CITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORTCITY OF COMMERCEAGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
Item No. Item No.
Item No.
Item No.
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Acting City Manager
SUBJECT: First Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Climate Resolve for Assistance in Executing the Sustainable Transportation Equity Program (STEP) Grant Meeting Date: April 23, 2024
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council will consider adopting a Resolution approving the First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Climate Resolve who is a sub-grantee of the Sustainable Transportation Equity Project (STEP) Grant.
BACKGROUND:
On December 1, 2020, the City Council accepted a STEP Grant in the amount of $3.2 million and on May 11, 2021, the City Council approved executing the STEP Grant Agreement with the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Further, on December 7, 2021, the City Council approved an Agreement with Climate Resolve with a budget of $108,740 to assist in administering the STEP Grant.
The STEP Grant is a coordinated effort between multiple City departments including Transportation, Economic Development, and Public Works. The STEP Grant is comprised of seven (7) main tasks namely administration, bike lane implementation, tree installation, the purchase of electric buses and shuttles, the development of a Transit Oriented Development Plan (TOD), and community engagement. Climate Resolve has been instrumental in carrying out the administrative tasks for the grant, coordinating meetings with the STEP Grant Advisory Group members made up of community members, and conducting community outreach.
Most tasks/projects have been completed or are near completion. One remaining project is Task 6 - the TOD and Displacement Avoidance Plan. This Plan is to prepare for the expansion of LA Metro's planned future Citadel rail station. The City’s Economic Development Department released a Request for Proposals (RFP) in March 2024 and intends to recommend an award of Professional Services Agreement to Council at an upcoming meeting.
ANALYSIS:
Sub-task 7.3 Workshops, under Task 7 Community Engagement, is associated with Task 6 TOD Plan and requires that workshops/listening sessions be conducted to give the City an opportunity to engage with community members to gather information, exchange ideas, learn, and collect input regarding the upcoming TOD Plan project.
As a sub-grantee who is currently implementing two of three sub-tasks under Task 7 Community Engagement, Climate Resolve has offered to implement the third sub-task, 7.3 Workshops. There is an allocation of $25,500 for this sub-task. The plan is to conduct three (3) workshops/listening sessions for the TOD plan, as well as conduct surveys for Task 4 Electric Buses and Task 5 Electric Shuttles of bus riders to gather various ridership data and statistics and to evaluate the project, and for Task 2 Bike Lanes after installation.
Additionally, Climate Resolve suggests reallocating a projected savings of $1,500 from unpaid stipends from sub-task 7.1 Advisory Group due to vacancies and less meetings held than originally anticipated for a gift card drawing for those who participate in the surveys. Two drawings would be held, one in Spring 2024 and another in Fall 2024. The STEP Grant allows for this re-allocation of funds for engagement and surveys.
Should Council approve a 1st Amendment to the Agreement with Climate Resolve for this additional task with its associated budget of $27,000, the City will be able to complete the grant’s community outreach goals prior to March 31, 2025, the end of the grant term. Climate Resolve has been facilitating STEP engagement since 2021 with the involvement of the STEP Advisory Group. Climate Resolve coordinated two Clean Air Days in 2022 and 2023 with funding from the Coalition from Clean Air and Supervisor Janice Hahn. They have also provided in-kind services with their Zoom platform. Climate Resolve is a key partner in the STEP Grant.
Staff recommends approving the First Amendment Amendment to their Agreement to complete the City’s TOD Plan engagement process and surveys needed for project evaluation.
ALTERNATIVES:
Approve staff recommendation
Disapprove staff recommendation
Provide further direction to staff
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact as this is a grant funded project.
Prepared by: Roxana Lara, Management Analyst
Recommended by: Gina Nila, Department of Public Works
Reviewed by: Vilko Domic, Acting City Manager
Approved as to form: Noel Tapia, City Attorney
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
First Amendment
City Council Agenda Report
April 23, 2024