DATE: MAY 10, 2022
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
FROM: MEGAN HUNTER, DIRECTOR
BY: LISA BRINTON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
OSCAR RESENDIZ, ASSOCIATE PLANNER
TITLE: ALISAL VIBRANCY PLAN (AVP) IMPLEMENTATION
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
No action is required. This report presents information related to the 2021-2022 AVP Implementation Plan.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council receive and accept the 2021-2022 AVP Implementation Plan administrative report.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In November 2019, the City Council unanimously accepted the Alisal Vibrancy Plan (AVP) as a strategic planning document. The AVP is an action-oriented, comprehensive strategy for Salinas’ Alisal (East Salinas) neighborhoods. The Plan’s purpose is to communicate the collective vision, goals and desires of those who live, work, worship, and shop in the Alisal. In October 2021, staff presented the AVP Implementation Plan and Budget for the approximately $3 million dollars the City Council appropriated in the FY 2021-2022 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Budget for immediate and short-term implementation activities. The AVP Implementation Plan, developed in collaboration with the AVP Implementation Committee, prioritizes short-term activities to improve the cleanliness, appearance, infrastructure, and parks and open space in the Alisal, and to promote economic development of the Alisal. This administrative report summarizes 2021-2022 implementation activities and planned activities through fiscal year 2024. An updated Chapter 10 Short-Term Priority Tasks Matrix and AVP Implementation Plan and Budget are provided as attachments to this report.
BACKGROUND:
Over 2,000 residents and community stakeholders participated in a community-led engagement process that resulted in the identification of more than 150 strategies and community recommendations that evolved into goals, policies and actions that are the “heart” of the AVP.
In May 2021, AVP Steering Committee and Working Group members were invited to form an AVP Implementation Committee (Committee). The Committee’s primary objectives are to maintain community at the center of AVP implementation and to develop and monitor the AVP Implementation Plan and Budget. Community Development, Public Works, and Library and Community Services staff provided the Committee information and support to develop recommendations which were presented to City Council in October 2021.
In the AVP Implementation Plan the Committee identified five priority areas with multiple projects and activities, building off the focus areas of the E. Alisal Corridor, Youth: Parks and Recreation, and Economic Development. Since May 2021, the staff met twelve (12) times with the Committee via Zoom to provide AVP implementation updates and to develop recommendations. In addition, staff have conducted outreach at eight (8) events/community meetings to engage the community in discussion regarding district identity, public art, and proposed improvements.
DISCUSSION:
The AVP Implementation Plan Budget below is organized by priority “buckets” focused on improving the cleanliness, appearance, safety and infrastructure, and parks and open space in the Alisal, and to promote economic development of the Alisal. Similar to the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding budget, the AVP budget is presented at a high level to provide flexibility to take advantage of emerging opportunities that meet the Plan’s identified priority actions.
A 2021-2022 accomplishment to highlight is the City’s success in obtaining additional funding to leverage the AVP implementation activities and budget. In February 2022 Caltrans identified Salinas for a $1.8 million project to install public art, lighting, and landscaping at three underpasses leading into the Alisal at E. Market Street, E. Alisal Street, and Sanborn Road. In Spring of 2022 the City was awarded a $2.1 million Caltrans Clean California Local Program grant to support the Alisal Greening, Beautification, and Safety Project (Project). The Transportation Agency of Monterey County (TAMC) and Safe Routes to School program partnered with the City in the application process. AVP Implementation funds in the amount of $156,896 were used as the City’s required grant match. Project activities align with AVP short-term implementation priorities and are included in the table below that summarizes 2021-2022 AVP implementation activities. 2021-2022 AVP Implementation Activities
Appearance
Completed Breadbox Mural Design (attached)
Tree Trimming to occur along Alisal corridors Spring 2022 Awarded ~$500,000 for urban greening (tree trimming, tree, shrub, and bioswale planting) (CalTrans) Awarded ~$800,000 for beautification through public art (murals, signage, district identifiers, and a gateway monument) designed by local and youth artists along E. Alisal Street, at Closter Park, and in front of the Breadbox and Firehouse recreation centers. (Caltrans) Cleanliness
Leveraged “Amor Salinas” clean-ups in the Alisal
Awarded ~$250,000 for the installation of trash and recycling receptacles along E. Alisal Street (Caltrans) Safety and Infrastructure
Re-striped nine (9) crosswalks E. Alisal Street between Madeira to Sanborn Awarded ~$700,000 for five (5) miles of sidewalk art highlighting safe routes through Alisal neighborhoods and pedestrian safety education programming at schools and installation of MST bus shelter at Breadbox (Caltrans) Parks and Open Space
Designing the installation of exercise equipment and amenities around an improved trail at Cesar Chavez Park Prepping and painting Breadbox and Closter Park office/community center for mural beautification.
Economic Development
Developed pilot programs to help businesses with façade improvements and marketing and technology needs. Both programs to launch July 2022.
A more detailed breakdown of short-term activities and estimated expenditures through FY 2024 is provided as an attachment to this report. Early in 2022, the vacant Project Coordinator position in Advanced Planning and Project Implementation was revised to a Management Analyst to have a dedicated project manager to oversee AVP and Caltrans grant capital improvement projects. Maria Contreras, who has worked in various Public Works divisions over the past 17 years, was selected to fill the position. With this increase in staffing resources, it is anticipated that identified projects will be completed within the estimated timeframes provided.
Chapter 10 Short-Term Priority Tasks Matrix Update Summary AVP Chapter 10: Next Steps & Plan Implementation aligns emerging priorities identified at the end of each topic chapter with existing opportunities and resources to facilitate implementation of priority actions items in the short-term (1-2 years). Staff updated the Short-Term Priority Tasks Matrix at the end of Chapter 10 to include an implementation status column (Implementation Matrix). An updated Implementation Matrix, highlighting AVP implementation activities to date is provided as an attachment to this report.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
The Alisal Vibrancy Plan and Implementation Plan are strategic planning documents. The action of receiving this administrative report is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines section 15378). If recommended AVP policies or actions progress to a “project” level further CEQA analysis will be required to address potential environmental impacts of the proposed project.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
The short-term actions identified in the AVP Implementation Plan focus on the areas of the E. Alisal Corridor, Youth: Parks and Recreation, and Economic Development which advance the City Council’s 2022-2025 Strategic Goals and Strategies of Economic Development, Public Safety, and Youth and Seniors. AVP implementation is listed as a strategy under the goal of Economic Development.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
The Community Development Department’s Advanced Planning and Project Implementation (APPI) Division led AVP preparation and is leading coordination of Plan implementation. APPI coordinated with Public Works and Library and Community Services staff to provide the Committee with AVP implementation updates, identify areas of opportunity, refine proposed activities, and develop budget estimates.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact from receiving this administrative report on the implementation of AVP short-term activities undertaken in FY 2021-2022.
ATTACHMENTS:
AVP Chapter 10: Short-Term Priority Tasks Implementation Matrix AVP Implementation Plan and Budget 2021-2022 Update
Breadbox Mural Design
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