Attachment B
Status of General Plan Activities
The following are highlights of significant recent General Plan implementation actions by the City:
1. Downtown commercial projects reviewed and approved, including a new restaurant (Crescent Bistro), and provided feedback for future improvements to Downtown Pleasant Hill East Plaza area. (Community Development [CD] Goal 3, CD Policy 3A, Economic Strategy [ES] Goal 1, 2 & 3, ES Policy 2C, 3C, 3D &4A).
2. Various retail commercial development projects were reviewed and approved, including:
a new Starbucks restaurant with Drive-Thru, an Animal Day Care (with associated animal uses) facility, a private studio for golf lessons, and an automobile sales business. (CD Goal 3, ES Goal 1, 2, 3 & 4).
3. Various retail commercial improvements, including Harbor Freight, a Chevron Gas Station, and Wisegirl Restaurant (CD Goal 3, ES Goal 1, 2, 3 & 4)
4. Various commercial service projects were approved, including a fitness facility (CD Goal 3, 4 & 19, ES Goal 2).
5. A community care facility that relocated the same facility from one location in the City to a new location (CD Goal 4, 15
6. The City approved new office-related uses at 555 Contra Costa Boulevard. (CD Policy 2A & Goal 3, ES Goal 1, 2).
7. The City approved various improvements to existing multi-family residential sites (CD Goal 1, Housing Element [HE] Goal 5)
8. The City approved various improvements to single-family sites throughout the City (CD Goal 1).
9. The City approved various new child day care facilities throughout the City of Pleasant Hill (CD Goal 2).
10. The City approved various wireless telecommunication projects throughout the City, which will improve wireless phone coverage (ES Goal 3).
11. The City approved various residential projects including the project at 85 Cleaveland Road, which includes 189 residential units; a small-lot single- family residential project at 401 Taylor Boulevard that included 31 units; various minor subdivisions, multiple singlefamily homes and accessory dwelling units throughout the City (CD Goal 2 & CD Goal 3, HE Program 1.5, HE Program 2.1 & 3.3).
12. The City continued the overall update of the City’s General Plan and started the Housing Element component of the General Plan.
13. The City approved miscellaneous zoning ordinance amendments that modified existing parking, definitions, nonconforming provisions, additional site development regulations, resident and non-residential zoning district provisions, and accessory dwelling units (CD Goal 1 & 2).
14. The City adopted an emergency ordinance related to recently passed State legislation, specifically Senate Bill 9 (urban lot splits and two-unit projects).
15. The City started the process to adopt Residential Objective Design Standards that would apply Citywide (CD Goal 1).
16. An annual $235,000 payment from the Redevelopment Agency’s Successor Agency to Grayson Creek Apartments (100% affordable), was made in 2021. These payments will continue until 2031 (totaling $7,820,000) and are included in the Successor Agency’s Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (HE Program 3.6).
17. The City completed Code Enforcement activity (closed over 183 cases and fielded over 2,600 requests) throughout the City in part to keep up the physical appearance of the City and to ensure neighborhood nuisances are minimized (CD Goal 1).
18. The City implemented two new Covid-19 Resource Recovery Grants for Small Businesses impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic. A Marketing and Advertising Reimbursement Grant to assist with eligible marketing and advertising activities, and an Outdoor Furniture Grant to help businesses either expand operations outdoors or continue business operations outdoors. (ES Goal 1, 2, & 3).
19. The City supported small businesses by allocating $500,000 for additional business grants and other programs that will benefit the City’s local merchants. This Small Business Economic Stimulus initiative is being funded by American Rescue Plan Act funds. The initiative is now in the planning stages and will include a City-sponsored Shop Card Program that will benefit merchants by creating “shop local” opportunities with an added “bonus” for the Shop Card purchasers. The Shop Cards will be redeemable at participating Pleasant Hill retail stores, restaurants, and personal care service business. Also part of the initiative will be a Website Technical Assistance Grant program, which will provide grants of up to $5,000 to Pleasant Hill retail store, restaurant, and personal care service business owners. The grants will provide pro bono technical support from private consultants to help with adding online ordering functionality, Social Media strategies, and Business Profile Video production. (ES Goal 1, 2, & 3).
20. Continued various cross-marketing and promotional programs with the Downtown property owner to increase awareness of Downtown and downtown businesses. For example, the City helped promote the Downtown Holiday Tree Lighting Event in December. (ES Goal 1 & 2).
21. The City continues to collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Development Center, Contra Costa County Workforce Development to provide relevant and timely information during the Covid-19 Pandemic to keep business informed of different levels of Shelter-In-Place orders as they were implemented by Contra Costa County. (ES Goal 1, 2 & 4).
22. The City has sponsored virtual events with the Chamber of Commerce and the Pleasant Hill Recreation and Park District that included the Holiday Drive-Thru event held at the Community Center and the Hometown Heroes event held virtually by the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce. (CD Goal 16, ES Goal 1).
23. The City continues to install Contra Costa Boulevard commercial corridor banners to promote dining, shopping and special event opportunities in the City (ES Goal 1 & 3).
24. The City completed the extension of the Pleasant Hill Tourism Improvement District (“Stay Pleasant Hill”) for five additional years. By renewing Stay Pleasant Hill, the City is now guaranteed a revenue stream for the marketing and promotion of the City’s hotels and attractions until 2027. Approximately $700,000 will be generated annually for this purpose from a small assessment paid by Pleasant Hill hotel guests. Stay Pleasant Hill will continue to work on implementation and marketing campaigns to increase visibility of Pleasant Hill hotels and encourage more overnight hotel stays. In addition to increasing hotel usage, Stay Pleasant Hill also gives a boost to all of the City’s businesses by bringing additional visitors into the City to shop and eat at all of our local businesses, and by providing free marketing for many of our establishments. (ES Goal 1, 2, 4 & 5).
More detailed information on Housing Element Programs and related implementation actions is noted in Exhibit 1 of Attachment A. The City continues to actively pursue implementation of the goals, policies, and programs of its 2003 General Plan.
In addition to the examples mentioned above, the following are examples of recent General Plan implementation actions included in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan:
1. Pleasant Hill Road Improvement Project, Phase 1 (Gregory Lane To Taylor Boulevard), Project No. 03-19
The Pleasant Hill Road Improvement Project, Phase 1 (Gregory Lane to Taylor Boulevard), was completed in early January 2021 and provided for “Complete Streets” enhancements that improved access and safety for all users (pedestrians, transit riders, bicyclists and motorists) throughout the project corridor, as well as to improve street aesthetics. The project was divided into two phases.
Phase 1: Project highlights include: upgrade to the traffic signal controller (completed in 2021), installation of video detection cameras, and modification to signal timing at the Gregory/Grayson intersection; installation of video detection cameras and pedestrian crossing improvements at the Westover/Strand intersection; replacement of mast arm pole and installation of video detection cameras at the Taylor Blvd intersection; replacement and upgraded existing street lights with two new single-arm luminaires, and 15 new dualarm (LED) luminaires; the reconstruction and upgrade of ADA curb ramps, sidewalks, driveways, and concrete median curbs; installation of new landscape and hardscape including 46 new trees; and implementation of traffic calming measures, including four sidewalk bulb-outs, reduced lane widths, and decrease speed limit from 40 mph to 35 mph.
Phase 2: Provided for the reconstruction of the pavement section and new thermoplastic striping consistent with the City’s draft Master Pedestrian and Bike Plan, all completed in the summer of 2020. (Circulation [C] Goal 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9).
2. Oak Park and Monticello Improvement Project
The Oak Park and Monticello Improvement Project, Project No. 02-20, is currently underway and substantially complete as of June 2021. The overhead utilities lines and PG&E poles are expected to be removed by March 2022. The project provides for public roadway and utility infrastructure improvements to service the projects under the Oak Park Properties Specific Plan (new City Library building, Recreation and Park District athletic fields, and housing development at 1750 Oak Park Boulevard), and the existing nearby Pleasant Hill Middle School.
Key project elements include: widening Oak Park Boulevard to accommodate new right and left-turn pockets onto Monticello Avenue; replacement of the traffic signal at the Oak Park Boulevard/Monticello Avenue intersection; installation of a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) for a pedestrian crosswalk on Monticello Avenue; reconstruction of Monticello Avenue; installation of new concrete sidewalks, driveways, and ADA-compliant curb ramps; undergrounding of dry utilities (electric, gas, communications); extending recycled water and domestic water systems; installation of a new complex storm drain and detention system; installation of ornamental LED street lighting; rehabilitation of pavement; installation of traffic signage and striping and new bicycle lanes and new irrigation and landscaping. (C Goal 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9).
3. 2019 Citywide Bridge Repair Project No. 07-19, Federal Project No. Bpmp-5375 (033) The 2019 Citywide Bridge Repair Project was completed in March 2020 and is part of the City’s CIP Bridge Maintenance Program. Engineering staff successfully sercured federal Highway Bridge Program (HBP) grant funds (88.53% reimbursement rate) for the construction of this project. Remaining project matching costs are funded using local funds (Gas Tax). Caltrans provides the City throughout the year with the bridge reports that identify needed bridge repairs. This method provides the City with an efficient means of using existing resources to maintain public bridges without sacrificing safety.
The five bridges identified by Caltrans as requiring maintenance were Cottonwood Drive at Grayson Creek; Elinora Drive at Grayson Creek; Monument Boulevard at Walnut Creek Flood Control Channel (shared responsibility with the City of Concord); Norse Drive at Contra Costa Canal; and Viking Drive at Grayson Creek. The Caltrans inspection reports noted cracks and spalls on the concrete deck of each bridge and recommended maintenance repairs. Amethacrylate sealant was applied to protect the City’s infrastructure and maintain the useful life of our bridges. (C Goal 1), Safety and Noise [SN] Policy Goal 1).
4. Gregory Lane/Elinora Drive Traffic Signal Installation Project The Gregory Lane/Elinora Drive Traffic Signal Installation Project was completed in December 2020. Key project elements include: installation of a new traffic signal at the Gregory Lane/Elinora Drive intersection; addition of a dedicated left-turn lane along the eastbound Gregory Lane approach onto Elinora Drive; installation of new Americans with Disability Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps, striping a new crosswalk at the intersection; installation of a new concrete curb “bump-out” on the south side of the intersection, and new safety lighting at the intersection. (C Goal 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9).
5. New Pleasant Hill Library Project
The New Pleasant Hill Library Project is currently underway and will provide a new stateof-the art home for the first new facility in over a half century. With the passage of Measure K in November 2016, the City secured the necessary funding source for various improvements to be made over the next 20 years, along with the construction of the new library building. In September 2017, City Council selected the firm of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ) to oversee architectural and design services for the new Pleasant Hill Community Library. BCJ is a national, award-winning firm with offices in San Francisco. Once the design was substantially completed, the project went out to bid and in August of 2020, the City awarded the construction contract to BHM Construction, Inc. The project management is provided by Swinerton Management and Consulting. The $24 million building at 1700 Oak Park Boulevard will be substantially complete by late winter 2022, with a grand opening in Spring/Summer 2022. (CD Goal 4)
6. Annual Creek Maintenance Program
The Annual Creek Maintenance Program is coordinated by the City’s Maintenance Division prior to the Winter Season each year. Through the program, the City notifies over 400 residents to clear debris and vegetation from the creek in or along their property. This will reduce the risk of flooding in these areas during the winter rains (SN Goal 1).