ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: City Manager Item No: D1
Prepared by: Imelda M. Huerta, Assistant City Manager Meeting Date: October 22, 2024 Approved by: John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Discussion SUBJECT: DOWNTOWN STREET CLOSURES AND PUBLIC SPACE COMMITTEE
RECONSIDERATION
RECOMMENDATION: Discuss the reconsideration of the Downtown Street Closures and Public Space Committee item presented at the October 8, 2024 City Council meeting and provide direction to staff.
CORRELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: A Cleaner, More Beautiful Vista; Parks and Recreation; Economic Development; and Traffic: Continue to Improve the Flow of Traffic for All Forms of Travel, Reduce Congestion, and Improve Roads and Sidewalks.
PRIOR ACTION: On October 8, 2024, discussed the formation of an ad-hoc committee. Directed staff to add a Community Safety Commissioner to the committee, appointed Councilmember Contreras to the committee, and to bring the item back to the City Council for further discussion; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-162, amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2023/24 and 2024/25 (Vote: 3-0, (Green and O'Donnell absent)).
On March 26, 2024, the City Council discussed permanent street closure(s) in Downtown Vista and provided direction to staff to study one-way street options on Main Street and E. Broadway with added street parking, temporary closure of S. Indiana Street for events, conversion of three parking spaces to parkette, Cyclovia event, and advertisement of public parking in the Rylan Apartments parking structure No Vote).
A complete list of prior City Council actions is included as Exhibit 1.
STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: On October 8, 2024, the City Council discussed the formation of an ad- hoc committee to consider downtown street closures and use of the public space. The discussion also included evaluating parking space, the use of the available public space, community outreach/input, and approval of funding for a technical circulation and parking analysis, as well as funding for a design study. At the meeting, City Council directed staff to add a Community Safety Commissioner to the committee, appointed Councilmember Contreras to the committee, and to bring the item back to the City Council for further discussion. A resolution was also adopted amending the Operating Budget to allocate available funding for the technical studies. The October 8, 2024 staff report is attached as Exhibit 2 for reference.
Mayor Franklin requested the City Manager place a discussion item on an upcoming agenda to discuss the reconsideration of this item.
AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
Reaffirmed support of staff’s recommendations with the addition of a committee member from the Community Safety Committee and the appointment of Councilmember Contreras, and directed staff bring back conceptual sketches to City Council for discussion prior to expending funds on traffic engineering analysis. Vote: 5-0
MEETING DATE: October 22, 2024 PAGE 2
SUBJECT: DOWNTOWN STREET CLOSURES AND PUBLIC SPACE COMMITTEE
RECONSIDERATION
FISCAL IMPACT: No direct fiscal impact with this recommendation.
EXHIBITS:
1.Prior City Council Actions
2.October 8, 2024 Agenda Report
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PRIOR CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS
On October 8, 2024, discussed the formation of an ad-hoc committee. Directed staff to add a Community Safety Commissioner to the committee, appointed Councilmember Contreras to the committee, and to bring the item back to the City Council for further discussion; and adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-162, amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2023/24 and 2024/25 (Vote: 3-0, (Green and O'Donnell absent)).
On March 26, 2024, the City Council discussed permanent street closure(s) in Downtown Vista and provided direction to staff to study one-way street options on Main Street and E. Broadway with added street parking, temporary closure of S. Indiana Street for events, conversion of three parking spaces to parkette, Cyclovia event, and advertisement of public parking in the Rylan Apartments parking structure (No Vote).
On September 24, 2019, discussed the public plaza at Main Street and S. Indiana Avenue and directed staff to delay the project and continue working with the business community to allow for new ideas to be presented (No vote taken).
On April 23, 2019, discussed the public plaza at Main Street and S. Indiana Avenue and directed staff to bring back a proposed Capital Improvement Project for Option C and an estimate of the costs involved in evaluating the Lowen proposal (Vote: 5-0).
On June 8, 1999, adopted City Council Resolution No. 99-78, approving an agreement for the Main Street Improvement Project with Castello, Inc. (Vote: 5-0). 10/22/2024 D1 3 of 17
EXHIBIT 1
ACTION:
Clerk/Secretary
Department: City Manager Item No: D1
Prepared by: John Conley, City Manager Meeting Date: October 8, 2024 Approved by: John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Discussion SUBJECT: COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER DOWNTOWN STREET CLOSURES AND PUBLIC SPACE RECOMMENDATION:
1.Discuss the formation of an ad-hoc committee to evaluate the closure of public streets, one-way streets, parking considerations, and public open space in the Historic Downtown area, and provide direction to staff.
2.Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2024- , amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2023/24 and 2024/25.
CORRELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: A Cleaner, More Beautiful Vista; Parks and Recreation; Economic Development; and Traffic: Continue to Improve the Flow of Traffic for All Forms of Travel, Reduce Congestion, and Improve Roads and Sidewalks.
PRIOR ACTION: On March 26, 2024, the City Council discussed permanent street closure(s) in Downtown Vista and provided direction to staff to study one-way street options on Main Street and E. Broadway with added street parking, temporary closure of S. Indiana Street for events, conversion of three parking spaces to parkette, Cyclovia event, and advertisement of public parking in the Rylan Apartments parking structure No Vote).
A complete list of prior City Council actions is included as Exhibit 2.
STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: On March 4, 2024, the Central Vista Business Improvement District CVBID) Advisory Board held their regular meeting and invited business owners to discuss the idea of closing streets in the Historic Downtown area. The discussion included the concept of providing additional space for individuals to walk and bike, the creation of outdoor seating and dining areas, and concerns regarding decreased parking availability and increased traffic congestion. Following this discussion, on March 26, 2024, the City Council discussed the Historic Downtown area and asked staff to further evaluate opportunities for increased parking, public street closures and/or one-way streets, and the use of City- owned public space. A location map of the Historic Downtown area is included as Exhibit 1. The Historic Downtown has a general grid-pattern street layout with varying rights-of-way that include some on-street parking and pedestrian plazas. The City further owns the property at the southeast corner of Main Street and S. Indiana Street, where the gazebo is currently located. This combination of public rights-of-way and City-owned property presents an opportunity to further evaluate this area to improve parking and the use of the available public space. In order to effectively evaluate the various concepts requested by the City AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
1. Discussed the formation of an ad-hoc committee. Directed staff to add a Community Safety Commissioner to the committee, appointed Councilmember Contreras to the committee, and to bring the item back to the City Council for further discussion. 2. Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2024-162. Vote: 3-0 (Green and O'Donnell absent)
10/22/2024 D1 4 of 17
EXHIBIT 2
MEETING DATE: October 8, 2024 PAGE 2
SUBJECT: COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER DOWNTOWN STREET CLOSURES AND PUBLIC SPACE Council and make informed recommendations regarding future improvements, staff recommends establishing an ad-hoc committee with a defined scope of work.
Ad-Hoc Committee Membership. Staff is recommending a combination of elected and appointed City officials, downtown business and property owners, Chamber of Commerce representation, and residents, as follows:
One member of the City Council
One member of the Planning Commission
One member of the Traffic Commission
One member of the CVBID Advisory Committee
One member representing the Chamber of Commerce
Two business owners in the Historic Downtown area
Two property owners in the Historic Downtown area
Two residents in Historic Downtown area
The committee appointments can be made by the City Council or by City staff, at the City Council’s direction. The Committee would be staffed by the City Manager’s Office, Public Works, Economic Development, Planning and Engineering. Once appointed, the Committee would establish objectives and goals and discuss the anticipated scope of work in a kickoff meeting ahead of the technical studies, discussed below.
Recommended Scope of Work. Staff recommends the scope of work include a technical circulation and parking analysis from a Traffic Engineer, as well as design concepts for the public space from a Landscape Architect or Architectural consultant specializing in the use of public space. The Traffic Engineer would be asked to provide the following general scope of work to evaluate circulation and parking in the area:
1.Collect data of existing conditions, traffic volumes, turning movements, and parking.
2.Develop a total of three alternative scenarios for circulation that include scenarios for one-way schemes and street closures.
3.Analyze the impacts that each alternative would have on access, circulation and parking.
4.Develop criteria to rank the alternatives.
5.Draft conceptual drawings for the preferred alternative.
6. Develop a cost estimate for the preferred alternative.
7.Present findings to the Committee and ultimately to the City Council.
The cost of this technical analysis is estimated at $75,000.
The Architect/Landscape Architect would be asked to provide the following general scope of work to evaluate the City-owned property, inclusive of the gazebo property:
1.Site Analysis and evaluation, existing conditions documentation
2.Public Outreach / Community Engagement
3.Develop prioritized evaluation criteria and perform data analysis
4.Draft three or more design recommendations
5.Develop a cost estimate for the preferred alternative
6.Present findings to the Committee and ultimately to the City Council.
The cost of this design study is estimated at $30,000.
The Committee will conclude this effort with a final report to the City Council, inclusive of their recommendations.
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MEETING DATE: October 8, 2024 PAGE 3
SUBJECT: COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER DOWNTOWN STREET CLOSURES AND PUBLIC SPACE Schedule. Following the direction of the City Council, staff can initiate this effort within the next three months, once the Committee members are appointed and contracts for the technical studies are completed.
The technical studies and final Committee recommendations are anticipated to take approximately six to nine months.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed technical studies for this effort are estimated to cost $105,000. These funds are available in the Fiscal Year 2024/25 General Fund remaining unallocated fund balance (Account No. 0010000.310410) and may be used for this purpose. Contracts for these services can be established under the City Manager’s authority following a bidding process or can be brought back for the City Council’s consideration, at the Council’s direction.
EXHIBITS:
1.Historic Downtown Area – Location Map
2.Prior City Council Actions
3.City Council Resolution No. 2024- , amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2023/24 and 2024/25
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Exhibit 1: Location Map
Historic Downtown – Project Area
City-owned or Successor Agency-owned properties
City-owned Gazebo property
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EXHIBIT 1
10/22/2024 D1 7 of 17
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS
On March 26, 2024, the City Council discussed permanent street closure(s) in Downtown Vista and provided direction to staff to study one-way street options on Main Street and E. Broadway with added street parking, temporary closure of S. Indiana Street for events, conversion of three parking spaces to parkette, Cyclovia event, and advertisement of public parking in the Rylan Apartments parking structure (No Vote).
On September 24, 2019, discussed the public plaza at Main Street and S. Indiana Avenue and directed staff to delay the project and continue working with the business community to allow for new ideas to be presented (No vote taken).
On April 23, 2019, discussed the public plaza at Main Street and S. Indiana Avenue and directed staff to bring back a proposed Capital Improvement Project for Option C and an estimate of the costs involved in evaluating the Lowen proposal (Vote: 5-0).
On June 8, 1999, adopted City Council Resolution No. 99-78, approving an agreement for the Main Street Improvement Project with Castello, Inc. (Vote: 5-0). 10/08/2024 D1 5 of 7
EXHIBIT 2
10/22/2024 D1 8 of 17
00029213 7
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CHARTERED CITY OF
VISTA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE OPERATING BUDGET
FOR FISCAL YEARS 2023/24 AND 2024/25
The City Council of the City of Vista does resolve as follows:
1. Findings. The City Council hereby finds and declares the following:
A. On June 27, 2023 the City Council adopted Resolution 2023-117 approving the Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2023/24 and 2024/25.
B. The City Council desires to amend the Operating and Capital Project Budgets at this time to reflect changed circumstances.
2. Action.
A. The Operating Budget for Fiscal Years 2023/24 and 2024/25 is amended as set forth in Exhibit A.
3.Adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a meeting of the City Council of the City of Vista held on October 8, 2024, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
WALTER CHUNG, CITY ATTORNEY
By:
APPROVED
Walter C. Chung
20230814103001
JOHN B. FRANKLIN, MAYOR
ATTEST:
KATHY VALDEZ, CITY CLERK
By:
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EXHIBIT 3
10/22/2024 D1 9 of 17
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-
CITY COUNCIL FOR THE CHARTERED CITY OF VISTA
PAGE 1 EXHIBIT A
1. Account Number Account Description Increase Decrease 0010000.310410 FUNDBALANCE UNRSRVD/UNDESIGTD 105,000$
0010145.521000 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 105,000.00$
Appropriations are hereby made to fund the technical studies for Downtown Street Closures and Public Space. 10/08/2024 D1 7 of 710/22/2024 D1 10 of 17
October 8, 2024
D1: Committee to Consider Downtown
Street Closures and Public Space
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D1: Committee to ConsiderDowntown Street Closures and Public Space History
The City Council discussed street closures in the Historic Downtown area on March26, 2024, and requested staff evaluate several options to improve parking, evaluate street closures both permanent and temporary, and improve public space
Staff recommends establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee to discuss these issues, evaluate options, and make recommendations to the City Council on these topics.
10/22/2024 D1 12 of 17
D1: Committee to ConsiderDowntown Street Closures and Public Space Location
The Historic Downtown area generally is bounded
by Vista VillageDrive, S. Citrus Avenue,
Eucalyptus Avenue, and S. Santa Fe Avenue
City-ownedparcels are shown
The scope wouldinclude anevaluation of the
City-owned gazebo property for public space
10/22/2024 D1 13 of 17
Committee
Staff recommends the following Committee makeup:
o One member of the City Council
o One member of the Planning Commission
o One member of the Traffic Commission
o One member of the CVBID Advisory Committee
o One member representing the Chamber of Commerce
o Two business owners in the Historic Downtown
o Two property owners in the Historic Downtown
o Two residents in theHistoric Downtown
D1: Committee to ConsiderDowntown Street Closures and Public Space 10/22/2024 D1 14 of 17
Scope of Work
Staff recommends the Committee follow an established scope of work that wouldinclude:
o Technical Circulation and Parking Analysis
o Public Space Design Concepts
Following the scope of work, the Committee would be asked to develop formal recommendations to the City Council
Staff anticipates approximately three months to start the process forselection of committee members and contracting forthe technical studies D1: Committee to ConsiderDowntown Street Closures and Public Space 10/22/2024 D1 15 of 17
Staff requests:
o The City Council’s input on the proposed committee makeup and scope of work
o Approval to budget for the requested technical studies and initiate requests for proposals
Staff will return to the City Council in December with a reportonappointments to the Committee and initiation of the process
D1: Committee to ConsiderDowntown Street Closures and Public Space 10/22/2024 D1 16 of 17
October 8, 2024
D1: Committee to Consider Downtown
Street Closures and Public Space
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Vista D1 – 10/22/24
I enthusiastically support exploring downtown street
closures and reviewing public spaces. Benefits include:
1.Prioritizing public transit, active transportation, and more effective use of public gathering spaces
a.Most people want access to spaces where we can
bike, walk, and use public transit near our mobility
center
2.Pollution and congestion will be reduced. GHG
emissions will fall. Cities around the world have
observed increased biodiversity and quality of their
urban ecosystem.
3.Residents and visitors will enjoy local amenities and socialize, mitigating harms from isolation. Chronic
isolation carries the same health risks as smoking 15
cigarettes a day and increases the odds of premature
death by 26%.
4.There is strong evidence that creating people-centered spaces is beneficial to local businesses. I lived in St.
Augustine for a few years, where a vehicle-free zone
attracted visitors from around Florida and tourists from around the world. Restaurants, shops, and galleries
flourished as everyone enjoyed a safe and nourishing
family outing.
I ask that the ad-hoc committee also explore possible super- blocks and mini-blocks. These are popular climate solutions worldwide. Barcelona is installing 503 super-blocks around the city.
Let’s create spaces for cultural expression, social
interaction, celebration and public demonstration!
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