BACS Referrals for Those Seeking Services In progress/ongoing
8. Downtown Checks with District Operation Officers and LINK In progress/ongoing
9. Shareable Database for Contacts with Unhoused in Downtown In progress/May 2024 Public Works 1. Redesign Decorative and High-Visibility Crosswalks 60 days
2. Reduce Speed Limits in Eligible Business Activity Districts 60 days
3. Painted Bulb-outs and On-Street Parking on Mission Blvd 100 days
4. Short-term Loading and Valet Parking Coordination 60 days Maintenance
Services
Department 1. Pressure Washing 60 days/ongoing
2. Muni Lot Clean-Up 60 days/ongoing
3. Piano Crosswalk Installation & Short-term Loading @ Foothill & B St. 100 days
4. Curb-Side Planter Box (assisting DHIA w/installation & maintenance) (DHIA timeline)
5. Decorative Lighting to Heritage Plaza 60 days
6. Library Café Repairs/Cleaning 60 days
Development
Services
Department 1. Business Signage Restoration Project 100 days
2. Expedited Commercial Graffiti Abatement and Partnership Program:
(zero penalties and reduced abatement cost -99% paint match) 100 days
3. Enhanced Code Enforcement Efforts 100 days
Library 1. Activate Heritage Plaza ongoing
2. Library Café Tenant ongoing
Downtown
Hayward
Improvement
Association 1. Hanging Flower Baskets
May 2024
2. Artist All-call for Big Belly Garbage Cans 30 days
3. Concrete Cast Planters with Flowers/Plants Placed at Strategic Corners 100 days
4. Updates to street banners 100 days
Each department provided a short description of each project below:
CITY MANAGERS OFFICE - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
1. Business Resource Guide: The business resource guide is an at-a-glance tool for our business owners that will provide contact information for local resources and support services. Examples include Access Hayward, Hayward Police Department, various City Departments, resources for those experiencing homelessness, and the Small Business Development Center.
2. Hashtag Hayward Grant Program: To assist our business community with harnessing the power of customers and social media. The city created a new grant program in which businesses can use dollars to create those “moments” customers will post about. The grant dollars can be used for the installation of items that will encourage customers to snap, tag, and post their pictures. Some examples of improvements could be interactive murals, interactive sculptures, new window lighting, front façade murals or graphic paint, corner buildings District identity, A-Frame or blade signs, new seating, and way finding.
3. Library Café Marketing Materials: In partnership with the Library, Economic Development will produce the marketing materials and help promote the vacant space.
4. Postcard for Delivery Drivers: Double parking on B St and illegal parking in the alleyway between Rockit Char Grill and former Charlotte’s disrupts traffic flow. In partnership with Public Works, Economic Development will produce a postcard for businesses near the movie theater. Businesses can attach the postcard to delivery orders to inform drivers of parking enforcement from HPD and upcoming PW improvements to designate short-term loading areas for passengers and delivery services.
HAYWARD POLICE DEPARTMENT
1. Beat Officer Introductions to Business Owners/Managers: The officers assigned to the (Boy beat) downtown and surrounding neighborhoods will go into businesses and introduce themselves so the business owners and/or managers will be more comfortable reaching out to the police. The businesses will also be provided with informational sheets on who to contact depending on the issue/concern.
2. Communication Center to Create Calls for Service for Security Check: The police communications center will create a call for service every 2 hours with a specific address downtown for a security check. Officers will respond to the created call for service in order of priority and get out of his/her vehicle and check on the security of the business. If the business is open the officer will be expected to go inside and contact staff. If the business is closed, they will check the perimeter of the business and ensure it is secure.
3. Combined District Command/Downtown Business Meetings: Once a month District Operations will coordinate with a different business or multiple businesses to have a meeting to discuss concerns and build relationships. The meetings will be held at different downtown businesses, or the North Resource Center located on the corner of Main St and C St.
4. Traffic Unit Regular Checks/Enforcement Downtown: Traffic officers will pass through downtown on a regular basis to deter speeding and other traffic related violations. Traffic officers will enforce violations as appropriate.
5. Pedestrian/Grant Enforcement Operations: Once a month the traffic unit will conduct grant funded enforcement downtown. The grant enforcement usually consists of a minimum of two officers focusing on a specific traffic concern, such as pedestrian violations.
6. Speed Trailer Placed Downtown: Place a speed trailer in rotating locations downtown to deter speeding.
7. Bay Area Community Services (BACS) Referrals for Those Seeking Services: The Case Management & Mental Health Linkages Team (LINK) will continue to conduct outreach to the unhoused population and make referrals to BACS for those seeking services.
8. Downtown Checks with District Operations Officers and LINK: District Operation Officers will work with LINK to check areas throughout downtown for unhoused community members and offer services. When services are refused District Operations will work with LINK on alternative options.
9. Shareable Database for Contacts with Unhoused in Downtown: District Operations and LINK will create a shareable document with the names, dates, and locations unhoused community members were contacted. The document will also include what services were offered and if they were accepted or refused. This will give staff the ability to see the progress of services that were accepted as well as allow staff to work together on finding alternative options for those refusing services.
PUBLIC WORKS
1. Redesign Decorative and High-Visibility Crosswalks: There are crosswalks decorated with a piano themed in downtown. Over time these decorations have faded. This project would enhance the design and contrast of the crosswalks by painting the “black keys” and refreshing other paint.
Identify other crosswalks that could be upgraded either to decorative or high-visibility patterns.
2. Reduce Speed Limits in Eligible Business Activity Districts: Under AB 43, cities may reduce speed limits beyond typical guidelines where streets meet certain characteristics, including the number of lanes, presence of crosswalks, retail, and dining zoning. This project would reduce speed limits on eligible streets within the downtown area.
3. Painted Bulb-outs and On-street Parking on Mission Blvd: The inclusion of parallel parking on a street and a reduction in travel lanes can enhance safety by discouraging high travel speeds. In addition, bulb-outs at the corners of intersections can enhance visibility and reduce crossing distances, while providing opportunities for beautification and placemaking. This project would remove a travel lane to install painted bulb-outs and provide on-street parking along Mission Blvd.
4. Short-term Loading and Valet Parking Coordination: The Transportation Department will designate additional spaces on Foothill and near B Street to enable improved short-term loading for passengers and delivery services. This will include marking and signing additional areas for short- term loading. The Transportation team will also work with downtown merchants interested in establishing a valet parking system. The City’s role would be to identify locations in municipal lots for cars to be parked and to designate an on-street valet parking drop-off area with signage and curb paint as needed.
MAINTENANCE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
1. Pressure Washing: Maintenance Services Department will perform maintenance by pressure washing both sides of B St. sidewalks between Foothill & Watkins. This work will be performed solely on overtime to minimize any pedestrian slip and falls and maximize productivity.
2. Muni Lot Clean-Up: Maintenance Services Department will be performing general maintenance in Municipal lots #1A, 1B, 2, 3, 4. The scope will entail sign replacement, graffiti abatement, removing illegal dumping and street sweeping of the lots.
3. Piano Crosswalk Installation & Short-term loading @ Foothill & B-St.: Maintenance Services Department will repaint (2) piano crosswalks on Foothill @ B St. This work will include repainting of the existing white key portion white, (new) painting the interior of the keys black and (new) out lining
the perimeter in white or black. MSD will repaint (2) existing continental crosswalks on B St. @ Foothill. Short-term loading will be painted and clearly identified.
4. Curb-Side Planter Box: Assist Downtown Hayward Improvement Association in the placement of multiple planter boxes fronting business, install planting and mulch material.
5. Decorative Lighting to Heritage Plaza: To highlight Heritage Plaza, arboretum, heritage elements, and the children’s garden, decorative lighting will be added to activate the space. In addition, it will adhere to NetZero Policy. LED rope lights will be added to the pergola and wrapped around some of the trees.
6. Library Café Repairs/Cleaning: A deep cleaning and necessary repairs will be performed.
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
1. Business Signage Restoration Project: The sign restoration initiative is dedicated to removing eyesores and hazards caused by dilapidated, abandoned, or non-compliant signs. Our goal is to enhance the vibrancy and safety of commercial areas by revitalizing existing signage.
2. Expedited Commercial Graffiti Abatement and Partnership Program: The100-Day Graffiti Removal Initiative, a code enforcement program designed to swiftly cleanse private properties of unsightly graffiti. Offering expedited services to partnering property owners at reduced cost.
3. Enhanced Code Enforcement Efforts: Code Enforcement is intensifying efforts to tackle debris, uplift exterior building aesthetics, and ensure meticulous maintenance conditions. Our comprehensive approach also includes the improvement of parking areas, landscaping, and the revitalization of vacant buildings.
LIBRARY
1. Activate Heritage Plaza: Engage Heritage Plaza by adding Library programming. Possibly summer activities or pop-up resource fairs.
2. Library Café Tenant: In partnership with Economic Development staff, Library staff will find a suitable tenant to reactivate this vacant space. Economic Development will market the site and connect prospective users to Library staff to complete leasing functions.
DOWNTOWN HAYWARD IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (DHIA)
*Note that DHIA is a public benefit, non-profit corporation focused on supporting and improving the Downtown Hayward community. These projects will require full vendor approval and may fall out of the 100-day timeline. DHIA informed the City this is what they want to accomplish however budget approval, vendor procurement, and contracts will need to occur***
1. Hanging Flower Baskets: There are a number of street light poles along B St. for which the DHIA previously had installed hanging flower baskets, which overtime looked bad and were removed. The DHIA plans to replant and hang new flower baskets to add color and vibrancy to B St.
2. Artist All-call for Big Belly Garbage Cans: There are a number of big belly garbage cans throughout downtown. The big belly cans are designed to allow for art to be incorporated. The DHIA would consider issuing an artist all-call to place some art along the sides of these big belly cans to liven up their appearance and incorporate additional public art in downtown.
3. Concrete Cast Planters with Flowers/Plants Placed at Strategic Corners: The DHIA had installed some wine barrel planters in a few key locations throughout downtown to help liven up the street. However, overtime plants died off and the planter itself became a haven for trash. In an effort to enhance street furniture and the downtown pedestrian experience, the DHIA is exploring a new
concrete cast planter with a narrower opening to plant flowers/plants and place these in numerous locations within the downtown.
4. Updates to Street Banners: The DHIA currently has banners that are hung along B St and have varied seasonally. The DHIA is working on ensuring consistent bracketing for all banners and then creating a rotating banner program to create visual interest.
The impact of the Downtown Action Plan Working Group is to deliver physical improvements with existing budget, staff, and resources. These are short-term improvements with the hope they will help in the long term.
The Working Group agreed to begin all projects on Monday June 3rd, 2024. The Working Group will meet every 30 days after the start date to continue cross-departmental coordination. After 100 days are completed, a progress report memo will be provided to the Mayor and City Council.
Sincerely,
Paul Nguyen
Chief Economic Development Officer