STAFF REPORT
CITY OF BURBANK
BURBANK
PUBLIC
LIBRARY
DATE: December 5, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
Elizabeth Goldman, Library Services Director Mingethatbed..
FROM:
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Grant Application, Acceptance, and Execution of Agreements for $9,949,896 in Grant Funds from the California State Library for the New Burbank Central Library
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK To
AUTHORIZE THE GRANT APPLICATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,949,896, AND
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER OR HIS DESIGNEE TO ENTER INTO A GRANT AGREEMENT ON THE CITY'S BEHALF.
BACKGROUND
The City of Burbank has identified construction of a new, replacement Central Library as a priority for use of space in a redeveloped Burbank Civic Center. Potential other elements of the Civic Center project include additional City office space, open space, parking, and both affordable and workforce housing. The City Council has received several project updates, most recently on April 11, 2023.
The California State Legislature allocated a combined $489 million toward public library improvements as part of the State of California Budget Acts of 2022 (Assembly Bill 179) and 2023 (Senate Bill 101). Municipalities and library districts were provided the opportunity to request these funds through a competitive process managed by the California State Library (CSL) Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program.
DISCUSSION
The City of Burbank applied for the first round of funding in 2022, which prioritized renovation projects, and was not successful. In May 2023, Burbank submitted an application under the second round, with the project title, "A Modern, Accessible, Sustainable Burbank Central Library." On October 5, 2023, CSL notified the City of its intent to award $9,949,896 for the project in the second round.
In order to proceed with the grant award, CSL requires the City to take several actions:
1) City Council approval of a resolution authorizing the application for and acceptance of the grant, and authorizing staff to enter into the grant agreement on the City's behalf;
2) Submission of a letter from the City's Financial Services Director attesting to the availability of matching funds within the City budget; and 3) Submission of updated grant budget and implementation documents.
The resolution for Council adoption is included as Attachment 1. It acknowledges the City's responsibility to comply with the terms of the funding and all relevant laws and authorizes and directs staff to submit required documents and reports.
On September 13, 2022, the Council voted to direct staff to establish a reserve account and transfer $10 million from the Fund 534 fund balance for matching funds for project- related grants. These funds will serve as the required one-to-one match for the Building Forward grant and will allow the Financial Services Director to attest to their availability.
Staff has submitted updated grant budget and implementation documents to CSL. Upon receipt and execution of award documents, expected in January 2024, CSL will disburse the first 50% of grant funds, with another 40% upon approval of mid-project reports in 2025, and the remaining 10% upon approval of the final report in 2027.
The grant funds, including local match, have a spending deadline of June 30, 2027.
Consideration of this deadline within overall project schedules is under review. A more detailed project update will be brought to Council in early 2024, including analysis and recommendations related to next steps as a result of the grant having been secured.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Authorizing a resolution to accept the grant has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, because the grant simply provides a funding source for a portion of the larger Central Library and Civic Center project. Staff will bring project details and a 2 request for formal approval to proceed to Council at a future date. As such, receipt of the grant funds alone is not a "project" subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
Any CEQA requirements for the project itself will be completed as part of project planning.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff is requesting City Council authority to accept a grant for the purpose of building a new Central Library to account 370.ND000.48010.0000.24919.00000. There is no fiscal impact to the FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget as a result of accepting this grant. Staff will request an appropriation of received funds as part of the budget process.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends Council adopt a resolution authorizing the grant application and acceptance of $9,949,896 in grant funds from the State of California for the new Burbank Central Library, and authorize the City Manager or his designee to enter into a grant agreement on the City's behalf.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 - Resolution