DATE: AUGUST 23, 2022
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PUBLIC WORKS
FROM: MEGAN HUNTER, DIRECTOR
DAVID JACOBS, DIRECTOR
THROUGH: LISA BRINTON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
ADRIANA ROBLES, CITY ENGINEER
BY: MARIA CONTRERAS, MANAGEMENT ANALYST
TITLE: CLEAN CALIFORNIA STATE BEAUTIFICATION COOPERATIVE AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS FOR THE SALINAS ALISAL VIBRANCY NEIGHBORHOOD BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution authorizing:
the Mayor to execute a Cooperative Agreement and any amendments thereto with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) authorizing the City’s contribution of $100,000 for the Clean California State Beautification Salinas-Alisal Vibrancy Neighborhood Beautification Project along highway 101, hereinafter “Project”, the payment of $100,000 from Capital Improvement Program (CIP) 9246, EDE Alisal Vibrancy Plan, to Caltrans towards the construction of the Project, and the Mayor to execute a Maintenance Agreement and any amendments thereto with Caltrans for the maintenance of the Project.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council approve a Resolution authorizing:
the Mayor to execute a Cooperative Agreement and any amendments thereto with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) authorizing the City’s contribution of $100,000 for the Clean California State Beautification Salinas-Alisal Vibrancy Neighborhood Beautification Project along highway 101, hereinafter “Project”, the payment of $100,000 from Capital Improvement Program (CIP) 9246, EDE Alisal Vibrancy Plan, to Caltrans towards the construction of the Project, and the Mayor to execute a Maintenance Agreement and any amendments thereto with Caltrans for the maintenance of the Project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In Fall 2021, Caltrans partnered with the City to apply for the Clean California State Beautification Program which improves the aesthetics of public spaces with transformative beautification projects along the state highway system. In the Spring 2022, the Alisal Vibrancy Neighborhood Beautification Project was awarded $1,870,000 to beautify three blighted underpasses at East Market, East Alisal and Sanborn Road. The Project is being administered and managed by Caltrans in collaborate on with city staff and community stakeholders. While a local match is not required, due to the continuing backlog in the supply chain and the increase in construction material prices, Caltrans has requested that the City contribute $100,000 to show the City’s commitment to the Project’s quality and completion. A Cooperative Agreement with Caltrans has been prepared to outline the terms and conditions for the City’s contribution towards the construction of the Project. In addition, a Maintenance Agreement is required between the City and Caltrans to outline the City’s commitment to maintain certain Project components upon completion.
BACKGROUND:
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.
In the Fall of 2021, Caltrans partnered with the City to apply for the Clean California State Beautification Project. Caltrans developed the Clean California Program and allocated more than $1 Billion dollars toward the Program. Funding for Clean California is programmed as follows:
Clean California (CC) Program (+$1 Billion Funds)
Litter Abatement
$418M
State Beautification Projects
$287M
Local Beatification Projects (CCLGP)
$296M
Public Education
$32M
Project Design, Construction, Local Support and Engagement $62M
The goal of Clean California Program State Beautification Projects is to improve the aesthetics of public spaces with transformative beautification projects along the state highway system with a “focus on driving a cultural shift of shared responsibility and community pride for the cleanliness of our roadways through education on properly throwing away trash and the impacts littering has on natural resources, waterways, public safety and health to encourage Californians to do their part to keep our state clean.” Project activities include beautification measures, art in public spaces, and the removal of litter and debris.
The goals of the Clean California Program align with the immediate and short-term implementation activities of the AVP Implementation Plan to improve the appearance, cleanliness and safety of the Alisal by providing a more visually pleasing highway corridor and a more inviting, vibrant entryway into the Alisal neighborhood. In the Spring 2022, the Alisal Vibrancy Neighborhood Beautification Project was awarded $1,870,000 to beautify three blighted undercrossing structures (underpasses) and the adjacent fencing and roadside landscape that are gateways to the Alisal. See Attachment 4 for Project Overview and Location.
DISCUSSION:
Project Components
City staff is working with Caltrans to design and implement the Project which includes the beautification of three (3) blighted underpasses at E. Alisal Street, E. Market Street and Sanborn Road along Highway 101. Project components include:
• cleaning and painting underpass structures,
• revitalizing and expanding existing murals at E. Alisal, • adding new murals at E. Market and Sanborn,
• sealing murals with anti-graffiti coating,
• adding lighting to underpass,
• replacing worn-out fencing with decorative, stronger fencing where feasible, and • improving landscaping at structure corners.
Project Implementation
Implementation steps taken to date include community outreach for public art (painted murals at underpass structures), artwork procurement, and development of plans and specifications for procurement of construction contractor. Below is a summary the steps staff has taken in the procurement for the painted murals:
April 2022
Public Art Community Survey
May 2022
Call to Artists
June 2022
Artist Submissions Due
Formal Review by Public Art Selection Committee
Request for Proposals to Finalists
July 2022
Artist Proposal Submittal + Presentation
Artist Selection + Contract
The artists for the new painted murals at both the Market Street and the Sanborn Road underpass structures have been selected, as well as the artist for the expansion of the existing painted murals at the Alisal Street underpass. Next steps include engaging the Alisal community to finalize the design details of these painted murals. The Project is anticipated to start construction late in Fall 2022 and will complete construction by June 2023. A Community Celebration will be arranged as the Project nears its completion.
Project Funding
The amount of the Clean California State Beautification award for the Salinas-Alisal Vibrancy Neighborhood Beautification Project along highway 101 is $1,870,000. While a local match is not required, due to the continuing backlog in the supply chain, the increase in construction material prices, and the need to keep the Project on budget, Caltrans has shifted funding for the new fencing and slope paving at the Market Street underpass to the Clean-Up California Project, another Caltrans program. Caltrans has further requested that the City contribute $100,000 to show the City’s commitment to the Project’s quality and completion. See Attachment 5 for Project Construction Estimate.
Agreements
A Cooperative Agreement between Caltrans and the City has been prepared to outline the terms and conditions by which the City will contribute $100,000 towards the Project’s public art and lighting components. Key terms of this agreement are:
Caltrans will invoice the City for a lump sum (single payment), as a fixed cost, after execution of the Cooperative Agreement.
City will pay the invoiced amount within forty-five (45) calendar days of receipt of the invoice unless the City is paying with Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). When paying with EFT, the City will pay the invoiced amount within five (5) calendar days of receipt of the invoice.
Neither the City nor any officer or employee thereof is responsible for any injury, damage or liability occurring by reason of anything done or omitted to be done by Caltrans, its contractors, sub-contractors, and/or its agents under or in connection with any work, authority, or jurisdiction conferred upon Caltrans under this Agreement.
This Agreement will terminate upon Caltrans’ receipt of the Project funds. However, all indemnification and final accounting articles will remain in effect until terminated or modified in writing by mutual agreement.
The source of funding for the City’s contribution will be Capital Improvement Program (CIP) 9246, EDE Alisal Vibrancy Plan. The draft Cooperative Agreement is provided as Attachment 2 to this report.
In addition, a condition of the Clean California State Beautification Program is that the City assume responsibility for maintenance of Project improvements. A Maintenance Agreement is required between the City and Caltrans, outlining the terms and conditions by which the City agrees to assume maintenance responsibilities for the painted murals and new lighting in perpetuity. Upon Project completion, maintenance responsibilities will transfer to the City. Key terms for maintenance of the three underpasses include the following:
The City will maintain the City roadway, including the traveled way, shoulders, curbs, sidewalks, wall surfaces (including eliminating graffiti), drainage installations, lighting installations and traffic service facilities that may be required for the benefit or control of pedestrians and traffic using the City roadway beneath the undercrossing structure.
The City must obtain the necessary Encroachment Permits from Caltrans’ District 5 Encroachment Permit Office prior to entering Caltrans’ right of way to perform City maintenance responsibilities. This permit will be issued at no cost to City.
The City is responsible for debris removal, cleaning and painting to keep City’s side of any wall structure or column free of debris, dirt, and graffiti.
Caltrans shall fully defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City occurring by reason of anything done or omitted to be done by Caltrans under this Agreement.
The draft Maintenance Agreement is provided as Attachment 3 to this report.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Categorical Exemptions. The City of Salinas has determined that the Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Section 15301-Existing Facilities, Class 1) because the Project proposes improvements which will take place throughout the life of the Project.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
This Project includes painted murals and lighting reflective of the Alisal’s historic heritage, cultural diversity and distinctive environment and aims to create an inviting and memorable experience for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists as well as to increase economic vitality for local businesses, and to contribute to neighborhood livability and property values. Authorizing the Cooperative Agreement and the Maintenance Agreement with Caltrans for the implementation of the Project supports the City Council’s Economic Development Goal to “Sustain, encourage, and develop a diverse and thriving economy that benefits all Salinas residents and businesses and that contributes to the community’s economic health”, including the following Economic Development Goal Strategies:
Implement the Alisal Vibrancy Plan.
Create and maintain attractive gateways at City entry points.
Promote Salinas as a desired destination for business.
Develop mural program to combat graffiti.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
Implementation of the Salinas-Alisal Vibrancy Neighborhood Beautification Project is an effort by both the Community Development Department and the Public Works Department, and coordination efforts between the two departments will continue through Project completion. The Public Works Department will then assume maintenance of the Project’s new and expanded murals and associated lighting. The Legal Department has reviewed both the Cooperative Agreement and the Maintenance Agreement between the City and Caltrans, and the Finance Department will assist in the transfer of the City contribution funds established per the Cooperative Agreement to Caltrans.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
Project funding in the amount of $1,870,000 comes from the Clean California State Beautification award for the Salinas-Alisal Vibrancy Neighborhood Beautification Project along highway 101. Under the proposed Cooperative Agreement with Caltrans the City would contribute $100,000 for the construction of the Project. The source of funding for the City’s contribution will be Capital Improvement Program (CIP) 9246, EDE Alisal Vibrancy Plan. Upon Project completion, the City will be required to accept the improvements. At that time, staff will provide cost estimates and establish funding source for Project maintenance.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
Attachment 2: Cooperative Agreement
Attachment 3: Maintenance Agreement
Attachment 4: Project Overview and Location
Attachment 5: Project Construction Estimate
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