DATE: APRIL 4, 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 adopt a resolution to receive and accept the 2022-2023 AVP Implementation Report and updated AVP Implementation Budget for activities through fiscal year 2024 with funds appropriated through fiscal year 2023.
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 as attachments to this staff 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 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. Staff met with the Implementation Committee on March 15th to review the 2022-2023 implementation update, Envisio reporting templates, and budget allocation and project and planning expenditures.
DISCUSSION:
Envisio Tracking and Reporting Software Platform
In August 2022, the City’s Innovation Team, led by the Information Technology Department, selected AVP implementation to pilot Envisio, a project implementation tracking and reporting software platform that documents and shares implementation progress through narrative reports, analytics, and a public dashboard. Community Development, Public Works and Library and Community Services staff worked collaboratively with the Envisio team to build the framework of goals, policies and actions and the reporting template to track AVP implementation.
The Envisio platform promotes efficiency and transparency as it allows for cross division and department collaboration and contribution to manage, report, and share AVP implementation progress with the public. Current AVP priority goals, policies, and actions, including workplans and checklists have been entered into the Enviso platform. Screen shots of the AVP set up and report template examples are provided as attachments to this report. The next step will be to launch a public dashboard to illustrate AVP implementation progress. Both reports and the dashboard will be updated quarterly going forward. 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 and 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 Collaboration and Partnerships
The City alone is not responsible for AVP implementation. Staff has continued to build partnerships to successfully carry out AVP activities. Two examples this past year include the small business support and economic development activities with the Salinas United Business Association (SUBA) and the 2022 Alisal MOU with the County of Monterey.
SUBA. Within the last year, SUBA has worked collaboratively in partnership with the city staff to develop and execute shop local initiatives to promote Alisal businesses, identify business ambassadors to champion volunteer clean-up efforts along the E. Alisal Street commercial corridor, connect businesses with city support services, and
offer training opportunities to its members.
County of Monterey. The City Council approved the 2022 Alisal Memorandum of Understanding (Alisal MOU) with the County of Monterey in November 2022. The three (3) primary areas of coordination and planning are:
Development of a Division Avenue Opportunity Site Master Plan Concept Mobility and connectivity to and between parks, government facilities and services Coordination of resources and expansion of health and mental health services Alisal MOU activities to date include:
the preparation of a draft Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement with the Housing Authority of Monterey County for the development of affordable housing on city/successor agency owned property at E. Market Street and N. Sanborn Road, County’s completion of a facility needs assessment for the Youth Detention Facility, and the selection of an Active Transportation Plan Update consultant, which includes development of a Master Trail Network Plan in the Alisal as part of the scope of work.
The next step in Spring 2023 will be to seek consultant services to support the preparation of a Master Plan for the Greater Division Avenue area, which includes both city and county owned properties.
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 as an attachment to this staff report. 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 as an attachment to this report.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
The Alisal Vibrancy Plan and Implementation Plan are strategic planning documents. The action of receiving this 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 improvements to 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 working closely with Public Works and Library and Community Services staff to further traffic and infrastructure and recreation facility and park priority improvements. APPI coordinates with Public Works and Library and Community Services staff to prepare AVP Implementation progress 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 AVP Implementation update on implementation activities undertaken in FY 2022-2023. It is recommended that Council approve the updated 2022-2024 AVP Implementation Budget appropriations for upcoming priority projects and plans through fiscal year 2024 with funds appropriated through fiscal year 2023.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution – Accepting AVP Implementation Report and 2022-2024 Budget Envisio AVP Implementation Set Up, Progress Report Templates, and Report Example AVP Budget Allocation Charts
AVP Project and Planning Activity Expenditure List
Breadbox Mural Implementation Photos
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