Work Plan SOBO 2025-2026

Sidewalk Operations, Beautification, and Order (SOBO)

The Sidewalk Operations, Beautification, and Order Committee (SOBO) is charged with making the Salinas City Center District (District) a safe and inviting place by overseeing private security, coordinating security needs with the City of Salinas Police Department, maintaining the sidewalks and landscaping, and beautifying the District for the enjoyment of the public, merchants, property owners, and employees.

Committee Background

The SOBO Committee was established as an ad-hoc committee in 2016.  The Committee is run by a volunteer group that addresses security and sidewalk maintenance. 

In previous years, SOBO’s services were performed through contracts with independent contractors and one employee.

SOBO staff and day-to-day operations are led by Greg Hamer, SCCIA District Coordinator, with oversight from the Committee.

Current Landscaping and Maintenance – Zones 1 & 2

Smith & Enright currently provides maintenance to the entire District.   Additional services are projected for aphid control, plant/tree replacement and tree pruning during FY Dec 25/26.  These items will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Some of these costs are included in the proposed budget, while some are intended to be funded from grant funds.

Sidewalk Pressure Washing

SOBO anticipates continuing to provide scheduled treatments in FY Dec 25/26 of the Main Street sidewalks. Continued participation with the Farmer’s Market (300 Block) and Taylor Farms (west side 100 Block) will continue to be explored.

Accomplishments FY Dec 24/25 

• Continued to contract with Allied Security for security services throughout our District.  To improve security, Allied provides foot patrol six days a week; interacts with the local homeless population; responds to calls from local merchants, businesses and property owners; and coordinates with the police department.
• Continued to contract with Smith & Enright for landscaping and sidewalk maintenance services to the entire District. Smith & Enright’s services cover the entire District and include trimming, weeding, sweeping, blowing, and picking up debris twice a week.
• Added regular pressure washing service to the new Main Street Project Sidewalks to address the staining that was occurring on the new concrete. 
• Supervised the work efforts of Kevin Hayes in his Streetscape Maintenance position.  Kevin provides valuable maintenance throughout the District as needed, with positive feedback from the business community. His electric utility vehicle helps him efficiently manage our District.
• Added a second full-time streetscape maintenance position to better serve our District. 
• Secured pricing quotes for refurbishment of tree wells in zone 2 and planter boxes in zone 1 that need attention.
• Replaced all tree well electrical outlets on the 200 and 300 block with outlets mounted 15ft high in the trees to deter stealing of electricity.
• Replaced electrical outlets on theme posts with blank covers to deter loitering and property destruction
• Added 8 trees, with collaboration from the City of Salinas, in zone 2.  Maintenance is funded through grants.

Goals FY Dec 25/26

• Continue to provide maintenance, beautification and security to our District in a manner that is in line with our budget.
• Continue to evaluate the effectiveness of the current pressure washing program. If effective, study budget or grant opportunities to modify the pressure washing program as funds become available.
• Work with SCCIA’s District Coordinator, including supervising maintenance staff, overseeing payroll, communicating with SCCIA constituents, and purchasing supplies, as needed.
• Pursue grant and funding opportunities to supplement SOBO revenue to not only assist with cost increases but to enable additional services throughout the District.
• Collaborate with the city of Salinas to fill empty tree wells with either trees, or facilitate fixing sidewalks to enhance the pedestrian experience.
• Staff development in the form of classes and educational seminars.
• Continue using Allied Security Services until at least June 2026 (due to potential rate increase)
• RFP for landscaping services to include annual tree trimming, aphid control, debris/leaf blowing, watering, and weed control.
• Incorporate Block Captain program into SOBO Committee and create meeting schedule.

Conclusion

SOBO operations have matured and are continuous with little variation.  However, we have been able to expand our staffing to better serve the needs of the District.  As SCCIA is a volunteer organization, the added staffing was only made possible by the addition of the SCCIA District Coordinator position. With two maintenance employees starting off in the previous fiscal year we look forward to continuing to improve our overall level of service.

Work Plan DISI 2025-2026

District Identity and Streetscape Improvements (DISI)

Accomplishments FY Dec 24/25 

• Solicited multiple grant funds to be used in 2024/2025 
• Enhanced communication and visibility with Downtown merchants by way of new District Coordinator to work on development of a Downtown merchant group  
• Mural program for Downtown Salinas
  • Approved and installed one mural installation
  • Finalizing the second mural design. 
• Partnerships with major Downtown stakeholders: One Main Street, Downtown Rotary, Alvarado on Main, Taylor Farms, Artist Ink, Arts Council etc.
• Increased participation in grass roots events such as Trick or Treat and First Friday Salinas.
• Send District Coordinator to California Main Street Conference in San Luis Obispo
• Edible Monterey Bay Dining Ad Campaign
  • 4 – full page ads in their quarterly publication 
  • Hosted the summer issue launch party with Heirloom Pizza
    • Included a writeup from the publisher and email blasts
  • Created and distributed 20K Dining Guides through their Winter issue and around Monterey County at various locations including:
    • Monterey Airport
    • Salinas Airport
    • See Monterey
    • Chamber Offices
    • Salinas Visitor Center
    • Salinas Train Station
    • Monterey Zoo
• MC Weekly Holiday Ad Campaign: TBD
  • Promoted Shop Small Saturday, the Tree For Peace Lighting Ceremony, and supporting local during the holidays
    • Five (5) 1/2 page color print ads
    • Twelve (12) MCNOW email newsletter ads 
• MC Weekly Visitors Guide:
  • Full page print ad
• MC Weekly Best Of…
  • SSC was nominated for Best Shopping District/Center and we ran an ad in the polls
• KSBW Holiday Campaign: TBD
  • Promote Shop Small Saturday and the Tree For Peace Lighting Ceremony with a 30 second spot
• Created a Youtube channel
  • Produce video media promoting downtown.
  • Shop, Dine, Live, Work, Play in Salinas City Center
• Google Ads Campaign
  • Shop, Dine, Live, Work, Play in Salinas City Center
• Continue to amplify Downtown Salinas businesses posts on social media as well as create original content promoting downtown
• New and improved website that will serve as a destination for people to stay in the know of what’s happening in Downtown Salinas
• Downtown BINGO
• Welcome Bags for new merchants with information about SCCIA and how we can work together
• Press Releases:
  • Habitats Mural Unveiling
  • Salinas Legends (ready to send when you are)
  • Holiday Happenings (coming soon to promote Shop Small and Tree Lighting)
  • Should we put one out about First Fridays?
• Banners
  • Updated the design of the large rectangle banners
  • Implemented updated banner design and installation in parking lots 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8.
  • Grew the banner program supporting local groups and their initiatives
    • Hometown Heroes
    • Relay For Life
• Expanded the Tree Lighting Ceremony by partnering with One Main Street and The Salinas Chamber in 2025
  • Holiday décor and festivities including tree lighting and moved Holiday tree lighting to occur with Shop Small Saturday for a larger impact. 
  • Participants and entertainment: Salinas Fire, Monterey County Arts Council, Santa, face painting, balloon artist, magical elf, Salinas School of Dance, Salinas High School Folkloric Club, and hot chocolate and sweet treats
• Email Campaigns:
  • With the new and improved website we are starting monthly newsletters back-up for the community
• Blog Posts:
  • Discover Downtown Salinas
    • With the new website and picking up monthly newsletters there will be more blog posts like these to come

Goals FY Dec 25/26

• Print Ads
  • MC Weekly Visitors Guide:
    • Full page print ad
• Continue to grow our Youtube channel:
  • Shop, Dine, Live, Work, Play in Salinas City Center
• Continue our Google Ads Campaign
  • Shop, Dine, Live, Work, Play in Salinas City Center
• Continue to amplify Downtown Salinas businesses posts on social media as well as create original content promoting downtown and create more reels.
• Continue to promote the new website solidifying it as the go-to website for Downtown Salinas happenings
• Continue handing out Welcome Bags for new merchants with information about SCCIA and how we can work together
• Continue to send relevant press releases:
  • Possible examples are:
    • Art Unveilings
    • First Fridays
    • Holiday Happenings
• Continue to grow the Banner Program
  • Add more organizations to the banner program including local schools
• Hopefully grow the Tree Lighting Ceremony by partnering with One Main Street and The Salinas Chamber again
• Email Campaigns:
  • Monthly newsletters to the community
• More Blog Posts
• Continue to strengthen our relationships and communications with the downtown merchants
• Continue to participate in community grass roots events.
• Increase website visibility and drive traffic.
• Add 1 mural to downtown.
• Add 1 sculpture to downtown.
• Continue to track area visitation and event attendance.
• Explore Main Street America membership opportunities.
• Continue to partner with major downtown stakeholders including the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Work Plan LUC 2025-2026

Land Use Committee

Accomplishments FY Dec 24/25

Housing

To the extent possible, monitored the status of proposed new transit-oriented density housing on city parking lots in Downtown Salinas and the exclusive negotiating agreement toward approval of those parcels.

Highlighted how the City of Salinas has advanced towards its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) goals through adaptive reuse development in the Downtown.

Downtown Parking Facility

Continued interaction with County of Monterey and City of Salinas officials in the planning stages for a potential Downtown Parking Facility adjacent to the County Government Center, as indicated in the Downtown Vibrancy Plan. 

Parking Management District

Collected records from dozens of other California cities related to their Downtown Parking management programs and discussed the possible approach and timing for a parking study with City planning staff.

Intermodal Transportation Center

Continued to track the status of the Salinas Kick-Start Project Phases 2 and 3, as well as the initiation of planning for the Parajo station, toward the ultimate goal of commuter trains between Salinas and the South Bay (and beyond). Participate in the MST Alisal BRT TAC (Monterey Salinas Transit Alisal Bus Rapid Transit Technical Advisory Committee.)

Permit Reform

Worked in a coalition with other business organizations to monitor the city’s permit process and provide input for improvements through a Business Development Committee.

Accurate Assessment of Vacancies

Directed the SCCIA district coordinator to create and maintain an accurate record of who owns properties and operates businesses within the Salinas Community Benefit District, in order to identify vacancies and consider a plan to get those vacancies filled.

Traffic Issues

Maintained communication with the Public Works Department on evaluation of the diagonal “scramble” crosswalks and how they affect traffic flow and pedestrian behavior.

Outdoor Dining

Monitored the city’s development and promotion of a permit program and financial assistance for outdoor dining.

Salinas Arch Maintenance

Continued cooperation with SCCIA and Salinas Rotary to maintain the Salinas Rotary Arch and implement a plan for quick removal of graffiti using appropriate methods, and other maintenance issues.

Economic Development Element

Continued to participate and monitor the EDE and General Plan Update.

Goals FY Dec 25/26

1. Support and Advocate for Continued Implementation of the Downtown Vibrancy Plan – maintain a list of what in the Downtown Vibrancy Plan has been completed, what is in the process of being done, and what still remains to be done. Continue to highlight the relationship of the Downtown Vibrancy Plan to other plans, such as the Economic Development Element of the General Plan, the Alisal Vibrancy Plan, the Chinatown Revitalization Plan, and others.
2. Achieve a Revenue-Neutral, Vibrancy-Oriented, Publicly-Accountable Parking Management Program – develop and implement a comprehensive plan for a public-private Downtown Parking Management District, for the purpose of reducing parking frustrations for customers, merchants, employees, and other businesses while generating revenue that pays expenditures for adequate, quality operations and maintenance in the District. 
3. Pursue Public and Private Policies that Promote and Highlight Historical, Cultural, and Aesthetic Aspects of Downtown Salinas – emphasize the distinctive buildings, facades, and cultural and historical elements of Downtown through initiatives including a Vintage Sign Ordinance and a facade illumination program, so residents of the region, visitors from outside the region, and business owners choose Downtown as a destination. Work with the California Welcome Center, the First Mayor’s House, the Heritage Park organization, the UC Valleys of Anza project, the Historic Resources Board, and other groups dedicated to historic preservation and promotion.
4. Improve the Permit Process to Encourage Commercial and Residential Development – continue active participation in a coalition of business groups currently known as the Business Development Committee to review and recommend improvement to the permit process, including proper assessment of traffic impact fees and reasonable review of planning, building and sign applications within SCCIA Boundaries.
5. Prevent Property Neglect and Blight – monitor and report dilapidated vacant buildings for potential City enforcement action, track short-term commercial vacancies, and encourage building owners to activate long-term commercial vacancies.
6. Monitor:
   1. Operations of Downtown Events and recommend policies and changes as necessary to relevant parties.
   2. Diagonal scramble crosswalks at the intersection of Main Street and Alisal Street and work with the City of Salinas for solutions to traffic backups that occur there at certain times.
   3. Others as needed may develop.
7. Seek Grants to Provide Expertise or Resources  to the Land Use Committee in Advancing the Downtown Vibrancy Plan:
   1. Expand the vision of Downtown by obtaining advice, studies and models from outside  experts and by seeking analysis of projects and programs that increase vibrancy in other downtown districts in California and elsewhere.
   2. Study Downtown streets to reduce speeds, improve circulation and pedestrian safety, and broaden parking options.
   3. Others as needed may develop.

Nominating Committee

TBA