10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY october 17-23, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com In recent months the city of Salinas has seen an increase in pedestrian fatalities, including the death of a 3-year-old in July, after a driver ran a red light on East Alisal Street. Anecdotally, residents report more jaywalking, groups of kids riding bicycles dangerously and blocking traffic, cars blocking pedestrian crossings and more. In response, the Salinas Police Department has increased efforts to improve safety on the roads and mitigate reckless behaviors. City officials are seeking community input on streetscape plans, hoping for improvement. On Sept. 24, the city accepted two grants meant to improve traffic enforcement and education, and to reduce vehicular collisions and fatalities. Combined, Salinas received $268,831 from the California Office of Traffic Safety for 2025 projects. Ecology Action, a Santa Cruz-based nonprofit, will be in charge of providing training on bicycle and pedestrian safety. Also in September, council adopted the 2024 Salinas Active Transportation Plan to update the current plans that were over 20 years old. It will bring the city up to code with California’s 2008 Complete Streets Act, which requires cities and counties to incorporate street plans that will serve all users— including pedestrians and cyclists. Councilmember Anthony Rocha said it was important to adopt and implement bike infrastructure, otherwise it would impact quality of life into the future. “It has to come with the funding to maintain that bike infrastructure moving forward if we want this to be successful,” Rocha said. Currently, Salinas has 95 miles of bikeway but there are significant gaps, leaving cyclists on high-speed roads with heavy traffic, which can be unsafe and challenging to ride on. Main, Alisal and Market streets are on the top three for bicyclist and pedestrian collisions, according to the Active Transportation Plan. In surveys, many residents shared they didn’t feel safe on bike lanes and that sidewalks are narrow and in poor condition. The goal of this plan is to identify community needs and focus on projects that improve connectivity and the safety and mobility experience for cyclists and pedestrians. It calls for an interconnected trail system across the city. The plan includes increasing protected bike lanes from 9.4 miles to 59.7 miles. “If we want to encourage people to ride their bicycles, we need to maintain bike lanes safely.” Councilmember Tony Barrera said. Voters in North Monterey County will decide on three property tax measures in the Nov. 5 election that benefit schools and parks. While none overlap, one measure is going before the same district of voters that passed a property tax increase in March for a different entity. Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which operates three schools in North County, seeks voter approval of Measure M, a $315 million bond to renovate campuses across its 34 schools and construct teacher housing, among other things. The bond would add $60 per $100,000 assessed value of properties within the district for the next 30 years. PVUSD Chief Business Official Jenny Im says with the way schools are funded in California, there is little money to use to upgrade aging infrastructure without seeking bonds. PVUSD’s last bonds were in 2012 and 2002, which “made a tremendous impact on our schools and students,” Im says, adding that studies show that upgraded classrooms boost student learning and achievement. “It has now been over a decade and we must prepare for the next decade or more of facility and technology needs.” In March, voters approved Measure N, a $116 million bond measure for Watsonville Community Hospital which added $24 per $100,000 of assessed value on property tax bills in the district whose boundaries are nearly identical with PVUSD. Pajaro Valley Health Care District Board Chair Tony Nuñez says with the Measure N funds, the health care district was able to exercise its purchase option in September for the hospital building and its property for $40 million from its Alabama-based owner, and expects the deal to close within 90 days. While Measure N required two-thirds approval, Measure M needs 55 percent to pass. Voters within the North County Public Recreation District will be asked to approve Measure EE, an $82-per-parcel tax to support that district. Measure D, Aromas-San Juan Unified School District’s $44 million bond, is also on the ballot. Safe Street Salinas City Council bets on infrastructure to make roads safer for pedestrians. By Celia Jiménez news Flu Fighters Monterey County Health Department is partnering with local organizations to provide no-cost flu vaccine clinics around the county. 4-7pm Thursday, Oct. 17 at San Ardo Elementary, 62428 Center St., San Ardo; 11am-2pm Saturday, Oct. 19 at Mid Carmel Valley Fire Station, 8455 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. Free. mtyhd.org. Talking Water New Monterey Neighborhood Association and the League of Women Voters present a forum featuring the candidates for Monterey Peninsula Water Management Board of Directors District 3. 7pm Thursday, Oct. 17. Hilltop Park Center, 871 Jessie St., Monterey. Free. newmontereyneighborhood.org. Park Beautification Friends of Seaside Parks Association organizes weekly work days to clean up and maintain parks throughout the city. 10am-noon Saturday, Oct. 19. Durant Park, corner of Wanda Avenue between Vallejo and Darwin streets, Seaside. Free. friendsofseasideparks.org. Grilling the Candidates Candidates running in the Nov. 5 election for various City of Salinas seats participate in a forum. The forum, conducted in English and Spanish, is moderated by Pastor Artis Smith and Univision’s Adriana Frederick Sutton. 6pm Monday, Oct. 21. UFW, 118 East Gabilan St., Salinas. Free. infobhc@ actioncouncil.org. Public Service Salinas City Council meets and accepts public comment. Tell your elected officials what they are doing well and what you think they can do better. 4pm Tuesday, Oct. 22. Salinas Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. 7587381, cityofsalinas.org. Exercise Your Right The deadline to register to vote is approaching. If you miss the deadline, you can still register and request a provisional ballot. 11:59pm Monday, Oct. 21. Same-day voter registration begins Tuesday, Oct. 22 up to Nov. 5. registertovote. ca.gov. Working on the Highway Caltrans hosts a public meeting on the Highway 101 South of Salinas project, which would relocate two interchanges on Highway 101 at Grant and Main streets in Chualar and at Abbott Street. Left-turn maneuvers along the highway would also be removed. 4-6pm Wednesday, Oct. 23. Ag Center Conference Room, 1432 Abbott St., Salinas. Free. bit.ly/101southofsalinas. Bonding Together North County voters are being asked to approve three tax measures. By Erik Chalhoub In December 2023, Salinas received $16 million in federal funds to implement the Williams Road Safe Street Corridor Project, increasing mobility options on Williams. e-mail: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX The plan includes increasing bike lanes from 9.4 to 59.7 miles. Daniel Dreifuss
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