STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
November 18, 2025
STUDY SESSION
1 SUBJECT: DOWNTOWN STREETSCAPE VISION PLAN STUDY SESSION: CONCEPTUAL
PLAN DISCISSION
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Receive a presentation from the SWA Group on the Downtown Streetscape Vision conceptual plan;
2. Provide feedback and direction to staff regarding the proposed plan; and
3. Find that this action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
Staff prepared this presentation in response to City Council direction from June 10, 2025, when the Council directed staff to prepare a design study evaluating potential sidewalk expansion opportunities under Assembly Bill 413. Assembly Bill 413, enacted in October 2023 and effective January 1, 2025, requires a 20 foot no parking zone at the approach side of any marked or unmarked crosswalk, or 15 feet when a curb extension exists.
This report accompanies a study session presentation from the SWA Group on the Downtown Streetscape Vision conceptual plan (Attachment 1). The session will review key design concepts and obtain City Council input to guide refinement of the plan, which focuses on improving safety, pedestrian access, and public space activation within the downtown. AB 413 creates new opportunities to convert newly restricted parking zones into expanded sidewalk areas that improve visibility, increase pedestrian comfort, and create space for landscaping, seating, outdoor dining, and community activity.
SWA’s conceptual plan identifies potential bulb out and curb extension locations that could serve as long term replacements for temporary parklets and support a more cohesive approach to outdoor dining and streetscape design. Each location will require further engineering review for drainage, sight visibility, and circulation. Any improvement within Caltrans right of way will require coordination, approval, and a maintenance agreement with Caltrans.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), as it constitutes general administrative activity that does not commit the City to a specific project or result in a physical change to the environment.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Presentation – Downtown Streetscape Vision Plan (SWA Group) Downtown Streetscape Vision Plan Study Session: Conceptual Plan Discussion November 18, 2025
Submitted By:
.
Approved: .David A Kiff
Jeremy Frimond, Assistant City
Manager
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Louie Lacasella, Senior Management Analyst Thomas Perez, City Engineer