Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting

MINUTES NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM COMMITTEE Second Project Review Meeting Oak Grove – Citywide Thursday, April 3, 2014 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL 580 PACIFIC STREET MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA NIP Representatives & Aguajito Oaks NIP Rep Morgan Alternates Present: 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 Del Monte Grove-Laguna Grande NIP Alt Baker Fisherman Flats NIP Rep Smith Monterey Vista NIP Rep Jannasch New Monterey NIP Rep Dwight New Monterey NIP Alt Hayter Oak Grove NIP Alt Green Old Town NIP Rep Harrison Old Town NIP Alt Ricketson Skyline Forest NIP Rep Duke Skyline Ridge NIP Rep Conway Villa Del Monte NIP Rep Mucha Staff Members Present: NIP Staff Coordinator Reeves, Recording Secretary Allen, Principal Engineer Harary, Capital Programs Coordinator Francis, Parks Operations Manager Marcuzzo CALL TO ORDER NIP Staff Coordinator Reeves called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Thirteen neighborhoods were represented, with Deer Flats unrepresented. APPROVAL OF MINUTES None. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Reeves opened the floor for Public Comments on items not on the agenda. Mike Brassfield, Casanova Oak Knoll Alternate, asked the Committee to pay attention during meetings, exhibit more decorum, and refrain from derogatory comments and accusations against staff. Having no further requests to speak, Mr. Reeves closed Public Comments.  Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Minutes Thursday, April 3, 2014 INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 1. April 10, 2014 NIP Van Tour, Potluck, and Meeting Preparation Mr. Reeves asked the Committee to submit the projects they wanted to view on the van tour. He said attendance is not mandatory, but the van tour would not be televised so there would be no way to learn about the projects on the tour without attending. Ms. Dwight strongly recommended that the Committee attend the field trip. NIP INFORMATIONAL REPORTS 2. NIP Spokesperson Reports Spokesperson Heuer said he and the two Alternate Spokespersons met with City Manager Mike McCarthy and Interim Assistant City Manager Hans Uslar on Friday, March 28. He said the City is working on a job description for one dedicated NIP staff position that would be a hybrid of engineering, project management, and meeting facilitator with the intent to get a handle on the backlog of projects. He said the position is proposed for a three-year contract with re-evaluation of the position at the end of that time. Mr. Heuer said he and the two Alternate Spokespersons met with the Council NIP Subcommittee on Monday, March 31 to ask for direction on street sweeping signage, the homeless campground study, and the driveway reconstruction projects. He said the request for direction regarding these items would be heard at the April 15 Council meeting. He said they also discussed a successor for Mr. Reeves and the NIP process, and their concern about the City Attorney rewriting the NIP Policies and Procedures Manual, with a request that they meet with the City Attorney and the Council NIP Subcommittee to go over the proposed changes. Ms. Dwight said it would be helpful for Council to hear from the community regarding the community benefit of the driveway reconstruction projects, rather than the personal issues of individual property owners or residents. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Response to Questions, Changes to Project Scopes and Estimates from March 27 Meeting Mr. Reeves advised the Committee of the following updates on projects that were reviewed at previous meetings. AM-3 Via Mirada Sidewalk – The project would be located in City right of way, not on the park parcel. COK-2 CONA Park Center Photo Surveillance – The estimate is $25,000. DT-1 Safe Place Bike Rack Installation – It was determined that there is not enough room on the sidewalk for a bike rack. The project has been withdrawn by the applicant. MV-4 Via Paraiso Park Hardscape Improvements – The project estimate has been revised to $25,000. NM-7 Belden 300 Widening – The estimate has been reduced to $410,000. NM-8 David Open Space – The estimate would be capped at $10,000 per New Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 3, 2014 2  Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Minutes Thursday, April 3, 2014 Monterey Representative Dwight. NM-13 Presidio Child Care Center Paint & Playground Gates – Staff is working on a revised estimate for a lower amount. NM-15 Hilltop Park Renovation – Staff lowered the estimate to $20,000. NM-17 Archer Park Retaining Wall/Fence Repair – Staff has lowered the estimated to $22,000. OG-4 Fifth St (Sloat to Ocean) Resurface – The estimate is $112,000. OT-5 Cedar/Franklin ADA Ramps – The estimate will be refigured. OT-7 Watson Resurface Franklin to Scott – The estimate is $208,000. CW-10 Shoreline Park Relandscaping – Staff has lowered the estimate to $15,000. CW-18 FS1 Fire Safety Clothing Storage – The estimate has been increased to $57,000. CW-27 Library Kitchen Addition – The scope will be revised to design and costs to obtain City approvals, with a reduced estimate. 4. Project Review (Oak Grove – Citywide) Mr. Reeves and the Committee reviewed the projects and videos from Oak Grove through Citywide with the following concerns and determinations: Oak Grove OG-2 Sloat Ave Resurface/Crosswalk Improvement – Mr. Reeves explained that the project included reconstruction of all four corners. Mr. Green advised that the neighborhood does not support the project as it benefits the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), not the neighborhood and asked if NPS would contribute half the funds for the project. Mr. Ruccello asked staff to provide the priority of all the City street resurfacing projects neighborhoods were asked to submit, designating which were the highest priority. Mr. Reeves opened Public Comments for Oak Grove neighborhood. Having no requests to speak, Mr. Reeves closed Public Comments for this neighborhood. Old Town Mr. Reeves advised that the driveway reconstruction projects would be taken to Council for a decision regarding eligibility for NIP funding. He said there is a possibility that OT-3 Larkin 423 Driveway Reconstruct and OT-4 Franklin 599 Driveway Reconstruct may go forward because there are ADA issues. Mr. Reeves opened Public Comments for Old Town neighborhood. Maryanne Finocchi and Colleen Sullivan, Old Town residents, spoke in support of OT-5 Cedar/Franklin ADA Ramps and OT-8 Old Town Landscape/Irrigation. Rosemary Robert, Old Town resident, spoke in support of OT9 Van Buren 300 Blk Gutter Drainage Ph 1 citing problems with stagnant standing water in the gutters, and the parking difficulty due to the extreme angle of the street against the curb along the eastside of the street. Ray Cutino, Old Town resident, questioned why there are so many overlays on Larkin Street, said that the street does not need resurfacing, and that the money should be spent on streets that are in greater disrepair such as Watson Street. Michael, a Larkin Street resident, spoke in support of OT-3 Larkin 423 Driveway Reconstruct and said the project is needed for safety and prevention of vehicle damage. Kenley Butler, project submitter of OT-6 Larkin 475 Driveway Reconstruction, spoke in support of the driveway reconstruction projects. Having no further requests to speak, Mr. Reeves closed Public Comments for this neighborhood. Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 3, 2014 3 Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Minutes Thursday, April 3, 2014 Mr. Heuer urged residents to attend the April 15 Council meetings where the determination regarding the driveway reconstruction projects would be made. Skyline Forest SF-2 Wyndemere Lower Canyon Drainage Ph 3 – Mr. Duke advised that the project would be split into a fourth phase because the cost had continued to increase since Phase 1 funding had been approved. Mr. Reeves opened Public Comments for Skyline Forest neighborhood. Having no requests to speak, Mr. Reeves closed Public Comments for this neighborhood. Villa Del Monte VDM-1 Casa Verde/ Helvic/ Portola/ McNear Area Improvements – Harry Mucha said the project would be for design of the area, including safety for the schoolchildren and pedestrians. Mr. Ruccello said the project should include traffic control for this intersection because it has become so congested in the morning and especially when school lets out. Mr. Reeves opened Public Comments for Villa Del Monte neighborhood. Mike Brassfield said he used to live on Helvic, and it has always been a dangerous intersection with pedestrians versus cars. He applauded the neighborhood for pursuing such an important project. Having no further requests to speak, Mr. Reeves closed Public Comments for this neighborhood. Citywide CW-5 DTM Park Climbing Structure – Mr. Ruccello asked that staff find high-end play equipment that will be different from other parks to maintain the uniqueness of Dennis the Menace Park. CW-7 Jacks Park Backstop/Hardscape Renovation – Mr. Marcuzzo said the bleachers might be removed from the project, with a lower estimate. CW-22 El Estero Lake Fishing Pier Repairs – Mr. Ruccello asked if an evaluation should be done to determine how often the pier is used and if it should just be removed. Ms. Conway said the pier is used for other uses besides fishing, including bird watching groups. CW-27 Library Kitchen Addition – Mr. Reeves said he would check to verify that there were enough water credits for the addition. Ms. Dwight questioned why the estimates for CW-19 Veteran's Park Repairs, CW-20 MSC Bike Rack Replacement, CW-29 Sister City Park Signage/Beautification, and CW- 32 Veteran's Park Bocce Ball Court increased. Mr. Marcuzzo said he would look at the estimates again. Ms. Dwight also asked that the Committee pay attention to the Parks and Recreation Commission priorities. Mr. Reeves opened Public Comments for the Citywide projects. Dave Potter, resident and EOC Coordinator, said that CW-27 Library Kitchen Addition and CW-33 Library Community Room Projection Improvement projects could potentially be used for temporary assistant centers during an emergency. Mike Brassfield asked that the life cost of projects be reviewed and considered. Nancy Selfridge, speaking as a resident, Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 3, 2014 4 Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Minutes Thursday, April 3, 2014 asked for support of CW-21 Council Pews Reupholster because they are so uncomfortable to sit on for any extended time. She also spoke in support of CW-29 Sister City Park Signage/Beautification, and explained that each country would pay for the art for their city. Having no further requests to speak, Mr. Reeves closed Public Comments for these projects. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Max Green (Oak Grove) said it was pleasure as always; good night and good luck. Hank Smith (Fisherman Flats) said along with doing research to find goats that only eat non-threatened plants, he should add to his chore and find goats that would stampede to excavate the area for the bocce ball courts to reduce the cost. Mary Conway (Skyline Ridge) said Monterey would be in the focus of the international community of cyclists during the upcoming Amgen Tour, that it is exciting to be at the center of the bicycle world, and that she hopes everyone will enjoy the large number of people coming into town. Olivia Morgan (Aguajito Oaks) joked that Welsh sheep are much better than any goats to denude the landscape. Rick Heuer (Alta Mesa) said that he was amazed that he could remember Margaret’s Birthday House from way back. Richard Ruccello (Casanova Oak Knoll) had no comment. Dennis Duke (Skyline Forest) had no comment. Jayme Fields (Del Monte Beach) said she hopes the Committee keeps a focus on all the old projects and the ideas that went into them. She said she is concerned about the train, that the Committee did not want ramps up to the engine, but wanted it to be an active and engaging thing. She said she hopes the spirit can be kept alive and that important aspects of the project are not written out over time. Sharon Dwight (New Monterey) said she hopes the Committee will remember what the name of this committee is. She said the Committee is asked to spend a lot of money on projects that are already budgeted for. She asked the members to remember that NIP was founded because there was no money to go into the neighborhoods. Hans Jannasch (Monterey Vista) said he appreciates the bicycle projects as he has been riding his bike frequently out to Moss Landing and back. He said a lot of locals are commuting on the Rec Trail. He said he is glad to be back after missing a few meetings and that this should be a good year. Harry Mucha (Villa Del Monte) said Capital Projects had 13 companies bid on the VDM Revitalization Study project, and selected one from San Luis Obispo. He said he watched the transformation of San Luis Obispo over the years and if this company had anything to do with it, the City is getting a bargain. April Harrison (Old Town) said she is happy to see the level of participation from the community members because that is why she joined NIP. She said people should come Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 3, 2014 5 Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Minutes Thursday, April 3, 2014 and voice their opinion, no matter what it is because that is the founding basis of what neighborhood improvement is. Merrily Alley (Del Monte Grove-Laguna Grande) had no comment. NEXT MEETING Mr. Reeves advised that the van tour would be April 10 at 3:00 p.m., with the potluck dinner at Hilltop Park Center at 6:00 p.m., and the Follow-up Review and Public Comment meeting at 7:00 p.m. He said the Second Follow-up Review and Public Comment meeting would be on April 17, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Reeves adjourned the meeting at 10:14 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Kim Allen Tom Reeves Recording Secretary NIP Staff Coordinator Neighborhood Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday, April 3, 2014 6