Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting

MINUTES NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM COMMITTEE Special Meeting Thursday, August 2, 2012 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS, FEW MEMORIAL HALL 580 PACIFIC STREET MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA NIP Representatives & Aguajito Oaks NIP Rep Morgan Alternates Present: Aguajito Oaks NIP Alt Foss Alta Mesa NIP Rep Heuer Casanova-Oak Knoll NIP Rep Ruccello Casanova Oak-Knoll NIP Alt Brassfield Del Monte Beach NIP Rep Fields Del Monte Grove-Laguna Grande NIP Rep Alley Fisherman Flats NIP Alt Pagnillo Monterey Vista NIP Rep Jannasch New Monterey NIP Rep Dwight Oak Grove NIP Rep DiMaggio Oak Grove NIP Alt Green Old Town NIP Rep Harrison Skyline Forest NIP Rep Duke Villa Del Monte Rep Maas-Baldwin Staff Members Present: NIP Staff Coordinator Reeves, Recording Secretary Allen CALL TO ORDER NIP Staff Coordinator Reeves called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Twelve neighborhoods were represented, with Deer Flats and Skyline Ridge not represented. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. April 10, 2012 2. April 26, 2012 Sharon Dwight made a motion to approve the April 10, 2012 minutes as amended and the April 26, 2012 minutes as submitted. Jayme Fields seconded the motion. The motion was approved by twelve Representatives, with Deer Flats and Skyline Ridge absent. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Reeves opened Public Comments. Seeing no requests to speak, Mr. Reeves closed Public Comments.  Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Minutes Thursday, August 2, 2012 INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 3. Abby Foss Appointed Aguajito Oaks Alternate to Replace Vance Baldwin (who was Appointed to Parks and Recreation Commission by Council on May 1, 2012) Mr. Reeves reported that Abby Foss was appointed Aguajito Oaks Alternate by City Council on June 19, 2012. 4. Requirement to Swear in NIP Committee Members to be Implemented in 2013 Mr. Reeves advised the Committee that every NIP Committee Representative and Alternate would need to be sworn in after their official appointment by Council each year beginning in 2013. He said he would hold a swearing-in ceremony at the January Kick- off meeting and that anyone who did not attend the meeting would have to come in to the office and be sworn in by Administrative Assistant Allen. NIP INFORMATIONAL REPORTS 5. NIP Spokesperson Reports Alternate Spokesperson Ruccello reported that he attended the June 19, 2012 Council meeting and that the work the NIP Committee did this year was well received by Council. Alternate Spokesperson Dwight reported that she attended the June and July Parks and Recreation Commission meetings and went on their June van tour. She said it was noted that the school district has locked up Bay View School preventing the neighborhood from fully using all the playground areas. She said the Commission was concerned that this situation does not honor the joint use agreement with the city, and the Commission asked staff to investigate. Spokesperson Heuer asked for a topic for the upcoming Mayor’s Meeting. The Committee concurred that the topic should be on how to enforce joint use agreements the city has entered into for NIP projects that are built on property owned by other jurisdictions. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 6. NIP Project Cost Subcommittee Report Jayme Fields gave a presentation on the NIP Project Cost Subcommittee’s findings regarding the administrative costs charged to the NIP fund by staff. The Committee discussed the presentation, how project estimates are determined, and how the estimates compare with the actual cost to build project. Rick Heuer questioned if it was legal for the city to administer the NIP as a special fund, and whether that meets the NIP Charter. The Committee concurred that the NIP Project Cost Subcommittee should continue with further research on project costs. Jayme Fields nominated Tom DiMaggio to join the subcommittee, and Mr. DiMaggio agreed. Jayme Fields made a motion to appoint Tom DiMaggio to the NIP Project Cost Subcommittee. Sharon Dwight seconded the motion. The motion was approved by twelve Representatives, with Deer Flats and Skyline Ridge absent. Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 2, 2012 2  Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Minutes Thursday, August 2, 2012 7. Discuss Setting Project Priorities for Approved NIP Projects and Strategies for Addressing Project Backlog Richard Ruccello questioned how public safety is factored into the decision on which projects to build first. Mr. Reeves said many factors are considered including staff qualifications and workload, time of year, and grant funded projects that have associated time lines. He said that public safety is always a factor. The Committee discussed and gave examples of projects. Sharon Dwight suggested that Council hire an engineer to work only on NIP projects with the position paid from NIP funds. The Committee concurred with the exception of Dennis Duke who stated that he felt the City should determine how funds are spent for staffing. Mr. Reeves opened Public Comments. Lee Whitney, Glenwood Circle resident, asked that NIP projects be given equal priority along with the city projects. She said the radar speed sign on Glenwood Circle had finally been installed and questioned why it took so long. She supported the Committee’s idea to hire an engineer for work on NIP projects. Seeing no further requests to speak, Mr. Reeves closed Public Comments. 8. Lighthouse EIR/Preliminary Engineering Project (37n1225) New Monterey Request to Revise Scope Sharon Dwight advised the Committee that the New Monterey Neighborhood Association has asked that the scope of the Lighthouse EIR/Preliminary Engineering project be changed to synchronized signal lights at three intersections on Lighthouse Avenue, specifically for Reeside, Dickman, and Drake. She said the neighborhood felt that the change would still meet the intention of the original project, which was to improve the traffic flow on Lighthouse Avenue. Mr. Reeves confirmed that the reconfiguration would work with whatever future changes were implemented on Lighthouse. Ms. Dwight reminded the Committee that at their April 5, 2012 NIP project meeting she had stated her intent to pull the signal project from the FY2012/13 NIP list of proposed projects and request a change of scope of the existing Lighthouse EIR/Preliminary Engineering project. Rick Heuer said he did not support the original project, and the revised proposal is too much of a change from the original. Richard Ruccello said he believed the proposed change is a new project; therefore, the original project should be deappropriated and the revised scope request submitted as a new project next cycle, and Mr. Heuer agreed. Jayme Fields voiced her concerns about rescoping the project, but said the Committee has a history of approving money for an idea to solve a specific project if the change met the neighborhood’s original purpose. She cited the Del Monte Beach Circulation Study that was originally for chicanes to slow traffic but after many years with no workable solution was rescoped to the circulation study. Mr. Reeves opened Public Comments. Mike Brassfield, Casanova Oak Knoll resident, said he does not remember past examples of such drastic changes in scope and asked if precedent is being changed. Mike Dawson, Alta Mesa neighborhood, reminded the Committee of a project in Old Town for a stop sign on High Street that was rescoped to a signal light at Franklin and Monroe. He said it became a problem for the residents of that block. Seeing no further requests to speak, Mr. Reeves closed Public Comments. Sharon Dwight made a motion to recommend to Council to revise the scope of the Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 2, 2012 3  Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Minutes Thursday, August 2, 2012 Lighthouse EIR/Preliminary Engineering project to Signal Upgrades at Reeside, Dickman, and Drake on Lighthouse Avenue. Jayme Fields seconded the motion. Aguajito Oaks, Del Monte Beach, Monterey Vista, New Monterey, Oak Grove and Villa Del Monte approved the motion. Alta Mesa, Casanova Oak Knoll, Del Monte Grove Laguna Grande, Fisherman Flats, Old Town, and Skyline Forest voted no, with Deer Flats and Skyline Ridge absent. The motion failed with a tie vote of 6-6- 2. 9. Approve Correction to FY2012/13 NIP Contingency Fund Mr. Reeves reported that there had been an error on the April 26, 2012 meeting voting spreadsheet. He said after the error was corrected there was an additional balance of $33,000. Rick Heuer made a motion to leave the balance of $33,000 in ending balance. Richard Pagnillo seconded the motion. The motion was approved by twelve Representatives, with Deer Flats and Skyline Ridge absent. 10. Project Solicitation for FY 2013/14 NIP Mr. Reeves reviewed options for soliciting projects, including placing an ad on the web through the Herald’s contract with Yahoo. After discussion, the Committee concurred to follow the same process as last year, explore additional outreach options, and not spend funds on a mailer to every household in Monterey. 11. Approve Changes to Monterey Vista and Skyline Forest Neighborhood Boundaries and Update NIP Boundary Map Mr. Reeves advised the Committee of Monterey Vista neighborhood’s request to add the section on Yerba Buena that is part of Monterey Vista Neighborhood Association to their NIP boundary and Parcel B, both currently part of Skyline Forest. Mr. Reeves said Monterey Vista was asking to also include Veteran’s Park as part of their NIP boundary. April Harrison said Old Town Neighborhood Association Board did not fully support Veteran’s Park becoming part of Monterey Vista. Hans Jannasch said his neighborhood felt the two residents who lived in Veteran’s Park should be represented. Jayme Fields said adding the Yerba Buena area to Monterey Vista would decrease the population and base allocation for Skyline Forest. Sharon Dwight said a decision about Parcel B and Veteran’s Park should not be made until Skyline Ridge has an NIP representative present. Dennis Duke said that Skyline Forest Neighborhood Board felt the residents of Yerba Buena neighborhood belonged to Monterey Vista and supported the request. Mr. Reeves opened Public Comments. Seeing no requests to speak, Mr. Reeves closed Public Comments. Sharon Dwight made a motion to add Yerba Buena area into Monterey Vista NIP boundary. Rick Heuer seconded the motion. The motion passed 11-1-2 with eleven Representatives approving, Monterey Vista voting no, and Deer Flats and Skyline Ridge absent. Hans Jannasch made a motion to add all of Veteran’s Park and Parcel B to the Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 2, 2012 4  Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Minutes Thursday, August 2, 2012 Monterey Vista NIP boundary. Richard Pagnillo seconded the motion. The motion failed 2-10-2 with Skyline Forest and Monterey Vista approving, ten Representatives opposing, and Deer Flats and Skyline Ridge absent. 12. Request NIP Policies and Procedure Manual Revision Items Mr. Reeves asked the Committee for revisions to the NIP Policies and Procedure Manual for the NIP Policies and Procedure Manual Subcommittee to consider. Richard Ruccello stated his concerns regarding NIP projects built on property owned by other jurisdictions, that approval by the jurisdiction should include public review and cost sharing. He also stated his concerns about projects paid by NIP where Monterey residents are not allowed access, such as Bay View School playground. Rick Heuer asked for clear guidance in the manual to include cost sharing and legal agreements for ongoing community access. Mr. Ruccello also said consensus of affected property owners should include signature of approval of a project for sidewalks and retaining walls, along with traffic calming projects. Mr. Reeves said he had a few housekeeping items, and asked to add a clear definition that radar speed signs were not a traffic-calming element. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Tom DiMaggio (Oak Grove) had no comment. Jason Maas-Baldwin (Villa Del Monte) had no comment. Jayme Fields (Del Monte Beach) had no comment. Sharon Dwight (New Monterey) reported that she met with staff and the framing is up for the fence surrounding the Hilltop water storage tank. Richard Pagnello (Fisherman Flats) had no comment. April Harrison (Old Town) thanked the NIP Project Cost Subcommittee for their work. Olivia Morgan (Aguajito Oaks) said she was glad to be back after her hip replacement and that going around the city with a temporary disability gave her a new awareness of the challenges the permanently disabled face. She commended the NIP Committee for past projects that aid the disabled. Hans Jannasch (Monterey Vista) had no comment. Dennis Duke (Skyline Forest) said it was nice to be back and since his injury, he has been more aware of the impediments of getting around town. Merrily Alley (Del Monte Grove-Laguna Grande) had no comment. Richard Ruccello (Casanova Oak Knoll) echoed Olivia’s comments about handicapped access, and said the city cannot continue to ignore hazards around the city for the handicapped. Sharon Dwight mentioned there is a City Council report regarding ADA access on an upcoming meeting. Mr. Reeves said the City is putting enormous effort into upgrading ADA access. Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 2, 2012 5 Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Minutes Thursday, August 2, 2012 Rick Heuer (Alta Mesa) said he wished there were better police enforcement to protect disabled and elderly citizens. He said enough petitions were obtained to rescind the water referendum, that once the petitions are validated the Water Board has to rescind their decision or put the item on a ballot. NEXT MEETING Mr. Reeves advised that the next meeting would be scheduled as needed. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Reeves adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kim Allen Tom Reeves Recording Secretary NIP Staff Coordinator Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, August 2, 2012 6