Council approves $94 million Los Banos Downtown Master Plan
During their meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, the Los Banos City Council unanimously adopted the Downtown Master Plan for a total estimated cost of $94,200,000 in phases.
Downtown Master Plan
Paul Martin of engineering, design, planning and consulting firm Mark Thomas provided the presentation on the Downtown Master Plan. He said the plan is to “position to get money…grants. Our firm…does a lot of work with agencies pursuing grants”
According to the City staff report for the item, #12, the goals of the Plan include enhancing walking and biking facilities, enhanced streetscapes and new community gathering spaces, implementing green street concepts and high-quality landscaping, upgrading underground utilities, and improving signage and wayfinding.
The plan provides a phased approach to implementation that improves infrastructure needs such as undergrounding utilities, repaving roadways and shortening crosswalks as well as the urban design and placemaking elements such as paving, lighting and public assembly areas.
The Downtown Master Plan outlines strategic phases to enhance access to key destinations, improve roadway safety and foster economic growth in the City’s downtown area. The content provided in the comprehensive plan positions the City to pursue grant funding for implementation of priority corridors such as Sixth Street and I Street.
Cost estimates have been developed for recommended plan improvements per representative block face and ranges between $3,300,000 and $19,200,000. The estimated cost for implementation for all the streets within the Downtown is $94,200,000.
A comprehensive analysis of funding programs administered by regional, state and federal agencies was compiled to support implementation of the Plan’s priority projects.
Questions from Council
Following the presentation, District 3 Councilman Brett Jones asked about the alleys to be used for dining and closed off to traffic saying, “Is that what the public decided on and wanted?”
Community and Economic Development Department Director Stacy Souza Elms responded, “The steering committee was more of a stakeholders committee…they were able to help us further identify…an issue…parking, outdoor dining was one of the priorities we heard from the community…workshop. That was their desire. That’s what helped us develop the conceptual plan.”
“The data is great. It helps us make decisions, up here,” Jones stated.
“The focus of this Master Plan…and the scope that Mark Thomas…was tasked to do, was really to focus on the street scape and the infrastructure,” Souza Elms shared. “It was really to be able to create the foundation for grants. How the furniture…the landscaping…and how people are able to walk through the downtown…and bicyclists.”
Jones asked about undergrounding utilities.
“Yes. 100%. The goal is to underground. We’ve looked at various sources,” Souza Elms responded. “That is the goal to be able to underground all of the utilities. It’s really walkable is the goal we’re trying to achieve. There’s activity on the street. That’s what really makes a viable downtown.”
Jones asked about the work of the former redevelopment agency and if the new plan starts with a “clean slate” concerned there would be a “hodge-podge” look.
“That would be our desire,” Souza Elms said that would be a decision.
“The downtown taking back our shopping hub from Walmart, would bring back our smalltown feel,” Jones added.
Llanez asked about handicapped parking.
“It does include redesigning for accessibility. We do no need to address our curbs…before looking at any parking,”Jones moved to adopt the Downtown Master Plan, Lambert seconded the motion, and it passed on a 5-0 vote.