[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6316940,"mediaKeyId","2375187-cd9103ef0b459192c0cf757ca404fc2a","parentId",2375187,"title","Residents press council for traffic calming; staff outlines Safe Routes to School improvements and street rehab plans","audioSeconds",596,"startMs",2170000,"endMs",2766000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375187-cd9103ef0b459192c0cf757ca404fc2a&start=2170&end=2766","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375187-cd9103ef0b459192c0cf757ca404fc2a/thumbnail_2170000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6316940/Gonzales-City/Monterey-County/California/Residents-press-council-for-traffic-calming-staff-outlines-Safe-Routes-to-School-improvements-and-street-rehab-plans","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316940-0867f13728752b48c441edd542a16304/orig.mp4?Expires=1776587255&Signature=EKx0-esLez~hpmpn7f~rX~MjsorZG~YzmfMOGRX4ZzpFQhPX4ibglQ9Q8yHMQrzv3k4SpQZ0gyE8ZKgr8FVIpHEfBfXofpyztBrDIB~Su~0TEWxtE7to9niP-1h6TE9aqzkavSYh2DFSpHsPvXbmhApTr0jFoaxwA4sGqVn~ui0SUGW~KcjpRlJKA4OTFdwa5C7Uamac9ZFZ36PIYFHM9D9RkhGZEMDyNo~WzDECO2DxcJFdbvAXDqbUYDRDFCK~A7NXhaFHvWI2U1D6~YDW9KYXi0~jXZ-VAbGV9xiMWTzatP5ti8Fe13S~7wJRrpWrFNqEee3Ud9KyAgisSeRPyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Gonzales, CA","date","2025-02-21T00:57:30Z","article","Public works staff briefed the Gonzales City Council on Feb. 18 about resident requests to install traffic-control measures and on upcoming pedestrian-safety and paving projects. The presentation framed the city’s approach as the “three E’s”—education, enforcement and engineering—and outlined a toolkit of treatments including striping adjustments, radar-feedback signs, intersection bulb-outs and speed humps.

Public works staff said the city has $250,000 for Safe Routes to School improvements along Fifth Street between the U.S. 101 southbound ramps and the eastern edge of the community center, and that the project design will consider bulb-outs and crosswalk alignment at Rincon and Fifth Street. Staff noted a consultant is being engaged and there is a roughly 2.5-year window to spend the Safe Routes funds.

The nut graf: After the staff briefing, two residents described repeated speeding on narrow neighborhood streets and requested visible traffic-calming measures and petitions; council members asked staff to return with corridor-level recommendations and enforcement options.

At the council meeting, resident Pete Matarino described frequent high-speed driving on Del Monte Drive and asked the council to consider physical measures to slow traffic, saying speed bumps elsewhere had helped. “They’re just going too fast. We need to slow them down,” Matarino said. Another resident reporting from Seventh Street said he recorded a vehicle traveling about 40 miles per hour and asked the city for enforcement and physical improvements.

Staff said their typical response includes police monitoring and enforcement, site visits by public works, and consideration of engineering fixes. The presentation highlighted a prior lane-narrowing striping project on Alta Street that reduced average speeds by about 5 mph, demonstrating the effect of roadway striping.

Staff also flagged countywide pedestrian-safety work: TAMC/TAMSI is leading a Vision Zero planning effort for Monterey County (participating cities excluding Monterey and Salinas, which already have plans) and staff said Gonzales will be involved in that countywide planning. Staff further outlined planned street rehabilitation projects, including repaving two blocks of Fourth Street with approximately $636,000 in SP1 funds and assessment-district paving in Canyon Creek and the Industrial Business Park.

Council members, including Council Member Lorraine Worthy, expressed consistent support for a neighborhood-level approach rather than treating blocks in isolation, noting traffic-calming sweeps can shift traffic to other streets. One council member said staff has applied for a mobile radar trailer through a grant to allow portable speed feedback enforcement in neighborhoods.

Ending: Council directed staff to return with recommendations for corridor-level traffic-calming measures and enforcement options; no formal ordinance or capital appropriation was approved at the Feb. 18 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2 18 25 Joint CC & SA Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Residents urged the council to address speeding on narrow neighborhood streets. Public works staff outlined a toolbox of traffic-calming options, a $250,000 Safe Routes to School project, Vision Zero coordination and planned street rehabilitation work.","taxTitle","Gonzales City, Monterey County, California","taxId",72205,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6316945,"Gonzales youth present SOAR survey findings, plan workshops for South County Youth Summit",644,1496000,2140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375187-cd9103ef0b459192c0cf757ca404fc2a&start=1496&end=2140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375187-cd9103ef0b459192c0cf757ca404fc2a/thumbnail_1496000.jpg","/articles/6316945/Gonzales-City/Monterey-County/California/Gonzales-youth-present-SOAR-survey-findings-plan-workshops-for-South-County-Youth-Summit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316945-134c28eac47d5c77dc3dc4788970d6c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776587255&Signature=Kx07DkrRrQJ2lBTK5dZOgijC84FdbGN1T45pSxxGzKwPt2jo6IAKtOIKK2tEkf~nmirbPwwCVByC8UcqKMSzm8n19dMko5j2iVLMyG6zV5Gii5wk4nmytnG1lAQPm7uOs1S8KBitLUS~JHuMTrswaB5LJpRYqFVBfDWM5ejAuJH6WzReIUyrkBCSpafgv4yLmn8OQczLNG-eS0KBTtjsQypmUr0TW0pwPp15vk7m1r-yey5C57DWgZCkYKRylZnxQaebXpgPuzzeszTaazJSS7vPyrOpkUpa1R98Jktg48W9ADr852vyo7F29e4eB1KZAeJC7UDAO8fvev9-LdSTKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jessica Olmedo, a youth council adviser, and youth ambassadors Valeria Cardenas and Emily Mendez presented the Student Opportunity Achieving Rising (SOAR) asset-mapping project to the Gonzales City Council on Feb. 18.

The students surveyed primarily Gonzales High School juniors and seniors and reported that many respondents plan to pursue postsecondary education; others are undecided. The presenters said the survey collected demographic information and asked students about resources they currently use and barriers to career readiness. “Most of the data rated students’ preparedness as a three to four out of five,” the presentation materials showed.

The nut graf: The student-led survey identified mentorship and career-preparation workshops as top priorities; the youth commissioners said they will use $10,000 in regional grant funding to develop workshops for the South County Youth Summit.

Student presenters described survey findings: many respondents named the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and school mentors as the most-used resources for career and college help, while others cited gaps including lack of career readiness, personal support and mental-health services. Among suggested next steps, students asked for more internships, mentorship opportunities, online prep courses, driver’s-license support and financial-literacy workshops.

Valeria Cardenas and Emily Mendez said the survey was distributed via social media and in cooperation with schools; they reported 28 questions on topics including parental education and college intent. The presenters said the survey results will guide workshop topics at the upcoming South County Youth Summit, with adulting 101, career insight and hands-on prep workshops among the top requests.

Council members thanked the youth presenters. City staff said grant funding and the students’ data will be used to structure summit workshops.

Ending: The youth commissioners said summit planning will continue and that survey data will inform workshop content; no formal council action was taken on the presentation.","Youth council members presented results from a SOAR asset-mapping survey showing students want career prep workshops, internships, adulting classes and greater mentorship; council was told $10,000 in Wallace/Hartnell funding supports summit planning.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6316948,"Blue Zones Project urges Gonzales to tighten tobacco rules, highlights community garden and school engagement ahead of national site visit",1023,213000,1236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375187-cd9103ef0b459192c0cf757ca404fc2a&start=213&end=1236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375187-cd9103ef0b459192c0cf757ca404fc2a/thumbnail_213000.jpg","/articles/6316948/Gonzales-City/Monterey-County/California/Blue-Zones-Project-urges-Gonzales-to-tighten-tobacco-rules-highlights-community-garden-and-school-engagement-ahead-of-national-site-visit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316948-d5f670f0cdf99a7e11a7b458ac149da4/orig.mp4?Expires=1776587255&Signature=WFar76Z-OgtogAvbthIt2EmasG5ZrjLD~SjfqHpwpiF11ov0eBw5b-RRe9W5KmzDNnUW9GMiexhUSlpy8GoDw3NIMxEr3qf4gBVVo0Aj5KpnL37PAaKMZSJ-zpB7Y9r4oV7kXLWW19-wcxg8OdR8xWPwwy3r9YgCQ5G0N4Ren-m2TJ9Mde4dsZUPoFPkhZfe~~N2yCGfp~AvxLMtqM6LR3x0g4YJmu-sE6pBPSgqO5Umjd5FOAKSydyE7pKp3Zy2lsgjaGmL1I~Nl9N1Mn2iDGC9tqzQK1DOS5g5eFFBvX1lAWBuFJkNQHh~c7d5i~-ZAs8fvmyNxx1xhENtAmCctA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kendra Howell, a policy lead for the Blue Zones Project South Monterey County, told the Gonzales City Council on Feb. 18 that the city is nearing a national Blue Zones certification and is preparing for a site visit by Blue Zones national staff the week of May 5–9.

The presentation described work across three areas—people, places and policy—where the Blue Zones Project measures community changes that support longer, healthier lives. Howell said the certification process includes validating approved worksites, schools and restaurants and adopting an additional local policy. “We’re preparing for a site visit from Blue Zones National,” Howell said, noting the team will tour the community garden and meet stakeholders from businesses and schools.

The nut graf: Certification would formally recognize long-running local projects, but Blue Zones staff told the council one relatively small ordinance change would be needed for Gonzales to meet the policy requirements: aligning the city’s tobacco retail licensing with Monterey County’s ordinance.

Howell and colleagues detailed that the county retail license covers product categories not included in the 2022 statewide voter measure, and recommended the city update its ordinance accordingly. The county’s retail license, Howell said, “includes single use e-cigarettes, flavored pipe tobacco, flavored premium cigars, and hookah tobacco,” categories the presenters said are not covered by the state measure passed by voters in 2022. Blue Zones offered to work with Monterey County Health Department staff to draft the update for city staff review and council consideration.

Marcus Pulido, the Blue Zones worksite lead, reported local approvals and employee reach. He said Gonzales currently has three Blue Zones–approved worksites—Braga Fresh Foods, Taylor Farms, and the Taylor Farms Family Health and Wellness Clinic—and that those employer partners alone account for “over 900 employees” engaged in Blue Zones activities countywide. Pulido recommended the Gonzales school district consider becoming an approved worksite to extend program alignment across schools.

Dalila Alvarado, the Blue Zones food-environment lead, described restaurant and grocery participation and local food programs. She said nearly 60 restaurants countywide are Blue Zones approved and that two Gonzales restaurants—La Plaza Bakery and Luigi’s—offer Blue Zones menu options. Alvarado highlighted a local collaboration distributing 218 produce boxes weekly in Gonzales (about 160 at Central Park and the remainder at the Taylor Farms clinic) and said that distribution is funded through July 25.

The presenters also described the Gonzales community garden—the project the team described as the city’s marquee Blue Zones site—and said partners including the Resource Conservation District are preparing a pollinator garden and orchard. Blue Zones asked for community volunteers and said the garden will be among the sites shown during the May site visit.

Council members thanked the presenters and asked several clarifying questions about employee counts and pollinator plans. Mayor Jose Rios and other council members said they appreciated Blue Zones’ programming, including recent chair-yoga offerings.

Ending: Blue Zones representatives said they will work with city staff and county health officials on the recommended tobacco licensing update and with city leaders on scheduling the May site visit. City staff did not set a formal date for bringing an ordinance amendment to the council during the Feb. 18 meeting.","Blue Zones Project representatives told the City of Gonzales council the city is nearing Blue Zones certification, recommended updating its tobacco retail licensing to match Monterey County, and outlined school, worksite and food programs supporting health goals.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press council for traffic calming; staff outlines Safe Routes to School improvements and street rehab plans

Gonzales youth present SOAR survey findings, plan workshops for South County Youth Summit

Blue Zones Project urges Gonzales to tighten tobacco rules, highlights community garden and school engagement ahead of national site visit