DATE: MARCH 21, 2023
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
FROM: MEGAN HUNTER, DIRECTOR
THROUGH: LISA BRINTON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
GRANT LEONARD, PLANNING MANAGER
BY: JONATHAN MOORE, SENIOR PLANNER
TITLE: 2022 GENERAL PLAN ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT AND VISIÓN SALINAS 2040 UPDATE RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a resolution accepting the 2022 General Plan Annual Progress Report (GP APR) and authorizing its submittal to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Sections 65400 and 65700 of the California Government Code mandates that all cities and counties submit an annual report on the status of the General Plan and progress in its implementation to their legislative bodies, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the Housing and Community Development (HCD) by April 1st of each year. This report covers Salinas General Plan (2002) implementation activities during the calendar year 2022. General Plan Update (GPU) engagement also continued in 2022 with twelve workshop/working group meetings, a transportation survey, and direct farmworker engagement with the Center for Community Advocacy (CCA). During the last calendar year, it was determined that given the increased complexity of the Housing Element process, the Housing Element update would have to run ahead of the rest of the GPU to meet the statutory deadline of December 15, 2023.
BACKGROUND:
General Plan Annual Progress Report Requirements
Under California Government Code Section 65400, staff is required to prepare a General Plan Annual Progress Report (GP APR) for review by the City Council and submittal to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) by April 1st of each year. Failure to submit the report within sixty (60) days of the deadline would make the City ineligible for certain State grant programs.
Visión Salinas 2040 General Plan Update
The City launched the General Plan Update (GPU), Visión Salinas 2040, which will also include a new Environmental Justice Element and the City’s first Climate Action Plan (CAP), in the summer of 2021. In 2021, the City launched engagement with seven (7) land use workshops. In 2022 General Plan engagement covered a variety of topics in multiple formats. The topics of existing conditions, climate action, community design (including land use and transportation), and environmental justice were covered in five community workshops/webinars. The City also conducted seven Working Group meetings, diving deeper with residents into topics such as housing, water, and economic development. More details and meeting notes are available in Attachment 3, General Plan Update 2022 Community Meeting Summaries. Through a Sustainable Agricultural Land Conservation (SALC) Planning Grant, the City is also partnering with the Center for Community Advocacy (CCA) to deepen grassroots outreach. Last year CCA made two outreach visits to local farm fields and recruited 10 General Plan Ambassadors.
DISCUSSION:
2022 General Plan Annual Progress Report
The 2022 GP APR (Attachment 4) contains two sections. Section 1 provides an introduction and summary for the GP APR, gives a background of our existing General Plan and a synopsis of key legislation since its adoption that will be addressed through the GPU. It also gives a summary of the GPU and coordination with regional planning efforts. Section 2 describes projects occurring during the 2022 calendar year that furthered current General Plan goals and policies. Below is a list of some of the GP APR implementation highlights. Each item is described in more detail in the report and linked to the General Plan goal/policy it implements.
Completed the transfer of Intermodal Transit Center properties to the City.
Received over $4 million in grant funding from Caltrans for public art, signage, greenery, pedestrian amenities, and other improvements along the East Alisal Street Corridor.
Updated existing and entered into new Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with the County of Monterey for master planning government-owned property, affordable housing, trail networks, expanding access to health and mental health services, and planning activities to determine the feasibility of a City/County joint parking facility.
Created pre-approved plan sets for Accessory Dwelling Units to reduce development costs and encourage new housing.
Selected design consultants for a new Hebbron Family Center and for park revitalization and improvement projects.
Awarded $4.5 million contract for citywide sidewalk repairs, including $3.7 million in ARPA funds.
Accepted the Safe Routes to School plan as a strategic planning document for community-identified needs to support walking, cycling, carpooling, and safety measures for 45 schools in Salinas.
Received a $3.4 million dollar California Violence Intervention and Prevention Grant to fund community-based programs.
Started the preparation of a Salinas Fire Department Master Plan.
Staff also presented the Draft GP APR to the Visión Salinas 2040 Steering Committee on February 21st and to the Planning Commission on March 1st. No public comment was received on the draft document at these meetings. Neither body recommended changes to the Draft GP APR prior to submittal. Planning Commission approved a resolution recommending acceptance of the Draft GP APR and submittal to the appropriate state agencies. Staff will present the Draft GP APR to the Housing and Land Use Committee (HLUC) on March 14th, which is after the submission of this report. Any comments received at the HLUC will be incorporated into staff’s presentation to City Council.
Visión Salinas 2040 Update
In early 2023, deeper discussions on public safety and housing will be paramount to address Council and legislative priorities. The City is approaching its statutory deadline to complete its 6th Cycle Housing Element update by December 15th, 2023. Housing Element and housing-related laws have changed significantly since the last update in 2015. This deadline and increased complexity create the need for the Housing Element to be prepared ahead of the rest of the General Plan Update. 6th Cycle Housing Element 2023-2031
The City of Salinas’ current Housing Element (2015-2023) was adopted in 2015 and was certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) as complying with State law. Because the current Housing Element expires at the end of 2023, the City is required to adopt an updated Housing Element by December 15th. This sixth cycle update of the Housing Element will cover the planning period of December 31, 2023, through December 31, 2031. The Housing Element consists of six (6) sections that that address different aspects of housing within Salinas. Those sections are:
Introduction/Overview
Housing Constraints
Community Participation
Housing Resources
Community Profile/Existing Conditions
Housing Plan/Policies
New to the sixth cycle Housing Element is an analysis of ways to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing. The goal of Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) is to combat housing discrimination, eliminate racial bias, undo historic patterns of segregation, and lift barriers that restrict access in order to foster inclusive communities and achieve racial equity, fair housing choice, and opportunity for all Californians.
To be able to meet the December 15th deadline and ensure technical accuracy, the City has partnered with Veronica Tam and Associates to provide technical support services for the Housing Element update. Veronica Tam and Associates (VTA) previously partnered with the City on the adopted 2015-2023 Housing Element, VTA brings extensive knowledge about drafting housing elements from work performed statewide.
Public participation will be key to writing a successful Housing Element update. The City has actively engaged the community on the subject of housing since the adoption of the 2015-2023 Housing Element, with housing being a major topic of discussion in the City’s recent planning efforts, such as the Alisal Vibrancy Plan, the Chinatown Revitalization Plan, and Visión Salinas 2040. The City began formal Housing Element public engagement with an online Housing Element workshop on February 9, 2023. The City anticipates conducting continued public engagement throughout 2023.
The schedule for the Housing Element Update is:
July 2022 – February 2023: Selection of consultant, data collection and analysis, public engagement March – May 2023: Continued public engagement and drafting of the Housing Element update May – June 2023: Release of draft Housing Element update for public review and comment June – September 2023: Review of draft Housing Element update by California Department of Housing and Community Development September – November 2023: Revisions to draft Housing Element update as needed November – December 2023: Release of final Housing Element for public and Planning Commission review December 5, 2023: Council consideration of adoption of Housing Element Submission of 2023-2031 Housing Element to California Department of Housing and Community Development for certification Next Steps
Along with housing, Council, as well as the General Plan Steering Committee, has expressed interest in expanding the General Plan’s view of public safety. Significant capacity will be dedicated to releasing the public draft Housing Element. There are also several work products in development that will help the City reach the next stage of General Plan development and community engagement. These include finalizing an Existing Conditions Report and buildout projections for proposed Place Type land use. Buildout projections will allow the City to complete technical studies including traffic impact analysis, emissions forecasting for the CAP and a Water Supply Assessment.
DEPARTMENT COORDINATION:
Although the development of this report was led by Community Development, it is expected that all departments, the City Council and Commissions will be involved in the General Plan Update. The GPU will also require significant coordination with regional agencies, including but not limited to, the County of Monterey, Monterey-Salinas Transit, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County, and the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
The proposed action of accepting the GP APR and the administrative report on the GPU is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Guidelines Section 15378. Because the matter does not cause a direct or foreseeable indirect physical change on or in the environment, this matter is not a project. Any subsequent discretionary projects resulting from this action will be assessed for CEQA applicability. An Environmental Impact Report will be prepared for the General Plan.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
Given that the General Plan acts as the City’s guiding document for future growth and development, it will help meet all City Council Strategic Goals. However, the current work around the General Plan Update is specifically reflected as an objective under Effective and Culturally Responsive Government.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
This report has no direct fiscal impact to submit the APR.
When completed, it is anticipated that the current General Plan process will cost approximately $3.4 million dollars. The City currently has approximately $2.6 million for this effort in the CIP (9701) budget with the balance coming from grants including the Local and Regional Early Action entitlement grants and the Sustainable Agricultural Land Conservation grant.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution accepting the 2022 General Plan Annual Progress Report Draft 2022 City of Salinas General Plan APR
General Plan Update 2022 Community Meeting Summaries
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