Jon Chown

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Renee Mello & Assoc.

Sept. 2: City Council to Review Downtown Lane Reduction

After a week off, the Marina City Council meets Wednesday with some big topics on the agenda, including the future look of downtown and a plan to reduce downtown traffic from four to two lanes on Del Monte Boulevard, as well as roundabouts at the intersection of Del Monte and Reindollar; and Del Monte and Palm. 

According to what is being presented to the City Council on Wednesday, reducing the lanes from four to two and building key roundabouts will better serve the City’s needs and transition away from what originally functioned as a state highway. The city has already applied for a $14.2 million grant to help pay for the roundabouts. Median landscape plans will also be reviewed at the meeting.

There really is no arguing that the southern entrance to Marina looks too much like a highway and needs improvement. The only question is the proper solution. All of it, according to city staff, is the first step in the Downtown Vitalization Specific Plan, which is the fulfillment of the city’s 50-year effort to create a better downtown environment. The vision is for “plentiful landscaping and pedestrian amenities to encourage people to walk along tree-lined streets and socialize in civic and public spaces.”

Also listed under Other Action Items, the council will take the first step to establish a new Community Facilities District “the Dunes West Side Services” to levy a special tax to fund maintenance and infrastructure improvements at the Dunes West Side Development. The taxes are estimated to be $2,305 for a single family detached property, about $1,900 for a single family attached property and between $6,400 and $18,800 per acre for non-residential property. Those amounts will adjust each year for inflation.

The council is expected to approve the start of the process, after which a public hearing will be scheduled for Oct. 15, at which time the City Council will be expected to establish the Dunes West Side Services CFD and call for a special election that will occur at least 45 days after Oct. 15. If 2/3 of landowners do not approve of the tax, it will not pass. If the CFD is not formed, which seems likely, the city’s General Fund will be hit with an annual $1 million bill to pay for the services itself.

City Budget Review

The last discussion under Other Action Items will be an adjustment to the city’s budget. The city operates on a two-year budget cycle and has an extra $12.7 million due to a one-time $8.4 million land sale, as well as more taxes coming in than expected. Even more savings have been realized in staff expenditures as a few positions have been open.

So, the Police Department would like a Community Services Officer to address the homeless population. That would cost $115,000 annually. The Fire Department would like two more firefighters at an annual cost of $270,000. The city would like to hire an arborist/botanist that would cost $170,000 over a two-year period, as well as a Recreation Manager at a cost of $46,000 annually, and a maintenance worker for Hilltop Park that would cost $92,000 annually.

In addition to more staff, money is sought for large projects such as improvements at Fort Ord Dunes Park ($800,000) and restrooms at Windy Hill Park ($275,000); and a backlog of needed tree maintenance in our parks and open spaces ($250,000). There are many smaller items too, such as a temporary shelter to house the new fire truck that is coming ($24,000); police radios ($52,000); and a remote-controlled rescue flotation device ($18,000). 

A closed session will start the evening with the city’s ongoing court battles with the county, California American Water Company and others. After that, in open session, on the Consent Agenda, the council looks to approve a for $7,222,216.55 bid of $7,222,216.55 for “Phase 1 Residential Streets Reconstruction” to Monterey Bay Engineering of Marina. They will also approve some legalese of a “right of way” that will allow the burying of some PG&E power lines.

In regards to local housing, the Consent Agenda also contains the budgets for Abrams B and Preston Park, as well as agreements between the City and Shea Homes regarding landscape maintenance of three city parcels and the maintenance of some right-of-way improvements within 8th Street and the Linear Park. The agreements are complicated, but appear to hand over control of three city plots for parks and open spaces in exchange.

POLICE REPORTS

Aug. 20

• Possession of narcotics on Beach Road

• An arrest on a warrant from another jurisdiction made on Ninth Street

Aug. 21

• Petty theft from a car parked on Steedman Street

• Spousal abuse and false imprisonment on Sunset Ave.

• Burglary on Lake Drive

Aug. 22

• Some hit a trifecta with charges of trespassing; contempt of court (disobeying a court order); and probation violation on Seaside Circle

• Stolen ID and defrauding an elderly person on Crestview Court

Aug. 23

• Taking a vehicle without owners consent at the intersection of Carmel and Sunset avenues. 

• Being at the park after dark on Del Monte Boulevard

Aug. 24

• Somebody was driving drunk on Carmel Avenue and violated their probation for the same offense.

Aug. 25

• A plethora of charges in one incident on Reservation Road, including resisting arrest, violating a protective order, theft and probation violation 

Aug .26

• An arrest made on Beach Road for possession of narcotics, giving a false ID to police, and being under the influence. The suspect also had a warrant out from another jurisdiction.

Aug. 27

• Assault and violation of probation on General Stillwell Drive

• Sexual battery and fondling on Preston Drive

• Driving a car without license or registration on Reservation

• Grand theft, conspiracy, and possession of narcotics on General Stillwell Drive

Aug. 28

• Under the influence and possession of narcotics on Reservation Road, along with a probation violation.

• Failure to register as a sex offender on Hayes Circle

• Shoplifting, conspiracy, giving false ID to police and possession of narcotics on Beach Road

• Spousal abuse on Palm Avenue

Aug. 29

• Spousal abuse on Lake Drive

• Burglary and vehicle theft on Reservation Road