Planning commission recommends CIP conforms with county plans after debate over road diets, Palo Colorado funding and San Lucas water

The Monterey County Planning Commission on May 14 recommended that the Board of Supervisors find the County’s proposed FY 2025–26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) conforms with the 2010 General Plan and the 1982 Local Coastal Program for the coastal zone. The commission voted 7-0 to forward the recommendation with discussion and requested edits to project descriptions.

John Snively, Administrative Operations Manager for Public Works, said the CIP exhibit is organized into projects that have not previously been reviewed, projects continuing in design or construction, and projects previously reviewed by the commission. He described the role of the Capital Improvement Committee and the budget committee in prioritizing projects and said the board will adopt the CIP as part of the county budget process in June.

Commissioners raised multiple project-specific concerns during the hour-long discussion. Commissioner Shaw objected to the inclusion of a Salinas Road segment design that originally proposed a four-lane-to-two-lane "road diet," telling staff earlier community meetings had strongly opposed that element. Public Works Director Randy Ishii said design staff and Caltrans had reviewed a reduced-scope concept and ‘‘confirmed that removal of that road diet ... could be removed and the county still be eligible for grant funding.’’ Ishii said the design will be completed incorporating community comments and a reduced scope focused on bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

Ishii also addressed long-running concerns about Palo Colorado Road, noting the project is ‘‘close to $17,000,000 at this juncture with only approximately 3 and a half million dollars that have been obligated by FEMA’’ and that county staff have applied for a grant ‘‘north of $10,000,000’’ to cover the funding gap. He urged residents to contact Public Works and supervisors’ offices and to provide advocacy and written input to help secure funding.

The commission asked for clearer project descriptions before the CIP proceeds to the board and for improved public outreach on long-standing projects. Commissioners also discussed a San Lucas drinking-water connection shown in the CIP, which Snively said includes $300,000 for ongoing design and grant application work in the coming fiscal year; Director Ishii confirmed the county had also secured a federal earmark and is awaiting related state study results.

Several commissioners asked how residents should advocate for long-standing projects; Snively and Ishii recommended contacting Public Works, the Capital Improvement Committee and the supervisors’ offices and encouraged letters, direct contacts and participation in grant advocacy. Commissioner Deal emphasized the improved transparency of the CIP materials and moved the commission recommend adoption of the proposed resolution with the hearing record edits discussed; Commissioner Gomez seconded. The motion carried, 7-0.

The commission’s recommendation is advisory; the Board of Supervisors will take final action when it adopts the county budget and CIP.