Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting

NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM COMMITTEE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, June 6, 2024 6:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, 580 PACIFIC ST. AND ZOOM TELECONFERENCE MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA NCIP Aguajito Oaks Adam Purdy, Alt. Representatives Alta Mesa Rick Heuer, Rep. & Alternates Casanova Oak Knoll Richard Ruccello, Rep.* Present: Deer Flats Dave Overton, Rep. Del Monte Beach Jayme Fields, Rep. Del Monte Grove-Laguna Grande Scott Hanson, Rep. Downtown Curt Tipton, Rep., Bella Lofaso, Alt.* Fishermen’s Flats Tom Rowley, Rep. Glenwood Lee Whitney, Rep., Amanda Preece, Alt.* Monterey Vista Hans Jannasch, Rep. New Monterey Chinyere Ogbonna, Rep., Natalia Tjandra, Alt. Oak Grove Luz Adam, Rep. Old Town Sue Ricketson, Alt. Skyline Dennis Duke, Rep.* Villa Del Monte Duane Peterson, Rep., Tammy Jennings, Alt* * attended remotely via teleconference **attended remotely via teleconference but did not notice staff, therefore considered a member of the public. NCIP Casanova Oak Knoll Scott Dent, Alt. Representatives Del Monte Beach Jeff White, Alt. & Alternates Del Monte Grove-Laguna Grande Joseph Hill, Alt. Absent: Fishermen’s Flats Marilyn Maxner, Alt. Oak Grove Pat Erlinger, Alt. Skyline John Mera, Alt. City Staff Reginald Paulding, NCIP Staff Coordinator Present: Andrea Renny, Public Works Director Andrew Easterling, City Engineer Parker Lovett, Administrative Assistant Karen Larson, Parks and Recreation Director Louie Marcuzzo, Park Operations Manager Thys Norton, Assistant Urban Forester This meeting was held with a combination of in-person and teleconference attendance, pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act, Calif. Government Code section 54953(e)(1)(C) and the City Council's resolution authorizing teleconferencing. CALL TO ORDER Action: NCIP Chair Heuer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Staff Coordinator Paulding explained how to participate in the meeting virtually via Zoom.  Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program 6/6/2024 6:00:00 PM Committee Minutes ROLL CALL Action: Called roll with 15 neighborhoods represented. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comment was received by Kayla Fossum regarding the recently proposed City Charter Amendment to the NCIP process presented to City Council, discussions about using NCIP funding for City facilities and expressed no confidence in the City Manager. Tammy Jennings commented on the recent work done to extend the handicap beach mats at Del Monte Beach to the water’s edge. Tom Reeves and Mike Brassfield both thanked the NCIP Committee members for their work for the neighborhoods and commented on the status of the NCIP Committee being affected by City Staff and presentations to City Council. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. May 9, 2024 (Not a project under CEQA Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Approved as submitted. Committee Member Tipton introduced a motion to approve the May 9, 2024 minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Duke. The motion carried by the following vote: AYES: 14 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Purdy, Heuer, Ruccello, Overton, Fields, Hanson, Tipton, Rowley, Whitney, Ogbonna, Adam, Ricketson, Duke, Peterson NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: ABSENT: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: ABSTAIN: 1 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Jannasch RECUSED: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: NCIP INFORMATIONAL REPORTS Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes 06/06/2024 6:00:00 PM 2  Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program 6/6/2024 6:00:00 PM Committee Minutes 2. NCIP Spokesperson Reports Staff Coordinator Paulding made a statement that the following projects up for vote tonight have been revised or withdrawn as a result of discussions over the last few weeks:  NM-08 – City submitted Hilltop Park Center Rehabilitation project was revised to include a seismic assessment of the building, requested funding remained at $2 Million;  NM-12 – Neighborhood submitted Hilltop Park Center Rehabilitation project was revised to increase requested funding to $1 Million;  MN-04 – City submitted Utility Undergrounding proposal was withdrawn in preference of MN-06; and  MN-06 – Neighborhood submitted Utility Undergrounding proposal was revised to include a Utilities Conversion Program Manager position. Committee Chair Heuer provided a report on his meetings with the City Attorney at the request of the NCIP Committee to discuss three (3) previously identified projects that have been on hold. Heuer continued that he had a meeting last week with the City Manager to follow-up on the three on-hold projects. 1. Ryan Ranch Pickleball Courts – The lease on the downtown tennis center is up in December. There are different options being evaluated for that facility including increasing pickleball use and not moving forward with a pickleball facility at Ryan Ranch. 2. Public Restroom Study – The scope that came back from two consultants was radically different that what the NCIP Committee had in mind. Therefore, City staff will perform the study in-house. 3. Casa Verde Underpass Improvements – Council took out the mural when they voted on the project, but they also requested that Caltrans approve the entire project including the mural. Heuer requested that staff go back to Council and clarify their intention before going to Caltrans. Committee Chair Heuer requested that City Manager keep the NCIP Committee informed about decisions on NCIP projects allowing the NCIP Committee to be an advocate for projects. Then Committee Chair Heuer provided an opportunity for the public to ask questions about his report. Public comment was received by Kayla Fossum regarding the status of the Casa Verde underpass improvements. Ms. Fossum stated that the Council approved and funded the hardscape improvements, that this area is a portal to the City and events at the Fairgrounds, and that it is an eye sore. She requested further information on the project withdrawal process and Committee Chair Heuer informed Ms. Fossum that City Council will have to make the final decision on whether the project is withdrawn. Steve Handley commented on the potential for a restroom along the Recreation Trail at the currently vacant Roto Rooter building at the intersection of Del Monte Ave and Park Ave. Mr. Handley wanted to know why this location was not being evaluated for a restroom instead of building a new public restroom near Park Ave along the Recreation Trail. Mr. Handley also commented that the parking lot could be used for parking since the building was available for lease. Committee Chair Heuer and Staff Coordinator Paulding informed Mr. Handley that there is not a restroom project at the location up for vote by the NCIP Committee. Chair Heuer informed Mr. Handley that he could submit a project for a restroom next year. Barbara Lang and Michael Lang commented about the differences in pickleball courts at the downtown tennis center versus at Ryan Ranch including the desire for the courts at Ryan Ranch to be free to the public. Chair Heuer stated that there is no guarantee that the courts at Ryan Ranch would be free to the public and that would be the decision of the Parks & Recreation Commission and City Council that sets fees. Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes 06/06/2024 6:00:00 PM 3  Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program 6/6/2024 6:00:00 PM Committee Minutes PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Voting Process (Project Ranking) for FY 2024-25 Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program (Not a Project Under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and Under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Staff Coordinator Paulding and NCIP Committee Chair Heuer explained the voting process including NCIP Committee member potential conflicts of interest with projects between 500 feet and 1,000 feet from their property. The Committee members reviewed the potential conflicts of interest projects and made a determination as to whether a conflict existed. Action: Took public comment on the item and held project ranking voting process. Public comment was received from: Ann Timberlake commented in support of MV-01 – ADA compliant curb ramp at Munras Ave and Via Arboles. Tom Reeves commented in support of NM-04 – New Monterey Neighborhood Plan update, NM-12 – Neighborhood submitted Hilltop Park Center Rehabilitation, MV-01 – ADA compliant curb ramp at Munras Ave and Via Arboles, and RR-01 – Ryan Ranch pickleball courts. Mike Brassfield commented in support of the COK- 01/02/06 – Casanova Oak Knoll neighborhood sidewalk infill projects, COK-04 – Matching funds for N. Fremont Gap bike/pedestrian path, and RR-01 – Ryan Ranch pickleball courts. Sharon Dwight commented in support of NM-01 – 600 Block Lobos St drainline improvements, NM-02 – David Ave Open Space Acquisition, NM-03 – David Ave/Terry St Crosswalk, NM-12 – Neighborhood submitted Hilltop Park Center Rehabilitation, and in opposition to NM-15 – David Ave Open Space Acquisition, NM-07 – Lyndon St sidewalks, and NM-14 – Cypress Park tennis court resurfacing. Suzanne Grimes commented in support of MN-06 – Utility Undergrounding. Rick Johnson and Ben Beesly commented in support of DT-09 – Alvarado St sidewalk replacement. Gary Soleil and Ray Myers commented in support of MN-06 – Utility Undergrounding. Robert Atanasio and Gina Sessions commented in support of MV-06 – San Bernabe Dr. widening. Michael Lang and Barbara Lang commented in support of RR-01 – Ryan Ranch pickleball courts. Justin Cooper commented in favor of MN-03 – Fire Stations 12 and 13 improvements. Wendy Brickman commented in favor of COK-04 – Matching funds for N. Fremont Gap bike/pedestrian path, MN-06 – Utility Undergrounding, DMG-01 – N. Fremont beautification, and DT-09 – Alvarado St sidewalk replacement. Esther Malkin commented in support of DMG-03 – Laguna Grande Park exercise equipment, COK-04 – Matching funds for N. Fremont Gap bike/pedestrian path, and MN-03 – Fire Stations 12 and 13 improvements. Robert Yoha commented in support of the COK-01/02/06 – Casanova Oak Knoll neighborhood sidewalk infill projects, COK-05 – Airport Rd replacement radar speed signs, and COK-04 – Matching funds for N. Fremont Gap bike/pedestrian path. Jean Rasch commented in support of MN-06 – Utility Undergrounding. Comments regarding the respective neighborhood’s project priorities came from Committee Member Ruccello for Casanova Oak Knoll, Overton for Deer Flats, Fields for Del Monte Beach, Hanson for Del Monte Grove-Laguna Grande, Tipton for Downtown, Jannasch for Monterey Vista, Ogbonna for New Monterey, Ricketson for Old Town, Duke for Skyline, and Peterson for Villa Del Monte. Staff Coordinator Paulding read aloud the votes of each neighborhood, and Public Works Director Renny, City Engineer Easterling, and Administrative Assistant Lovett independently recorded the votes of each project. Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes 06/06/2024 6:00:00 PM 4  Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program 6/6/2024 6:00:00 PM Committee Minutes Votes were first tallied for the projects which had real property conflicts of interest. Committee members left the Council Chambers due to being disqualified from voting, per the 500-foot rule, for the following projects: Committee Member Tipton for DT-04, DT-12, DT-13; Committee Member Ogbonna for NM-09; and Committee Member Peterson for VDM-01. Additionally, Committee Member Ogbonna elected to abstain from voting for MN-03 as well, per the 1,000- foot rule. When applicable, the alternates voted in place of the neighborhood representative. NCIP Committee members provided comments on the remainder of projects up for vote including the projects in their respective neighborhoods. Comments were received from NCIP Committee Members Tipton, Whitney, Purdy, Ricketson, Rowley, in support of undergrounding. Committee Chair Heuer commented in support of the Casanova Oak Knoll sidewalk projects, in addition to DMG-03, DT-06, MN-04, NM-12, MN-01, and MN-05. DT-14 and SK-01 projects were removed from voting due to City staff recommendation to implement the project without NCIP Committee funding recommendation. NCIP Committee agreed to recommend a funding amount of $250,000 for project MN-09 – NCIP Opportunity Property Purchase Fund. Action: Committee Member Duke introduced a motion to allocate a portion of the budget towards a contingency fund to have a contingency amount of $1,200,000. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Fields. The motion carried by the following vote: AYES: 15 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Purdy, Heuer, Ruccello, Overton, Fields, Hanson, Tipton, Rowley, Whitney, Jannasch, Ogbonna, Adam, Ricketson, Duke, Peterson NOES: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: ABSENT: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: ABSTAIN: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: RECUSED: 0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Votes were then tallied for all remaining projects in numerical order by neighborhood name starting from Casanova Oak Knoll. About halfway in the voting process, a brief 5-minute break was given after the project votes for Monterey Vista, then continued from New Monterey to the end of Multi-Neighborhood projects. No preliminary rankings were provided, given the quantity of project votes recorded and the desire of City staff to confirm and consolidate the tallies. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS Committee members thanked the public, one another, and NCIP Staff Coordinator Paulding for a thorough reviewal/voting process. Committee Members Jannasch, Peterson, and Committee Chair Heuer discussed the terms ending for several members and how the next scheduled meeting in August may not include some members in the committee currently if not re- appointed. Committee Member Ogbonna requested an agendized item regarding project maintenance and costs of funding maintenance in the next meeting. NEXT MEETING August 8, 2024 Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee Meeting Minutes 06/06/2024 6:00:00 PM 5 ADJOURNMENT Committee Chair Heuer Adjourned at 9:48 PM Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Reginald Paulding Parker Lovett NCIP Staff Coordinator Recording Secretary