DATE: MARCH 28, 2023
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
FROM: MEGAN HUNTER, DIRECTOR
BY: LISA BRINTON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
MARIA CONTRERAS, MANAGEMENT ANALYST
OSCAR RESENDIZ, ASSOCIATE PLANNER
TITLE: ALISAL VIBRANCY PLAN (AVP) IMPLEMENTATION
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Motion to recommend that the Salinas City Council adopt a resolution to receive and accept the 2022-2023 AVP Implementation Report and updated AVP Implementation Budget.
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. The AVP Implementation Plan, developed in collaboration with the AVP Implementation Committee, prioritizes short-term activities to improve the cleanliness, appearance, safety and infrastructure, and parks and open space in the Alisal, and to promote economic development of the Alisal. This report summarizes 2022-2023 implementation activities and planned activities through fiscal year 2024. This update also presents the AVP Implementation Plan and Budget for the approximately $4.425 million dollars the City Council appropriated in the FY 2021-2022 and FY 2022-2023 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Budgets for immediate and short-term implementation activities. Starting in 2023, staff is piloting Envisio, a project implementation tracking and reporting software platform, to document and share AVP implementation progress through narrative reports, analytics, and a public dashboard. Enviso report templates, updated AVP Implementation Budget Allocation Charts, and a table breaking down project versus planning activity spending are provided in the Power Point presentation slides.
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 priority and budget allocation recommendations which were presented to City Council in October 2021.
In 2022-2023, AVP Implementation continues to be centered around the Committee’s five priority areas and includes multiple projects and activities that focus on the areas of the E. Alisal Corridor, Youth: Parks and Recreation, and Economic Development. Since May 2021, staff met fourteen (14) times with the Committee via Zoom to provide AVP implementation updates and guide priorities. In addition, staff have conducted outreach at eight (8) events/community meetings to engage the community in discussion regarding district identity, public art, and other proposed improvements.
DISCUSSION:
Key 2022-2023 AVP implementation activities are listed below by AVP short-term implementation priority. 2022-2023 AVP Implementation Activity Highlights
Appearance
Completed Breadbox Mural (Pictures attached to this report.) Selected artist for California Beautification Underpass Project Awarded Alisal District Identity Master Plan contract
Cleanliness
Launched Alisal Street Corridor Ambassador Program
Initiated conversations with Downtown Streets Inc. (DSI, through the Salinas Downtown Street (DST) Program), and Hope Services to establish a consistent Corridor Maintenance Program in the Alisal area Contracted Alisal commercial corridor Street/Sidewalk clean up (July 2022) Began street sweeping “no parking” signage community engagement program Safety and Infrastructure
Selected recommended Streetscape Master Plan consultant Secured grant funds for the Active Transportation Plan Update abd selected recommended consultant Included Master Trail Network analysis and design as part of Active Transportation Plan Update scope of work Upgraded streetlight LED bulbs in Fairview Neighborhood Completed Transit-Oriented Development Study – Background Conditions Report (Collaboration with MST) Secured grant funds for the Salinas Broadband Master Plan and Alisal Neighborhood Broadband Fiber Network Design Parks and Open Space
Selected consultant and awarded contract to design and manage construction of park improvements at Closter and El Gabilan parks Selected consultant team and awarded contract to design and manage construction of new Hebbron Family Center Released request for bids for trail improvements at Cesar Chavez Community Park Released RFP for preparation of Cesar Chavez Master Plan Economic Development
Launched Marketing and Technology Grant Program
Implemented Shop Local Initiatives in collaboration with SUBA AVP Implementation Plan Budget
The AVP Implementation Plan Budget, presented to City Council in October 2021, was organized by priority “buckets” focused on improving the cleanliness, appearance, safety and infrastructure, and parks and open space in the Alisal, and promoting the economic development of the Alisal. Similar to the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding budget, the AVP budget was presented at a high level to provide flexibility to take advantage of emerging opportunities that meet the Plan’s identified priority actions.
The 2021-2022 AVP Implementation Budget has been updated to reflect the proposed allocation of the approximately $1.5 million in additional funding appropriated to AVP implementation through the FY 2022-2023 CIP Budget. Allocation continues to be based on AVP implementation activities and emerging opportunities. Pie charts illustrating 2021-2022 and 2022-2024 budget allocation are provided in the presentation slides. The biggest change in allocation is from Economic Development activities to Parks and Open Space improvement projects. This shift is based in emerging opportunities to undertake impactful park improvements at El Gabilan and Cesar Chavez Parks. A table showing the list of projects and planning activity expenditures, encumbrances, and allocation by priority area to date is also provided in the presentation slides.
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