Neighborhood & Community Improvement Program (NCIP)

Established in 1985, as the Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP), but now called the Neighborhood & Community Improvement Program (NCIP), directs tourist-generated dollars directly back into the City's residential neighborhoods. Under a Charter Amendment, at least 16 percent of the money collected through hotel taxes (Transient Occupancy Tax) must be spent on neighborhood and community improvements. Each fiscal year, a committee consisting of Monterey residents considers all submitted projects and recommends which projects should be funded. Several community wide meetings are held and projects are finally voted on by the NIP committee.

The program begins each year in the fall.  NCIP Project Nomination Forms are made available for residents to propose neighborhood or citywide improvements.  The nomination forms are available by following the link below (during the yearly nomination period) or are available by calling the Engineering office at 831.646.3921.  The completed forms can be either emailed or mailed back to the Engineering office.  All the qualified proposals are reviewed, sorted, and cost estimated.

Learn more about NCIP and download a project nomination form at the City of Monterey's website.

Suggest a project by filling out an Application Form.



NCIP Projects for 2024

Feb 6, 2024: City presented a Council Agenda Report on suggested new NCIP priorities This would be a major change for how NCIP has functioned up to now, asking NCIP to fund basic city infrastructure maintenance work: Read the Council Agenda Report here.

  • Firestation 12 @ $1,050,000

  • Firestation 13 @ $1,200,000

  • Hilltop Center @ $2,000,000

  • Undergrounding of Utilities @ $2,000,000 annually

Jan 2024 Update: First NCIP Meeting of the year on Jan 11th. 15 Projects were completed last year, and 10 more on the books now. A rough timeline for all projects to be supplied at the next or borrowing meeting. 2024 Meeting Schedule

Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting financial hit on the City of Monterey, the NCIP program was cancelled for 2020-21 and 2021-22 by the City Council. Existing projects that had been funded in past years and not deemed critical or already begun, were “deappropriated,” thus returning over $10M to the general fund. NCIP was reestablished in early 2022 due to the return of a healthy Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). Due to legal reasons, however, all “deappropriated” projects are considered the same as new projects, and thus NCIP will be voting on almost 200 projects this year.

NOTE re: Staffing Shortage: The City of Monterey is losing many of it’s engineering staff to other cities paying more and offering signing bonuses. Thus with a significantly reduced staff, most projects will be outsourced and City staff are acting more like project coordinators. Unfortunately, this means many projects are costing much more than when they were initially funded at, and may take longer to complete. Thus, expect to be patient!!


Important:


Current NCIP Projects submitted within MVNA for 2024

To comment on projects of interest to you, please attend the NCIP meetings on:

  • April 11th, 2024 at 6pm, First review of neighborhoods including MVNA (City Hall).

  • April 25th, 2024 at 6pm, Second review of half of neighborhoods (should include MVNA near end of meeting (City Hall).

  • May 9th, 2024 at 6pm, for second half of neighborhoods (should include Skyline (SK) and Multi-Neighborhood (MN)).

  • June 6th, 2024 at 6pm is Voting Night

  • Sept, 2024 NCIP-elected projects will be presented to City Council for approval

NCIP projects in all neighborhoods will be posted here when all submitted projects are verified.

NOTE that all projects are subject to being modified as the NCIP Committee, City engineers and submitters work together to refine projects and intensions before voting night. Updates including cost estimates will be included in descriptions below each project.

CLICK ON EACH PROJECT TO LEARN MORE

  • The corner of Via Arboles and Munras Ave adjacent to the Super 8 motel currently has no sidewalk or curb cut along Munras Ave. It is not ADA compliant and is a very dangerous area for pedestrians as they have to walk into the oncoming traffic lane and there is a dirt berm and foliage obstructing the view of vehicles driving up to the intersection at Via Arboles., I have had several near-misses with vehicles when I attempt to cross at that intersection. The dirt berm and plantings at that corner need to be removed and a concrete sidewalk needs to be installed along Munras adjacent to the Super 8 motel with a curb cut at that corner to allow safe pedestrian crossing.

  • This nomination is in regards to speeding on Via Gayuba and Walter Colton Drive.

    As many are already aware (I know a few concerned neighbors have already contacted the city about this matter) Via Gayuba is a steep hill and there is quite a bit of speeding both up and down the street. Going up the street, it's as if people feel the need to increase acceleration to make it up the hill. Going down the hill, speeding is also an issue, as drivers gather acceleration as they make their way down.

    Exacerbating this problem is the fact that we have three schools in the neighborhood (Monte Vista Elementary, Monterey High, and the new Monterey Child Development Center), and Via Gayuba is a main artery for getting to and from these schools. Thus there is a great deal of cars speeding up and down Via Gayuba particularly during school drop off and pick up times.

    The traffic system at Monte Vista Elementary school is designed in such a way that cars enter the school from Walter Colton drive. It's amazing how fast some parents drive in the morning when they are in a rush to drop off their children before work! The corner from Via Gayuba onto Walter Colton Drive, and the curvy Walter Colton Drive itself are of particular concern.

    We, the residents of Via Gayuba, are kindly asking that the city consider further speed reduction measures on Via Gayuba and Walter Colton Drive. Many children live on Via Gayuba, and there are quite a few families and children that walk to and from Monte Vista Elementary School and the new Child Development Center. The amount of speeding that is happening on these streets, in a residential neighborhood and in a school zone no less, is a concern that many of us in the neighborhood and particularly those of us on Via Gayuba share. I believe it is in the city's best interest to increase the safety on these streets for both pedestrians and drivers.

  • Traffic flows from Toyon onto Dry Creek from a wide uphill curve, (not a perpendicular intersection), and the driver is blind to oncoming traffic coming from their right. There has never been a stop sign on Toyon where it intersects with Dry Creek. I have observed the habit of drivers to only look to their left as they come around on this curve, the vehicle is traveling uphill which also limits the view for the driver. As the driver begins to make the wide turn, the visibility is made difficult because the road now slopes downhill. There is often a car parked just beyond this turn on the right hand side of the road which adds to the limited visibility. Frequently there is a car parked on the far side, the driver's left hand side, which narrows the road and makes two-way traffic very difficult, especially if the driver entering Dry Creek from Toyon swings wide. The driver entering Dry Creek from Toyon does not stop, (there is no stop sign), and they are often surprised when a car or an individual walking comes into their view.

    The additional issue of the narrowing of Dry Creek due to cars parked directly across from each other just after this intersection might be solved with traffic calming. It should be considered when considering the overall project.

    Residents on Dry Creek and Toyon are looking for a solution to these issues.

    Ideally the solution would slow the traffic coming from Toyon onto Dry Creek so the driver entering Dry Creek from Toyon would have time to adjust to any cars and/or pedestrians in the immediate area. The solution should also address the narrowing of the street when two cars are parked directly across from each other after this intersection.

  • Complete the resurfacing and refinishing of the Via Paraiso Racquet Courts requested, funded and completed in FY2023-24.

    The FY2023-24 project sprang out of the city-led mediation over use of these courts two years ago. Since then, pickleballers, tennis players and neighbors continue to enjoy and watch these improved facilities at Via Paraiso Park. There are a few parts of last year’s requests, however, that were not implemented:

    1. Installation of a low (four-foot) fence between the tennis court and the pickleball courts. This fence might not be equidistant from the east and west perimeter fences to allow additional off-court space for tennis play.

    2. A safer divider between the two (2) dedicated pickleball courts. The existing tennis net and posts reduce ball traffic between the two courts, but can be a hazard during play. The specific requirements for this court divider are TBD.

    In addition, the resurfacing, constrained by the amount of funding estimated for last year’s project, was just a slurry top coat, not a full resurfacing or grinding down of the under layers. The weather this year has already exposed underlying cracks through the top coat. Both tennis and pickleball players would benefit from a full resurfacing and extend the useful life of the courts. The cracks on the courts will just get worse and will increase under layer wear, if they aren’t remediated sooner rather than later.

    Finally, while staff has installed middle-of-the-net straps on all 3 courts, the anchors needed to provide proper strap tension were not installed last year. Without anchors, the straps are not functional; they only frustrate players who are otherwise pleased with these beautiful new courts.

  • Construct a consistent curb and bulb-out on the west side of Via Del Pinar extending at least 5 houses. Starting with 301 Via Del Rey to either 20 or 30 Via Del Pinar.

    As cars exit Veteran's park down Via Del Rey, they tend to take the turn onto Via Del Pinar at higher-than-safe speeds. There is curbing at the intersection of Via Chiquita and Via Del Rey. But because there is no curb on Via Del Pinar, cars parked in front of homes on the street are vulnerable. We have to park cars butted up against yards (unable to exit cars on the house side).

    By continuing curbing/drainage or by pushing out and installing a small bulb-out, parking could be more uniform to create space for oncoming cars transitioning from the downhill Via Del Rey onto Via Del Pinar. It would allow residents to exit their cars safely from either side of the car.

    This project was fully designed by Jeff Krebbs.

  • This is Phase 1 of plan developed for San Bernabe Drive by previous NIP project. This projects was initially proposed to widen the road and install curb and retaining walls on properties with high slope road margins, with Phase 2 (future) building the sidewalk and further retaining walls.

    Given that this project was delayed for a number of years need to review the plans with the neighborhood is essential.

    If appropriate, this project can follow a similar 2-phase timeline, or be built all at once if deemed more efficient and cost effective (TBD before voting night).

    This section of San Bernabe Dr is a sharp narrow set of curves across a natural gully. The road is too narrow for cars to pass each other safely, and even more dangerous for pedestrians. All adjoining residents, as well as many drivers and pedestrians, support this project.

    The neighborhood request is also to have signs with a curve notice and a recommended 15 mph speed limit. We look forward to working with the City to improve the safety for our neighborhood, pedestrians, dog walkers, children, and drivers.

    An NCIP-organized meeting at the submitter's home met on Jan 15th, 2020, and was attended by all nearby neighbors plus others. Jeff Krebs presented the plan and everyone agreed this was a dangerous curve and was in full support of the project. This support remains today.

  • Signs for both freeway entrances on the corner of Munras Avenue and Soledad Drive to assist visitors who are not familiar with the area. Current signage is too close to entrance to Hwy 1 to help those approaching the Munras and Soledad intersection. 2011 Cut-off Project CW-41.

  • Mar Vista Drive has become a major thoroughfare and despertely needs traffic calming for the residents, pedestrians and students walking to Monte Vista and Colton schools.

    This is a Phase1 of the plan developed for Mar Vista by previous NIP project. Location and scope TBD.

    This project was originally funded to build out the Toda Vista/Mar Vista intersection, but was defunded by the pandemic.


Other current NCIP projects of MVNA interest

MN = Multi Neighborhood (NEW, replaces CW, city-wide)
DMG = Del Monte Grove
DT = Downtown
GW = Glenwood
RR = Ryan Ranch (New neighborhood with zero residents)
SK = Skyline Forest, shown here are projects for Veterans Park
VDM = Villa del Monte

Note that some of the below projects fully or partially duplicate each other. The NCIP Committee will work with submitters to coalesce such projects before voting night.

CLICK ON EACH PROJECT TO LEARN MORE

  • Some of these projects will likely get modified and/or combined.

  • Fire Stations are critical infrastructure support community and fire department needs, provide emergency response, and house critical equipment. They are staffed 24/7 by fire department staff.

    Historically, Fire Station 12 in New Monterey, originally built ni 1951, serves New Monterey, Cannery Row, and the Coast Guard Pier. Rehabilitation consists of roof repairs, termite treatment, repair concrete slab, replace emergency generator, upgrade communications system, replace exterior windows, replace HVAC system, replace exterior deck, kitchen remodel, restrooms and shower remodel, interior paint, new interior flooring, newdomestic hot water heater, lighting upgrade, and resurface parking lot.

    Historically, Fire Station 13 in Villa Del Monte, originally built in 1951, serves Villa del Monte, Del Monte Beach, Casanova Oak Knoll, Del Monte Grove/Laguna Grande, City of Sand City, etc. Rehabilitation consists of roof repairs repave parking lot, kitchen remodel, replace exterior windows, replace emergency generator, upgrade communications system, replace HVAC system, restrooms and shower remodel, interior paint, termite treatment, new interior flooring, new domestic hot water heater, lighting upgrade, and library materials locker.

  • Fire Station #13 on Dela Vina Avenue was built in the 1951 and is in dire need of renovation, not only for safety purposes, but to provide an updated, clean and comfortable space for our hard working firefighters. There have not been any significant improvements or upgrades since the station was built in 1951. The firefighters have expressed those needs to me as the President of the Villa del Monte Neighborhood Association (*VDMNA") numerous times. The time to get those much needed renovations is NOW. Due to the long list of needs, which warrant prioritization by NCIP with input from the firefighters, I propose a phased project, not to exceed $500,000 at this time, with additional projects for future NCIP cycles.

    Fire station #13, which serves the neighborhoods of Villa del Monte, Del Monte Beach, Casanova Oak Knoll, Del Monte Grove/Laguna Grande, and other neighborhoods, is in need of significant repairs. The list of necessary repairs are:

    1. Roofrepairs

    2. Repave and repair parking lot

    3. Kitchen remodel

    4. Replace exterior windows with double-pane windows for operability and energy efficiency

    5. Replace e n dof life generator with a new unit

    6. Interior paint as needed

    7. Restrooms and shower remodel and upgrade 8. Building termite treatment andtenting

    9. New interior flooring

    10. New HVAC system

    11. Newdomestichotwaterheater

    12. Lighting upgrade ni the truck bay and living quarters 13. Attic vent repairs

    14. Truck bay door frame repair

    15. Wall repair in workout area with reinforced paneling. Wall hole repair and seal.

    16. Upgrade emergency communication sound system for better clarity and functionality

    17. Install outdoor access area for the grant-funded Library locker to allow greater access to Library services.

    Thank you for your consideration,

  • The Old Capitol Site is now a closed park, due to the dangerous state of the landscape. There are dead trees, homeless camps, meadows full of tall grass, etc. These areas need to be cleared of debris to prevent wildfires that could spread to any of four nearby neighborhoods and Westland House hospice, which is completely surrounded by the park.

    With the recent adoption of the Master Plan for the Old Capitol Site Park, this fuel reduction is very timely. The Master Plan includes hiking trails, bird trails, guided bird walks, nature walks, plein air painting events, interpretive signage, along with camping and RV stays. This promises to be the largest community park for the City of Monterey.

  • Continued management of city wide forest and open space ($400,000). Management of these areas are necessary to minimize the risk of wildfire and encourage good forest health.

    The City's Greenbelt System experienced extensive loss of trees and vegetation due to the disastrous storms from January to March 2023 and current. We also continue to lose Monterey Pines and Coastal Live Oaks due to pest, disease, and environmental conditions.

    Workwouldconsist of removing fallen trees, underbrush,and unhealthytrees, as well as proactive forest management measures to acknowledge and preserve the City's forestsand parks.

    NCIP has always been very supportive of greenbelt maintenance and we are extremely grateful.

  • Our neighborhood has been rated "high risk" by Cal Fire. Two years ago, our long time insurance carrier dropped our coverage. The age and density of Monterey pine trees on both public and private property is a catastrophe in waiting. When I raised the issue with the fire department, they dismissed the risk of a crown fire saying there was insufficient ground level combustible material to ignite a crown fire. They obviously haven't spent much time on Huckleberry Hill or in the ravines that traverse our neighborhood.

    The City should spend our money on a comprehensive fire safety analysis by an independent credible organization and develop a multi-year hazard reduction program before disaster strikes. No one prepared for the Oakland Hills fire that destroyed 2000 houses or the fire that destroyed Lahaina. All it takes is a dry year, high winds and a spark. When that happens, everyone will be wondering why no one on the Monterey Peninsula prepared for it.

  • Some of these projects will likely get modified and/or combined.

  • DearMembers of the NCIP Board,

    I trust this message finds you well. Iam reaching out to share an exciting proposal aimedat improving and expanding the offerings at the Monterey Tennis Center, where I serve as Co-Owner.

    Our center currently hosts tennis camps for kids, tennis lessons for adults and children, and manages the Monterey Bay Racquet Club at the Hyatt Regency Monterey, with over 100 pickleball members. To further enrich our services and foster community engagement, we are considering a strategic expansion into pickleball, proposing a name change to the Monterey Racquet Center.

    The proposed project involves converting tennis courts 1 and 2 into eight pickleball courts, complete with lighting for evening play. This alternative approach presents an opportunity to offer an appealing pickleball experience without the need for additional traffic on Highway 68, contrary to the Ryan Ranch Pickleball Project.

    Understanding the importance of community input, we are committed to obtaining feedback from our local community. We also recognize the need for regulatory compliance and will ensure that we obtain all necessary approvals to proceed. In terms of financing, we estimate that the project for redoing the tennis courts and adding pickleball courts would require an investment in the range of $50,000 to $60,000. We are exploring funding options and potential partnerships to support this endeavor.

    Additionally, I am pleased to inform you that we accept Optum Fitness Networks, providing free play opportunities to individuals with Renew Active by UnitedHealthcare or Onepass by Aaptiv insurance plans. This inclusivity aligns with our goal of making our facilities accessible to a wide range o fcommunity members

    Upon completion, this project wil bring a total of 25 courts to Monterey, including 7 permanent pickleball courts at the Hyatt, 8 at the Monterey Tennis &Pickleball Center, 2 additional courts at Via Paraiso, and 8 more courts at MPC. Furthermore, Seattle currently boasts the highest number of pickleball courts per capita at 20.5 courts per 100,000 people.

    Pickleball Courts Per Capita Ratios:

    With 25 Permanent Pickleball Courts:

    Population of Monterey: 30,000, Pickleball Courts: 25, Ratio 83.33 courts per 100,000 people

    With 17 Permanent Pickleball Courts:

    Population of Monterey: 30,000, Pickleball Courts: 17, Ratio 56.67 courts per 100,000 people

    We believe this initiative aligns with our mission to create a vibrant community hub for tennis and pickleball enthusiasts alike, contributing positively to downtown Monterey.

    However, it is crucial to note that the feasibility of this project hinges on the outcome of the Ryan Ranch Pickleball Project. Should the Ryan Ranch project proceed, it may impact the viability of our proposed expansion. We request yourconsideration and support in light of these circumstances.

    We kindly request the opportunity to present this comprehensive proposal in more detail during an upcoming NCIP board meeting. Your support and insights would be invaluable in bringing this vision to fruition.

    Thank you for considering our proposal, and we look forward to the possibility of collaborating to enhance the Monterey Tennis Center

  • This is a follow-on project to the 2023-24 NCIP approved project RR-02 to design 8 pickleball courts in Ryan Ranch Park. That design i scurrently in progress by the NCIP engineering team.

    This 2024-25 NCIP application is to fund $200,000 for Phase 1 construction of the pickleballcourts as specified in the above design.

    Pickleball remains a very fast growing sport in the City of Monterey. Pickleball classes at Monterey Peninsula College and the Pacific Grove Adult school, as well as regular clinics at private clubs including Meadowbrook Swim and Tennis, Monterey Bay Racquet Club, Pebble Beach Beach Club, and ChamisalTennis Club are churning out hundreds of new players each year. Many of these are Monterey residents, yet with only two publicly owned pickleball courts in the City, most Monterey residents are traveling to neighboring cities for pickleball. Those that opt to play at the City's two free public courts at Via Paraiso Park endure long wait times.

    Nationwide, pickleball has been the fastest growing sport 3 years in a row with no indication that its rapid growth will slow. Many attribute the rapid growth to the combination of physical, mental, and social benefits unique to the sport.

    It is in the best interest of the community for the Ryan Ranch courts to remain free tothe public, like the Via Paraiso courts. To that end, building courts at Ryan Ranch Park offers an attractive opportunity to generate advertising revenue. It is commonplace for professional tennis and pickleball tournaments to paint logos of various tournament sponsors around the perimeter of the playing surface. The same can be done at the Ryan Ranch courts and the revenue gained from these semi-permanent logos can help fund construction and/or ongoing maintenance such as resurfacing. Other sources of income can include banners on fences, engraved pavers, donor plaques on benches, and naming rights. Multiple local businesses currently sponsor pickleball at Chamisal with their banners proudly hanging on court fencing. The pickleball community would be happy to seek out interested sponsors and connect them with city representatives.

    The site at Ryan Ranch Park was previously identified by City staffa s the best location for pickleball within the City. The surrounding community consists of office parks and light industrial businesses. This site is no stranger to noise due to its proximity to the airport landing zone and the nearby recycling plant.

  • See MV-04 in above Monterey Vista Section

  • Some of these projects will likely get modified and/or combined.

  • City residents support undergrounding of utilities to reduce power outages. They require full-time program manager t o coordinate with PG&E as a long-term process. The cost is $1,000-2,000 per foot. Approximately 5 miles of utilities are underground, with approximately 98 miles remaining, so an estimated $500 Million to $1 Billion in 2024. Expected $2 million into perpetuity.

  • Residents have expressed support and interest in undergrounding utility wires.

    The reasons to underground are potentially lifesaving and include:

    1. the risk of fires from downed utility lines;

    2. the lengthy energy outages and resultant business losses;

    3. personal costs and disruption incurred around utility outages;

    4. blocked emergency routes from downed poles and lines during weather or fire related emergencies;

    5. beautification of our lovely city.

    This proposal is for $2,000,000 seed money for beginning the Underground Utilities Program suggested to Council and NCIP on February 6, 2024, by the City Manager. Funds from this proposal shall go to either the firm hired to do the planning and undergrounding or to a low-income loan program. The contracting company shall have the skills and experience needed to work effectively with utility companies, most importantly PG&E. The City liaison with the undergrounding contractor shall be the NCIP city engineers and staff. Undergrounding shall mean the undergrounding of all utility lines and the removal of poles.

    This proposal envisions the creation of a city Undergrounding Commission (UC) like the other Commissions of the City and consisting of volunteer residents. The idea is to reduce staff costs and to utilize the expertise of the public, to include members of MontereyUndergrounding, the group of residents meeting and learning about undergrounding issues monthly since 2018. The Undergrounding Commission shall meet every 1-2 months. Members shall receive public comment and advise staff and Council as to priorities and policies. Commission members shall be available to interface with contractors as desired by staff to express the vision of the community. The UC shall be welcome to participate in the review of potential contractors and to express their preferences and observations to City staff and to the Council, who is solely responsible for the hiring of contractors.

    Intention:

    Commission meetings shall be transparent, meaning available to the public in person and through the remote transmission policy in place by the City. The UC shall work with staff to meet state law requirements such as declaring and facilitating the generation of an undergrounding policy or ordinance where needed.

    A parallel funding goal of this project and of the UC is to work toward cost sharing, through government partnerships and grants and through potential inclusion of undergrounding in future sales tax ballot initiatives that involve street restructuring and maintenance. The work of the UC shall include working with city staff in grant writing and research into state, federal, and county funds available.

    There shall be a citizens' Underground Utilites Program Oversite Committee to ensure that the use of public funds is used for undergrounding or the loan program according to the terms of this project and that funds are efficiently utilized by contractors. This Committee shall meet at least twice a year and shall not include members of the Undergrounding Commission. These meetings shall be legally noticed and accessible to the community.

    The loan program shall be designed and overseen by the city staff and shall be intended to loan with interest to low-income persons for the individual, personal costs of the private lateral (trenching and boring from the street and placement of conduit) and of essential upgrades to electrical service panels. If not paid off earlier, a loan secured by the property shall be repaid at the next sale of the property.

    The expected benefits of the Underground Utilities Program are a safer, more resilient, and more beautiful City.

  • This is a priority to focus on a stretch of the peninsula's main feeder power lines that now exist on Del Monte Avenue between Sloat Avenue and Palo Verde Avenue. Trees fell due to high winds and rain and came into contact with the vunerable main feeder lines. The break in those min lines in March 2023 resulted in a power and communication disruption for multiple days to many peninsula residents and businesses. This is why we need to begin the undergrounding of overhead utilities on at least one of our major suppliers of power to the peninsula.

    In so doing our power supply would be less vulnerable to extreme weather events and equipment failure. It follows that our power supply would be more reliable and public safety would be enhanced.

    I propose with the support of the OTNA board that the city address this critical issue and make a plan. The March 2023 event when vital transportation corridors were blocked, energy-dependent services (clean water,sanitation, heating, food preservation,emergency transport and telecommunication) were all impacted, jeopardizing health and safety for the community, is a call to action.

    Above ground utilities can and will continue to fail due to events such as March 2023 or any event that can cause power lines and poles to be damaged.

    Issues addressed by this proposal are evacuation route safety, and improved reliability of essential services to the Monterey Peninsula. Not only would the community be less vulnerable to repeated extended outages in the future due to a feeder line failure, but a fringe benefit of underground utilities and pole removal would be that fire threat areas would be safer as a source of ignition because the overhead high voltage conductors are eliminated in those areas.

    Just as with the annual fire abatement NCIP projects, this proposal would benefit all of the City's Neighborhoods.

    Myself with the support of OTNA board propose that specific NCIP funds be used to create a plan (including involving PG&E,Telecommunication,engineering data,obtaining grants and funding)for the undergrounding of utility lines and removal of poles in a major evacuation route such as Del Monte Ave. This would enable the plan to prioritize escape routes and main feeder lines) allowing it to be implemented and funded in a timely and uninterrupted manner.

    By taking on this project the neighborhoods of the city of Monterey will be more protected from the negative of impacts of above-ground utilities embodied by the March 2023 event.

  • Other projects outside of MVNA but likely of interest to MVNA residents.

  • ALPF license plate readers are installed in Carmel, Pacific Grove, Seaside, Marina and Salinas.

    Monterey is the sole exception on the Peninsula. Criminals who just committed a real time crime are tracked city to city except for Monterey.The cameras are police force multipliers, critical in the nationwide shortage of police officers. It many times finds the perpetrators within minutes, acting as a crime deterrent for future criminal activities. All these cities have successfully solved violent crimes, rapes, shootings, robberies, attempted murders and returned stolen cars.

    NCIP in the past funded a security camera to over see the Serra Statue on the Lower Presidio, so there is a precedent.

    The Automated License Plate Recognition cameras wil sit on top of light posts and traffic lights about 10 to 12 feet in the air and take photos at an angle of the backs of vehicles. The software can gather information about the cars like the make, model and license plate. It alerts police when the vehicle matches the description of cars involved in crimes. Kaster said they are mainly thinking about stolen vehicles, and mass retail theft where groups of people steal several Items at once and run away.

    "It's not facial recognition, it's not tied to personal identifying information, and it's not used for traffic enforcement,"

    The data is not stored beyond 30 days, and automatically deletes every 30 days unless that vehicle is flagged for an investigative purpose.

    Police will also only be able to access the system for investigative purposes. They will have to be working on a crime or looking for a lead on a crime to use the software and not just to "check-up" on a car or individual, according to police.

    Hector Soliman, a representative from Flock, said the vehicle images are the only thing that can be captured with the cameras and they cannot pick up audio or be upgraded to do so.

    "There's no personal identifiable information in the data that's captured. So it's only images of the backs of vehicles and their license plates. We don't have any personally identifiable information within Flock, there's no DMV records or third-party databases."

    The police chief also shared that as a resident of Monterey he would ensure civil liberties are protected. This proposal offers to pay for purchase and installation only, with a limit of $130,000 from this project.

    ALPR cameras are set to be presented to the Monterey City Council, please show neighborhood support for this vital crime prevention tool.

  • Rehabilitation of Hilltop Park Center

    Hilltop Park Center in New Monterey is a re-purposed school that opened as park center in 1985. It contains class, meeting, activity, and community rooms as well as art space and kitchen facilities.

    Rehabilitation consists of: new roof w/gutters anddownspouts, new sewer lateral, replace exterior windows, new lighting system, termite treatment, install emergency generator, replace HVAC system, remodel kitchen, replace exterior doors, new flooring, interior and exterior paint, and upgrade pottery room plumbing.

  • Educating Residents and Visitors about Monterey Pine Forest.

    Install 6 trail-side signs in Veterans Memorial Park.

    *Description:

    Resident hikers, and visitors attracted to Monterey by its sea life, may not be aware of the disappearing botanical gem of our peninsula, the Monterey Pine forest. To support efforts to preserve its biodiversity against multiple pressures, I propose to start with 6 trail-side signs in Veterans Memorial Park with the following themes:

    1. Welcome - The Monterey area is home not just to many varieties of sea life, but many unusual plants

    2. The MontereyPine Forest

    3 . The Manzanita

    4 . Monterey's Flowers

    5. Invasive Species

    6 . How You Can Help: Learn about natives and plant them (and nursery info); volunteer to weed invasives and plant natives; don't plant a pest; educate your friends

    *Need:

    The need for this project is driven by a lack of general knowledge about an ecosystem that is disappearing from California. Monterey pine forests are not as famous as redwood forests, or the Lone Cypress of Pebble Beach, but they are so rare they require human protection. The best way to motivate people to protect them is to spread the word on why they are so wondertul.

    *Benefits: Benefits include:

    - a better experience for Veterans park campers, drawing them to return

    - encouragement for locals to get more involved ni supporting our local Monterey ecosystem

    An estimate from Monterey Signs shows the sign cost to be $300, and the installation adds - $1300

  • Add 650ft of split rail wooden fence w/ new flags and hardware along Veterans Dr. from the upper flag pole parking lot to the Basketball court.

    This will drastically improve safety, helping delineate the basketball court, turf and playground from the fast moving traffic on Veterans Dr.

    This will replace the current aging bollards, flags and hardware along the field. In addition it will help complete the updated aesthetic when the Bocce & Basketball courts are renovated and the upper flagpole parking area is repaved.

    This Nomination is being sent by Chris Makowski (Veterans Park Attendant) for multiple concerned families and neighbors that frequent the park often.

  • Description of Improvement: $4,000,000 toward land purchase DMG-LG

    This project is for the purchase of 19 residential lots for sale on the 500 block of Casanova Avenue for100% affordable duplex/townhomes. The land and any future residences will be forever owned by the City of Monterey as protected in the deed. The goal is to provide housing for City workers and for families with children in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD). (MLS#: ML81940099. Originally APN 013063005.) The land has been subdivided into 2.43+ acres and 19 lots.

    This is a rare opportunity to add a couple of blocks of City-controlled housing in an already established neighborhood zoned R1 & 2 which can be designated 100% affordable mixed income housing. We believe that residents will support the purchase so that we can house families and City workers already living or working in our city or who have children in our public school district.

    We are asking NCIP to help purchase the land promptly while it's available. If the sale doesn't go through within two years from the date of approval by the City Council, NCIP money shall revert to NCIP. We will apply for state and federal funds for other aspects of the project and seek contributions toward the purchase price from foundations and nonprofits.

    There are two wells on the property. With the expansion of Monterey 1 Water there will be more water available in the coming years that will be prioritized for affordable housing, especially 100% affordable projects. Additionally, the City of Monterey has stated that they prioritize their water allocations to100% affordable projects.

    Need for Project:

    Affordable housing is the top issue in our city. Homelessness is a key challenge. We hope to prevent additional homelessness by this project. MPUSD has 2,000 children identified as homeless in their schools. There are close to 500 homeless women in our area, many of whom are seniors and working women.

    City studies show that the number of people in the city doubles daily from workers commuting to work here; many cannot find affordable housing. Commuters, in addition to tourists, put a significant strain on City services such as our police department. These commuters contribute to the carbon footprint.

    The city is required to plan for 3654 units of housing to meet the latest Regional Housing Needs Allocation. This plan contributes to that goal.

    The only way to build 100% affordable housing in the city is on city owned property with non-profit developers or a public/private partnership. Projects on private property require a mere 20% of all new projects to be affordable. As 100% affordable, our plan makes a significant dent in the need for housing. An example of 100% affordable housing is the Van Buren senior housing built with 18 apartments; since its opening a few years ago there is a wait list of over 1,000 seniors. The City leases the Van Buren land to the nonprofit developer Mid-Pen which oversaw the building of the units and manages the leasing to tenants. The City has designated four other sites of City-owned lots in the surrounding downtown area to add 100% affordable housing all of which will be apartments.

    This land, if purchased, has minimal maintenance costs to the City and can reasonably be expected to be an asset inflating in value rather than incurring liability.