DATE: JANUARY 14, 2025
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
FROM: DAVID JACOBS, DIRECTOR
LISA BRINTON, DIRECTOR
THROUGH: ADRIANA ROBLES, CITY ENGINEER
GRANT LEONARD, PLANNING MANAGER
BY: MARIA CONTRERAS, MANAGEMENT ANALYST
TITLE: AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SALINAS, TAMC, AND ECOLOGY ACTION FOR COMPLETION OF THE ALISAL GREENING, BEAUTIFICATION AND SAFETY PROJECT, CIP 9345 RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to approve a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 1, and any amendments thereto, to an Agreement between the City of Salinas, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC), and Ecology Action (EA) for completion of the Alisal Greening, Beautification and Safety Project in conformance with the new term of the Caltrans Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) Restricted Grant Agreement, extending the term to December 31, 2025.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City was awarded $2,147,958 of Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) funding for the Alisal Greening, Beautification and Safety Project with a $306,851 local match requirement. On August 9, 2022, City Council approved Resolution No. 22441, Attachment 2, to enter into a Restricted Grant Agreement (RGA), Attachment 3, between the City and Caltrans for implementation and use of the CCLGP funds, and to enter into an agreement between the City, TAMC, and Ecology Action, Attachment 4, defining the partnership between the three agencies and the $149,955 contribution in TAMC funds to address the required City local match for the grant. The term of said referenced agreements expired on December 31, 2024; however, the Project is not yet complete. Caltrans has approved a 12-month extension for the City to complete the Project and the term of the CCGLP RGA has been amended through December 31, 2025, Attachment 5. Consequently, the City, TAMC, and Ecology Action agreement for the Project needs to be amended, Attachment 6, to align with the new term of the Caltrans CCLGP Restricted Grant Agreement.
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.
Through the AVP Implementation Plan, the City applied for and was awarded $2,147,958 of Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) grant funding for the Alisal Greening, Beautification and Safety Project (“the Project”) with a $306,851 local match requirement. On August 9, 2022, City Council adopted Resolution No. 22441 to enter into a Restricted Grant Agreement (RGA) between the City and Caltrans for implementation and use of the CCLGP funds, and to enter into an agreement between the City, TAMC, and Ecology Action defining the partnership between the three agencies and the $149,955 contribution in TAMC funds towards the required City local match for the grant. The term for both agreements expired on December 31, 2024; however, Caltrans has approved a 12-month extension for the City to complete the Project and the term of the CCGLP RGA has been amended through December 31, 2025. Consequently, the City, TAMC, and Ecology Action agreement for the Project needs to be amended.
The Project addresses litter abatement, greening, and beautification along East Alisal Street through installation of new street trees and shrubs at select locations primarily in existing tree wells; refurbishing and painting existing benches; installation of new trash receptacles for recycling and trash; installation of wayfinding signs, and installation of banners at existing streetlight poles. In addition, the Project includes improving the existing concrete patio along with existing vegetation along the frontage of the Breadbox Recreation Center with permeable pavers, street trees, shrubs, and new irrigation system, including installation of a solar-powered LED lighting bus shelter equipped with a trash receptacle and a bench at the existing MST bus stop. Moreover, the Project includes public art opportunities at the Alisal Street and Skyway Boulevard roundabout, the Closter Park Community Center, the Bread Box Recreation Center, and new trash and recycling receptacles. Lastly, the Project includes Walk Smart education to second grade students along with Walking School Bus Programming at four elementary schools, installation of sidewalk art along the routes (Safe Routes to School) used with the Walking School Bus Program, and Senior/Community Walking Group Program, led by TAMC and Ecology Action.
The City, TAMC, and Ecology Action have completed various phases of the Project improvements and activities with exception of the Public Art opportunities, and installation of banners, which are being procured by City staff, and TAMC’s installation of the SRTS sidewalk art. City staff is also closing out the construction contract for the infrastructure improvements which have been completed and will soon follow with City Council acceptance for maintenance of those improvements. Authorization of execution of Agreement Amendment No. 1 will allow the continued partnership between the City, TAMC, and Ecology Action for a successful completion of the Alisal Greening, Beautification and Safety Project in conformance with the extended term of the Caltrans CCLGP Restricted Grant Agreement. The completion of the Alisal Greening, Beautification and Safety Project will continue to demonstrate a greater impact to the Alisal while addressing the some of the short-term goals of the AVP Implementation Plan as well as expressing the City’s commitment to the Alisal community.
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). In addition, CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 includes the general rule that CEQA applies only to activities which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Because the proposed action and this matter have no potential to cause any effect on the environment, or because it falls within a category of activities excluded as projects pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378, this matter is not a project. 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.
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES:
No.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
Authorizing continuation of the agreement between the City, TAMC, and Ecology Action for Project completion supports City Council’s Goals of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability and Youth and Seniors. The Alisal Greening, Beautification and Safety Project addresses Caltrans CCLGP grant goals to reduce the amount of waste and debris within public rights-of-way, pathways, parks, transit centers, and other public spaces; enhance, rehabilitate, restore, or install measures to beautify and improve public spaces and mitigate the urban heat island effect; enhance public health, cultural connection, and community placemaking by improving public spaces for walking and recreation; and, advance equity for underserved communities.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
Development of the Alisal Greening, Beautification and Safety Project is a coordinated effort between the Community Development and Public Works Departments, which will continue through completion of the Project. In addition, frontage improvements at the Breadbox Recreation Center have been coordinated with the Library and Community Services Department which will continue during implementation of the public art opportunities. Lastly, staff will continue to coordinate with the Legal and Finance Department in the accounting of Project funds.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
Fund
Appropriation
Appropriation
Name
Total Appropriation
Amount for recommendation
FY 24-25 Operating Budget Page
Last Budget Action (Date, Resolution)
5800
30.9345-66.6010
Outside Services-Other Outside Services
$210,824.95
$0
N/A
8/9/22, 22441
The total cost of the Project associated with this agreement is $649,809 and is funded by the Clean California Local Grant Program, with a required 12.5% local (City) match of which TAMC is contributing $149,955 in Measure X funds. Said funding was appropriated through Council action (Resolution 22441).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
Attachment 2: Resolution No. 22441
Attachment 3: Caltrans CCLGP Restricted Grant Agreement Attachment 4: Agreement between the City, TAMC and Ecology Action Attachment 5: Caltrans CCLGP Restricted Grant Agreement Amendment No. 1 Attachment 6: Agreement Amendment No. 1 between the City, TAMC and Ecology Action Page | 3
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