DATE: APRIL 18, 2023
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS, TRANSPORTATION & TRAFFIC DIVISION FROM: DAVID JACOBS, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
MEGAN HUNTER, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
BY: ANDREW EASTERLING, TRAFFIC ENGINEER
LISA BRINTON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
TITLE: PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SALINAS AND SWA GROUP FOR THE ALISAL VIBRANCY PLAN: STREETSCAPE MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an Agreement for Professional Services (PSA) between the City of Salinas and SWA Group for a total compensation amount not to exceed $399,900 to prepare the Alisal Vibrancy Plan: Streetscape Master Plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City of Salinas City Council approved Resolution No. 21731 on November 5, 2019, accepting the Alisal Vibrancy Plan (AVP) as a key strategic planning document. The AVP establishes transportation and infrastructure goals to design and maintain safe streets; and to establish a connected and equitable multimodal transportation network. To advance AVP community recommended policies and actions, the City developed and advertised a request for proposals for the Alisal Vibrancy Plan: Streetscape Master Plan (SMP). The SMP scope of work includes data gathering, base mapping, developing streetscape concepts, community engagement, and developing a final Streetscape Master Plan that reflects design decisions and community input. Based on the rating and ranking of a diverse evaluation committee composed of staff from various departments, and a community stakeholder, SWA Group was selected as the preferred consultant for this project.
BACKGROUND:
The Alisal Vibrancy Plan (AVP) was the result of years of visioning, community organizing, and relationship building between the City of Salinas and Alisal residents. The AVP’s purpose is to communicate the collective vision, goals, and desires of those who live, work, and shop in the Alisal. Over 2,000 residents and community stakeholders participated in a community-led engagement process that resulted in more than 150 strategies. Community recommendations evolved into goals, policies and actions that are the documented as implementation actions in the final Alisal Vibrancy Plan. The Plan establishes four specific goals for Transportation and Infrastructure.
GOAL TI 1: Design and Maintain Safe Streets. Transportation safety in the Alisal can be improved through better street and intersection design and maintenance. Well-marked crosswalks in addition to sidewalk connections and extensions can make neighborhood streets safer and more welcoming to pedestrians. Bike facilities will allow another way for residents to get around safely and easily. New curb and street designs will be used to decrease traffic speed in neighborhoods and around schools.
Goal TI 2: Establish a Connected and Equitable Multimodal Transportation Network. Matching bus schedules and routes to community needs and creating a robust network of bike lanes can increase transit ridership and encourage many Alisal residents to use alternative forms of transportation. Encouraging carpooling and public transportation can reduce the number of cars on the road and provide suitable options for residents without cars.
Goal TI 3: Provide High Functioning Infrastructure and Attractive Streets with Pedestrian Amenities. In order for the Alisal to be a safe, healthy, and thriving community, sewers, stormwater systems, internet services, and other utilities must be upgraded to serve its population now and in the future. Green infrastructure, street furniture, and pedestrian design are also essential considerations for sustaining and supporting neighborhood activity.
Goal TI 4: Improve Parking Management for Both Residents and Businesses. Demand for parking is exacerbated by the high residential density of the Alisal and lack of controls in commercial areas. By applying and effectively enforcing a parking management program, availability in commercial and residential zones can be increased. Efforts to promote alternative transportation can reduce parking demand and free up parking spaces by decreasing the amount of individual car trips.
DISCUSSION:
Objectives of Streetscape Master Plan
In an effort to advance the AVP transportation and infrastructure goals city staff developed a scope of work to develop a master plan with specific streetscape concepts and guidelines that can be delivered as real projects to improve the functionality and safety of the Alisal’s primary commercial corridors to meet the needs of the community. The Streetscape Master Plan will build upon the work from the Alisal Vibrancy Plan, and refine Alisal’s major commercial corridors, specifically East Market Street, North Sanborn Road, East Alisal Street, and Williams Road further into more tangible final streetscape concepts. Development of the Streetscape Master Plan will include an analysis of traffic operations and traffic simulations for community engagement. Community input will be critical to inform and the develop a final plan for adoption. The project team will work with the community and project stakeholders to reach a consensus on a preferred final concept for each corridor. Staff has determined that consultant support will be necessary for this scope of work.
Consultant Selection Process
On December 20, 2022, the City published a request for proposals for the Alisal Vibrancy Plan: Streetscape Master Plan. The scope of work includes project management, data gathering and existing conditions, developing streetscape concepts, community engagement, and a final streetscape master plan. Two consultant teams, SWA Group and Kimley Horn and Associates, submitted proposals in response to the request for proposals. A diverse evaluation committee composed of staff from various departments reviewed the proposals and asked the consultant teams to interview. Alejandro Chavez, the executive director of the Salinas Unified Business Associations (SUBA), was invited to participate in the interview process. After interviews, staff and the community stakeholder selected SWA Group as the preferred consultant for this project. Staff recommends the approval of the agreement for Professional Services between the City of Salinas and SWA Group for the Alisal Vibrancy Plan: Streetscape Master Plan.
Coordination with Alisal District Identity Master Plan
The Streetscape Master Plan was planned to be coordinated closely with another ongoing effort, the Alisal District Identity Master Plan (ADIMP). The ADIMP includes the development of district identity themes, branding, color palette, and commercial corridor, façade and public art design guidelines. The ADIMP will precede the Streetscape Master Plan and will help inform the development of streetscape concepts. The two projects will evolve through shared community engagement, and it is anticipated that the plans will inform each other as they are refined.
Scope of Work and Schedule
The complete scope of work and schedule are provided as an attachment to this report. In summary, the preparation of a public review draft ADIMP is projected to take approximately 32 weeks from project kick off. Community engagement will include multilingual surveys, virtual and in person community meetings. In addition, SWA will work with stakeholders to develop initial alternative streetscape concepts, and then model and test the concepts with AVP goals. Feedback from the community will refine the concepts into a final preferred streetscape design. Primary deliverables that will become part of the SMP include Base Maps and Traffic Models
Alternative Streetscape Concepts
Sidewalk Programming and Opportunities for Gateways and Public Art Community Engagement Material and Final Memo
Final Streetscape Master Plan and Basis of Design Memo
Opinion of Probable Cost and Funding Opportunities
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378).
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
The preparation of the Alisal Streetscape Master Plan furthers the City Council Strategic Plan Goals of Economic Development and Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability. The Streetscape Master Plan implements AVP priorities related to transportation and infrastructure by developing specific streetscape concepts and guidelines that can be delivered as real projects to improve the functionality and safety of the Alisal’s primary commercial corridors to meet the needs of the community and create safe, efficient, multi-modal commercial corridors for all users.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
Public Works Department staff led the RFP preparation, consultant selection process, and final ADIMP scope and budget negotiation with the support of Community Development staff and community stakeholders. The Legal Department assisted with finalizing the Agreement for Professional Services. Streetscape Master Plan preparation and implementation will be developed in partnership between the Community Development and Public Works Departments. The Finance Department will assist in the project accounting.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact to the General Fund. This agreement, for a total amount not to exceed $399,900, is fully funded through the Alisal Vibrancy Plan CIP 9246.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Attachment 1: Professional Services between the City of Salinas and SWA Group Attachment 2: Request for Proposal for Development of the Alisal Vibrancy Plan: Alisal Streetscape Master Plan Attachment 3: SWA Group Proposal
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