PISMO BEACH COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Agenda Item #12.A
SUBJECT/TITLE:
PROGRESS REPORT ON FISCAL YEAR 2022 & 2023 CITY COUNCIL GOALS
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive a progress report on the City Council’s Fiscal Year 2022 & 2023 Goals.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY/BACKGROUND:
The City of Pismo Beach utilizes a thorough and thoughtful planning process to establish the City’s focus and priorities. This process manifests itself every two years, when the City Council meets to determine goals for the following two-year period (July 1 – June 30 of the following year) and beyond. The goals established by the City Council then drive the priorities outlined in the City budget and provide direction to staff for work plans for the corresponding time. During the goal-setting process for the Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023, four goals were established. Staff has made significant progress in most of the areas and status reports describing this progress have been given during Capital Improvement Program updates.
The City Council is being asked to receive this comprehensive report regarding the progress made toward accomplishing the City’s goals during the first three quarters (through December 31, 2022) of this two-year budget period. This also provides an opportunity for the public to learn of the City’s progress and share input with the City Council on any of the goals prior to new goals being established/reestablished. The City Council will review its current goals and available budget and set its new goals for the Fiscal Year 2024 and 2025 period at a special workshop on February 3, 2023.
Major City Goals and Other Important Objectives
The City Council has approved four goals for the City for Fiscal Years 2022–2023. The goals are broken into Major City Goals and Other Important Objectives:
Goal #1: Water Supply, Conservation, and Central Coast Blue (Sustainability) Goal statement: Sustain the City's water supply by completing Central Coast Blue and pursuing access to new, high-quality, and reliable water sources; promoting conservation; and conducting public outreach and education.
Priorities for the next two years:
Implement Central Coast Blue, working with partner agencies Promote water conservation
Pursue additional water supplies and options for storage Conduct public outreach and education
Council Agenda 1-17-2023 12.A-1
Goal #2: Public Safety
Goal statement: Create a public safety center that enables exceptional public safety services and honors the history of the site.
Priorities for the next two years:
Build a state-of-the-art fire facility
Modernize and expand the police station
Preserve the facade of the historic city hall
Goal #3: Traffic, Circulation, and Parking
Goal statement: Improve traffic flow and parking assets to meet the needs of current and future residents and visitors.
Priorities for the next two years:
Continue work on downtown parking solutions, including acquiring additional parking assets
Improve bike and pedestrian options
Determine whether to acquire Dolliver Street from the state and make circulation improvements per the Circulation Element
Determine future of outdoor dining and related parking considerations
Goal #4: Community Character and Quality of Life for Residents Goal statement: Build on the strength of our local community to preserve the City’s “Classic California” charm and ensure an exceptional quality of life for residents.
Priorities for the next two years:
Invest in neighborhoods, including road, sidewalk, and park improvements Relocate tennis courts located at the site of the future public safety center and add basketball courts/pickleball courts to offer improved recreational opportunities for residents at the new site
Complete updates to the Local Coastal Plan, General Plan and Zoning Ordinance, emphasizing issues important to the community, such as managed growth, appropriate design, and neighborhood preservation
Engage the community and communicate the benefits of a visitor economy to quality of life for residents (e.g., tourism, hospitality) Evaluate the locations and potential expansion of recreation programs to meet community needs (i.e., mobile home community centers)
Implement community beautification strategies (e.g., James Way Beautification Plan), and establishing City policy about tree planting programs Evaluate the option of assessment districts to address major infrastructure improvements (e.g., Shell Beach drainage, undergrounding utilities) Council Agenda 1-17-2023 12.A-2
Deliver exceptional services to the public
While each of the goals are large and complex, staff is pleased to report that substantial progress has been made in many areas. This report will break down each goal in detail, outlining the major accomplishments as well as other administrative accomplishments.
Review of Major City Goals
Goal #1: Water Supply, Conservation, and Central Coast Blue (Sustainability) Implement Central Coast Blue, working with partner agencies Implement Central Coast Blue, working with partner agencies The Partner agencies worked together to create the Cost sharing agreement for participation in the Central Coast Blue project, establishing the water purveyor allocation among other provisions.
The Partner agencies, the Cities of Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and Pismo Beach have formed the Central Coast Blue Regional Recycled Water Authority, a JPA which will own and operate Central Coast Blue. The Central Coast Blue Management and Technical Advisory Committees (TAC) have been meeting monthly to review project progress and provide direction to the design team.
60% design plans have been completed for review by the TAC. City staff and the consultant team have worked with permitting jurisdictions to outline permitting requirements for the facility and infrastructure.
Consolidated Coastal Development Permitting Process has been requested following City Council authorization.
Pismo Beach City Council has adopted a resolution adopting the 2019 San Luis Obispo County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan which allows Central Coast Blue to be eligible for a recommended $1M Proposition 1 IRWM grant. This application will be submitted in January of 2023.
The JPA met on December 1, 2022, approving bylaws, selecting a Chair and Vice-Chair, and designating the Pismo Beach City Manager as the designated authorized signer for financial assistance applications. The JPA submitted the Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan and the EPA’s WIFIA letter of interest to apply for funding of the non-grant funded portion of the Central Coast Blue project.
Prop 1 GWGP grant award funding is expected to be announced early 2023.
Council Agenda 1-17-2023 12.A-3
Promote water conservation
The City Council committed $30,000 in additional funding toward water conservation rebates. Current rebate programs include Cash 4 Grass, High Efficiency Toilet Rebates, Washing Machine Rebates, Hot Water Recirculation Pump Rebates, Rain Barrel Rebates and Smart Irrigation Controller Rebates. Under the current program, 50 rebates have been issued at a cost of $27,252.75 which is estimated to save 8.04 acre-feet of water per year (AFY) at a cost of $3,389.65/AFY.
Pursue additional water supplies and options for storage Staff successfully negotiated contract changes to the Lopez Lake Contract to establish storage rights in Lopez Lake. Under the newly revised contract, each Zone 3 agency can store unused Lopez allocation indefinitely (subject to evaporation losses), as well as storing State Water at Lopez Lake. Under the old contract, unused Lopez allocations were dispersed proportionally among the Zone 3 agencies per their allocation in the project. Further, water that was carried over had to be used the following year or forfeited back to the district pool.
At the City Council’s direction, staff is working with the County of San Luis Obispo Flood Control and Water Conservation District to increase the City’s State Water Drought Buffer from 1,240 acre-feet per year (AFY) to 3,192 AFY. With this level of drought buffer, the City can expect to have a total water supply portfolio of 1,800 AF when State Water deliveries are at 20%. Conduct public outreach and education
Staff has developed and sent out water conservation mailers as well as produced and posted water conservation videos.
Staff worked with local hotels and distributed water conservation table tents to be placed in their guestrooms.
Staff discussed water conservation with the Pismo Beach Hospitality Association to promote water conservation.
Staff encouraged the Pismo Beach Hospitality Association to write an article for the Clam Chronicle on lodging water conservation efforts.
Goal #2: Public Safety
Goal statement: Create a public safety center that enables exceptional public safety services and honors the history of the site.
Acquisition of property at 940 Bello Street to expand the project site. Lease of 900 Bello Street for Fire personnel living quarters. This lease will provide housing throughout the construction of the project and allow for continued response to the community.
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Staff and consultants presented four site options for the City Council to consider for the layout and logistics for the site. The City Council selected “Option D,” which would build a new two-story police station at the site of the former elementary school, and repurpose the existing police station to be converted into fire station living and support space with new apparatus bays.
Released the Request for Proposals to the prequalified Design-Build Entity Teams.
Conducted kick-off meetings, onsite meetings, requests for information, and confidential meetings with the firms to ensure that the submitted proposals are in alignment with the goals and direction from the City Council. Proposals are due to the City on February 16, 2023 (tentative) at which point they will be scored and then presented to the City Council for review and consideration prior to an award of contract.
Temporary Police Station
Three different buildings will be utilized to support police department operations during construction: 330 Main Street, 585 Dolliver Street, and 760 Mattie Road.
Staff has been coordinating with all impacted departments to make the necessary improvements and arrangements to support these efforts.
Goal #3: Traffic, Circulation, and Parking
Goal statement: Improve traffic flow and parking assets to meet the needs of current and future residents and visitors.
Continue work on downtown parking solutions, including acquiring additional parking assets
The City Council authorized an agreement for the update of the City’s Parking Management Plan. The consultants have completed data gathering and interviews of the Parking Advisory Committee members. Improve bike and pedestrian options
The City Council reaffirmed a sidewalk policy to improve walkability throughout the city by requiring new sidewalk to be installed with specific development/redevelopment projects.
Initial draft report has been completed for the signalization of Bello Street and Price Canyon Road. A final report is expected to be completed by February 2023.
Construction has commenced on the 2022/23 Paving Project. This project, when complete, will pave nearly 1/3 of all City streets and is the largest paving project in the City’s history.
A new sidewalk from Price Canyon Road to Ocean View Avenue is being constructed, as well as a sidewalk from Mattie Road to Spyglass, under US 101.
The City’s first buffered bike lines are being constructed along Mattie Road with the 2022/23 Paving Project.
Council Agenda 1-17-2023 12.A-5
Over 150 curb ramps are being either constructed or reconstructed to improve ADA access throughout the city in conjunction with the 2022/23 paving project.
The Bello Street Bridge was completed which improves traffic circulation by allowing traffic to bypass downtown. The bridge also has a separated bicycle/pedestrian path.
E-bike needs and parking locations are being evaluated as part of the Parking Management Plan update.
Determine whether to acquire Highway 1 from the state and make circulation improvements per the Circulation Element
The Council directed staff to move forward to accept Highway 1 after it is rehabilitated and the City has received all necessary legislative and executive approvals. Staff has been negotiating with Caltrans for the final details of the relinquishment of Highway 1.
Staff has been diligent in influencing the design and method of construction for the rehabilitation project.
Determine future of outdoor dining and related parking considerations On November 15, 2022, the City Council considered pursuing a permanent parklet program but determined not to move forward with a permanent program.
The program allowing parklets in public right-of-way ended on September 30, 2022, and the encroachments were removed.
Goal #4: Community Character and Quality of Life for Residents Goal statement: Build on the strength of our local community to preserve the City’s “Classic California” charm and ensure an exceptional quality of life for residents. Invest in neighborhoods, including road, sidewalk, and park improvements Installing new water bottle filling stations and drinking fountains at all City parks.
Completed the design process for and ordered new playground equipment at Chumash and Palisades Parks.
Investing in improvements along Ocean Boulevard including new beach access, sidewalks, and telescopes. Relocate tennis courts located at the site of the future Public Safety Facility and add basketball courts/pickleball courts to offer improved recreational opportunities for residents at the new site At the City Council’s direction, staff has prepared plans for new sports courts (two pickleball and one tennis court) at the vacant lot across from Chumash Park.
Council Agenda 1-17-2023 12.A-6
As part of this effort, necessary studies were completed for the preparation of plans.
Complete updates to the Local Coastal Plan, General Plan and Zoning Ordinance, emphasizing issues important to the community, such as managed growth, appropriate design, and neighborhood preservation
To disperse background information and draft Elements to the City Council, GP/LCP binders were prepared, consisting of more than 1,600 pages per binder for each Council Member and Planning Commissioner. A series of Joint Study Sessions with the City Council and Planning Commission have been held, beginning in 2022 and continuing into 2023, to disperse the GP/LCP binders and begin the review of and comment on each of the draft Elements.
Engage the community and communicate the benefits of a visitor economy to quality of life for residents (e.g., tourism, hospitality) Staff introduced the Stewardship Program to the community at the Clam Festival. A stewardship area was created that included California State Parks, Cal Poly Marine Conservation Lab, Cal Poly Center for Coastal and Marine Sciences, and the Conference and Visitors.
Evaluate the locations and potential expansion of recreation programs to meet community needs (i.e., mobile home community centers)
Staff expanded recreation programs by having three neighborhood gatherings. These three gatherings were held at Highland Park, Boosinger Park, and a local mobile home community center, Hacienda Del Pismo. The gatherings were a huge success.
Continued to invest in existing public events to make them better and initiated additional classes and day camps for residents. Created a new scholarship and investment program for supporting childcare programs.
Implement community beautification strategies (e.g., James Way Beautification Plan), and establishing City policy about tree planting programs The plans for the James Way Beautification Project are 60% complete and staff anticipates the project will go out to bid in the spring of 2023. Established the Community Service Technician position and hired several CSTs to enforce quality of life infractions such as citations for smoking, dogs off leash, graffiti, litter, etc.
Continued to install community art projects.
Completed the St. Jude’s tunnel lighting and art project. Hired a full-time Code Enforcement Officer to enforce Council-approved proactive enforcement priorities, as well as complaint-based violations.
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City Council approval of updates to the Façade Improvement Program to attract successful applications for commercial façade improvements. Established two new full-time staff positions for trash management and graffiti and weed removal in the right-of-way. Employees should be on board shortly.
Evaluate the option of assessment districts to address major infrastructure improvements (e.g., Shell Beach drainage, undergrounding utilities) Conducted a public workshop on the value of assessment districts and how to create them.
Budgeted to establish an initial district assessment had a neighborhood wished to move forward.
Deliver exceptional services to the public
Staff has developed the My Maintenance Program. Under this program, the City is divided into 7 zones with each zone being assigned a My Maintenance Professional. This member of the Public Works staff drives their zone once a month and proactively removes graffiti and weeds and makes repairs to the public infrastructure as they are able. Tasks that require extra time or help are added to the maintenance list. An email address, [email protected], was established to allow community members to reach their My Maintenance Professional.
Staff has developed the Pismo FAST permitting program and has been implementing strategies to make it easier for the public to interact with the City.
Other Administrative Accomplishments
In addition to making substantial progress on the City Council’s goals, staff has made noteworthy progress in other administrative areas including:
Successfully negotiated labor agreements with the two bargaining groups and with unrepresented management and part-time employees.
Conducted the 2022 Municipal Election for the City, including the election of a Mayor and two Council Members.
Adjusted City Council and Mayor compensation consistent with state law and adjusted reimbursements at the direction of City Council. Launched an automated microphone and camera system for the Council Chamber following the loss of the City’s longtime cablecasting contractor. Recruited and onboarded 60 full-time and part-time employees to provide service to the community.
Completed the digitalization of Personnel Files and medical records. Fulfilled almost 200 Public Records Act requests.
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Completed the Pismo Voice community survey with over 600 submissions from the public.
Received the Government Finance Officers Association for the Excellence in Financial Reporting for the City’s FY 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (ACFR), making it the 20th consecutive year the City has received this prestigious award.
Achieved full compliance with Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) 45 for Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB), to pre-fund retiree health costs for retirees and their beneficiaries, and GASB 87 to account for leases. Received Council approval of the City’s Technology Master Plan for FY 2023 through FY 2028, which will include 43 technology initiatives, including smart cities strategies, cyber security measures, departmental applications and software, and IT infrastructure to support these initiatives.
Developed an actionable Technology Incident Response plan and Disaster Recovery Plan.
Implemented the City’s new simulcast radio system for the Police Department, including adding an encrypted radio channel to comply with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s California Department of Justice Information Services Security Policy regarding the encryption of personally identifiable information, and a simulcast radio system to allow users to no longer must change channels for radio communication throughout the City.
Took over full-time dispatching responsibility for the City of Grover Beach.
Dispatchers have received positive feedback from surveys related to calls for service within Grover Beach.
Continued to pursue technological advancements which allows employees to work as efficiently as possible. During this past year the police department selected a new Computer Aided Dispatch/Records Management System (CAD/RMS). The City will be adding 10 License Plate Readers (LPR) throughout the city. Our parking division transitioned to E-Citations, decreasing the amount of time spent writing tickets.
Implemented a new “Experience Pismo Beach” logo for tourism marketing effort.
This logo will be used for sponsorships and marketing for the Tourism and Events Department for the City.
Successfully completed the second Pismo Beach ISA World Para Surfing Championship Hosted by AMP Surf. 181 athletes from 29 countries participated.
This event was held during the off season and ran over 11 days. Successfully completed the SLO CAL WSL 1000 Pismo Beach Open Championship. This event was held in January 2022. This event will be upgraded to a WSL 3000 in 2023.
Obtained $46,000 OTS grant for new vehicle extrication system.
Council Agenda 1-17-2023 12.A-9
Implemented Vegetation Management Projects for 1000 Hills, Cave/Bluffs and Chumash Park.
Updated training and improved management of Junior Lifeguard and Lifeguard program.
Processed the 2022 Fire Code through the local approval process. Implemented a moratorium on new Short-Term Rentals in the City while evaluating potential modifications to the existing ordinance.
Assembled the Short-Term Rental Advisory Task Force to assist in the development of potential modifications to the existing STR Ordinance. Developed an Ordinance to address the state’s implementation of Senate Bill 9 inside and outside the Coastal Zone. The Ordinance has been approved by the City Council and is being evaluated by Coastal Commission staff. Processed amendments to the St. Andrews Tract Planning Area of the General Plan/Local Coastal Program. The amendments were certified by the Coastal Commission.
Processed the 2022 Building Standards Code through the local approval process. Successfully recruited the Planning Division Administrative Secretary following retirement of previous personnel.
Provided over $1,000,000 in funding for the Shell Beach Senior affordable housing project, currently under construction by People’s Self-Help Housing. Participated in the Coastal Cities Group Leadership Committee. Completed and submitted the 2021 General Plan Annual Report. Worked with the County of San Luis Obispo to transfer approximately $600,000 in Permanent Local Housing Allocation funds to support low-income housing projects.
Ongoing work to digitize property development records in the Community Development Department.
The Ocean Boulevard Coastal Access Project is under construction and expected to be completed in June. This project is replacing beach access stairs, improving drainage, and making a complete pedestrian accessway from Vista del Mar to Wawona.
Completed the Shell Beach Reservoir I replacement.
Completed the City Hall safety improvement project and Corporation Yard Administration Building project.
Developed and implemented a Management/Supervisor Academy to provide all senior employees with knowledge across all departments. This effort will lead to great service, lower risk/liability exposure, and improve the quality of employees that serve the community.
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Developed a south county major traffic collision team. The Pismo Beach Police Department will work in collaboration with the Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach Police Departments to investigate fatal traffic collision within our jurisdiction. Applied for and received a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), to address DUI drivers. The grant is for $55,000 and can be used for DUI checkpoints, overtime related to DUI saturations, DUI training and equipment needed to conducted DUI arrests.
Purchased new all electric parking enforcement vehicle, that included the new License Plate Reader (LPR) technology.
This past year, Police Department employees participated in of 2,200 hours of training. Some of the highlights included Active Shooter Training, Internal Affairs, Emergency Medical Dispatching, Strategic Communications, Biased Based Policing, Background Investigations and Crisis Intervention Training just to name a few.
The Police Department continue to work on increasing its social media followers.
This past year, the Department realized a 76% increase in Facebook followers, 19% increase in Instagram followers, and 20% increase in Twitter followers.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving this report as information only.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Request additional information from staff.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
Submitted by: Meeting Date: January 17, 2023
Jorge Garcia, Assistant City Manager
City Manager Approval:
Council Agenda 1-17-2023 12.A-11