Monterey Council approves NCIP projects, nixes three
Several members of the Monterey Neighborhood Community Improvement Program Committee showed up to the council meeting on Tuesday to hear the council’s plans for dozens of projects the committee recommended for the next fiscal year.
The Monterey City Council voted to send four projects back to the committee and nixed three projects due to staff’s recommendations.
The NCIP Committee brought 39 projects to the council, 32 of which were under the recommended funding with two cut off projects. The additional seven projects were not recommended by city staff, but the council decided to go through to vote on them one by one.
The council voted to send the New Monterey Neighborhood Plan update, the Casa Verde Underpass murals project, a project to create a comprehensive fire safety analysis to develop a multi-year hazard reduction program, and a project for bike repair stations back to the NCIP Committee. The rationale was to allow the committee the chance to re-work the projects and gather more information or drop the project themselves.
Meanwhile, the three other projects were dropped in favor of the city staff’s recommendations.
One project was at Deer Flats, to install an electrical disconnect for decorative lighting in the neighborhood entrance planter, but city staff said HOA is responsible for maintaining common assets in Deer Flats.
Another project was to create pickleball courts at Ryan Ranch. City staff did not recommend that project because the Parks and Recreation Commission determined that it was inconsistent with their master plan. Also, city staff say they are focusing on existing facilities and expanding pickleball courts at the Monterey Tennis Center.
The last project was to install new decomposed granite on the sidewalk from Harrison Street to Veterans Drive, but city staff said it was a redundant project.
The council voted unanimously to approve $210,000 from the NCIP ending balance account for the El Estero Park Center Playground equipment upgrade. The plan is to replace the cap of the pool that the playground sits on, and upgrade the playground itself.
The agenda report laid out that this project could be turned around quickly and did not require design or engineering services. The playground upgrade was a cut-off project in two previous NCIP project lists. Since NCIP has completed 16 projects below the expected funding, the playground upgrade will be funded with that extra money the NCIP netted.
There was some concern from members of the NCIP Committee, who say the project should have been brought up again in meetings and placed on a new project list. However, the city council praised the city staff for keeping the project in mind and bringing it to the forefront when the opportunity presented itself.
“I think it’s an opportunity,” said Council member Ed Smith, who has the playground in his district. “The equipment is 31 years old. This project is affordable and within the budget.”
