1 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
2023 END OF YEAR REPORT
City of Foster City
Prepared By:
Dane Hutchings
Managing Director
Phone: (916) 230- 6935
[email protected]
2 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TRANSMITTAL LETTER ...................................................................................... 3 2023: YEAR IN REVIEW ....................................................................................... 5 RPPG/CITY OF FOSTER CITY HIGHLIGHTS 2023 ............................................ 7 KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ................................................................... 8 CLIENT COMMUNICATION ............................................................................... 10 OTHER RPPG EFFORTS .................................................................................. 11 LOOKING AHEAD: 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION .......................................... 12 CHANGE IN COMMITTEE CHAIRS................................................................... 12 LOOMING BUDGET DEFICIT ............................................................................ 13 A SLOWDOWN IN HOUSING LEGISLATION…NOT SO FAST ....................... 13 GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY ACT ........................................................... 14 CLIMATE BOND ................................................................................................ 14 WILDFIRE INSURANCE .................................................................................... 14 GRANT WRITING SERVICE: STATUS UPDATE .............................................. 16 LOOKING AHEAD: 2024 GRANT FUNDING ..................................................... 17 TRANSPORTATION .......................................................................................... 18 PARKS AND RECREATION .............................................................................. 21 FIRE RESPONSE AND WILDFIRE MITIGATION .............................................. 22 HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS.................................................................... 23 SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION ............................................ 25 WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVATION ....................................................... 27 ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT .......................................... 28 PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE .................................................... 30 COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE .................................................................... 31 HAZARD MITIGATION ....................................................................................... 31
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TRANSMITTAL LETTER
November 15, 2023
To: Stefan Chatwin
City Manager
City of Foster City
From: Dane Hutchings
Managing Director
Renne Public Policy Group
Dear Mr. Chatwin,
On behalf of the Renne Public Law Group, LLP [DBA Renne Public Policy Group (RPPG)], I want to thank you, your team, and the City of Foster City, City Council for engaging our firm for state legislative advocacy services. This end of year report provides an overview of the services provided by our firm to the City of Foster City during the 2023 legislative year, as well as insights and potential next steps in preparation for the 2024 legislative year. Additionally, this report provides a recap on efforts cu rrently underway for the 2024 legislative session and our firm’s initial assessment of eligible grant funding opportunities.
Over the past year, RPPG has worked with your staff to take an aggressive approach to raise the City’s profile and to build relationships with the Administration, state agencies, and Members of the Legislature. 2023 proved to be a productive year in continuing the City’s presence and educating decision makers about the City’s top priorities.
RPPG engaged on state legislative measures in the areas of housing, land use, climate, transportation, as well as on governmental operations and employment issues with specific applicability to the City. This resulted in over 230 individual “touchpoints”, either with the City or on behalf of the City. Deliverables included drafting memos, providing legislative analysis, advising City staff, meeting with state lawmakers or their staff, drafting state and federal position letters, etc. We monitored and/or engaged on over 1,490 pieces of state legislation. In total, the City of Foster City officially positioned on five pieces of state legislation and one budget measure in 2023 (six measures in total). We are proud that we were able to deliver favorable outcomes on all six action RPPG was directed to engage on.
Despite only adopting formal positions on six measures, the City requested information, analysis and feedback on dozens of issues to assess potential impacts. We worked with your staff to provide clarity on issues through the following mechanisms: drafting memos, providing information on administrative actions, and providing detailed policy and political analysis on multiple items of interest to the City.
Moreover, we worked closely with departmental staff, providing ongoing research and support on a variety of state and federal grant programs. As detailed further in this report, in addition to assisting on grants, RPPG worked with City staff on how to prepare for upcoming grant opportunities to ensure applications are competitive. RPPG’s Grant Services team worked closely with staff to screen potential projects for Community Project Funding (CPF) requests to Rep. Mullin’s office for the FY 24 federal budget development cycle. This included a thorough review of CPF program guidelines and assessment of which available funding accounts aligned with the different project concepts. RPPG’s Director of Grant Services
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prepared a successful CPF application that will bring $1.3 million to Foster City to address seismic vulnerabilities for the Lagoon Pump Station.
We are grateful that the City will continue its relationship with RPPG moving into the 2024 legislative session. Despite our team’s success on behalf of the City, we believe there is still much more work to be done, and we certainly do not take this responsibility lightly. Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve the City of Foster City. We look forward to continuing our partnership and building on the success we have achieved.
Sincerely,
Dane Hutchings
Managing Director
Renne Public Policy Group
CC: Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City Manager, City of Foster City
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2023: YEAR IN REVIEW
The 2023-2024 session of the California State Legislature began with both houses convening in early December 2022 for an organizational session. During this time, Members in each house took their oaths of office and passed their respective chamber rules. The first formal action taken by the Assembly was to adopt a leadership transition plan (House Resolution H.R. 1) which solidified the transition of Assembly Speakership from Anthony Rendon (D, Lakewood) to Robert Rivas (D, Hollister) effective July 1, 2023.
In the Senate, Toni Atkins (D, San Diego) was re -elected President pro Tempore and Mike McGuire (D, Healdsburg) was re-elected as Majority Leader. However, there was a changing of the guard on the Senate Republican side with Brian Jones (R, Santee) replacing Scott Wilk (R, Santa Clarita) as Minority Leader.
Additionally in December, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a special legislative session to introduce a gasoline price gouging measure in response to rapidly rising prices at the pump throughout the state during 2022. The measure, SBX1 -2
, was carried by Senator Nancy Skinner (D, Berkeley) and authorizes the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to set a maximum gross gasoline refining margin and to establish a penalty if this margin is exceeded. The measure was signed into law by the Governor on March 28 and went into effect on June 26. While this measure did not have a direct impact on local government authority or operations, RPPG closely monitored this action to ensure that there was momentum to modify SB 1 allocations.
The Legislature reconvened for the regular 23-24 legislative session the first week of January 2023. With 35 newly elected Members coming to Sacramento (25 Assemblymembers and 10 Senators), California saw the largest number of new state- elected representatives join the Legislature since modified constitutional term limits for state lawmakers were approved by the voters in 2012.
While historically new legislators tend to ease into their newly minted roles—introducing only a handful of new legislation in year one—this new class took a different approach. As a result, we saw more than 3,000 individual legislative and budgetary measures introduced in 2023 alone. This was the most in the first year of session in more than a decade. Major themes and priorities of the 2023 session included:
• Major overhaul of the state’s behavioral health system and its funding. • Policies that further streamlined housing production and fast-tracked critical infrastructure projects.
• Significant labor dispensations and extensions.
• Attempts to address the ongoing fentanyl crisis.
• Preparation and mitigation for climate change.
• Advancement of several constitutional amendments and statewide funding measures for voter consideration in 2024.
In early January, Governor Newsom unveiled his proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2023-2024. Contrary to the historic budget surpluses in the previous fiscal years, the Governor confirmed that the state was projecting a $22 billion deficit moving into the new year. Factors the Administration cited included a drop in anticipated personal income tax revenues, a generally slowing economy, high inflation, and Federal Reserve interest rate increases. Despite these negative drags on the economy, the Administration did not project a recession in the budget. In respons e, the Administration proposed a combination of triggered spending cuts, funding delays, shifts in funding sources, and the issuance of bonds to close the gap and pass a balanced budget.
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Given the sheer volume of legislation introduced, the spring of 2023 was a remarkably hectic time for the Legislature and advocates alike. All told there were more than 150 legislative, fiscal, and budgetary hearings dispensing with measures that directly impacted local government. The timing of these policy hearings coincided directly with Governor Newsom’s “May Revise” in which the Administration proposed an increase of $9 billion in total spending along with an increase in the state’s projected deficit —now surpassing $30 billion.
All told the final FY 23-24 budget consisted of $310 billion in total spending. The final budget advanced by the Legislature contained appropriate cuts to close the $31.5 billion deficit and was signed by the Governor on June 27 to adhere to constitutional deadlines. The Administration’s and Legislature’s priorities in the FY 23-24 budget were consistent with previous years which dedicated funding to homelessness, climate change, healthcare, education, and housing.
Governor Newsom, along with Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D, Thousand Oaks) and Senator Susan Eggman (D, Stockton), announced in mid-June a behavioral health policy package. The two measures that comprise this behavioral health package, AB 531 (Irwin) and SB 326 (Eggman), were signed into law on
October 12 and will be put to voters on the March 2024 ballot as Proposition 1. AB 531 will provide $6.38 billion in new funding for behavioral health infrastructure efforts. In response to a strong lobbying effort from local government advocates, the measure was amended in the eleventh hour to increase the total funding amount and to provide direct allocation to cities. SB 326 will rename and modernize the Mental Health Services Act passed by the voters as Proposition 63 in November 2004. AB 531 and SB 326 received bipartisan support on both the Assembly and Senate Floors.
Robert Rivas was sworn in as the 71
st Speaker of the State Assembly on June 30. He made several changes to Assembly leadership on July 3, including appointing Isaac Bryan (D, Los Angeles) as the new Majority Leader and Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D, Winters) as the new Speaker pro Tempore. Additionally, Juan Carrillo (D, Palmdale) was appointed the new chair of the Local Government Committee. Speaker Rivas was elected to the Legislature in 2018 and with 12- year term limits could potentially hold his leadership position until he terms out in 2030.
Senator Atkins announced in late August that the Senate Democratic Caucus had determined that Senator McGuire will be the Pro Tem “Designee”, with a specific transition date to be announced in January 2024.
Senator Atkins has served in the Legislature since 2012. As an Assemblymember she rose to power — becoming Speaker of the Assembly from 2014-2016 before running for State Senate. Senator Atkins then became the Pro Tem of the Senate in 2018. She terms out of the Legislature in 2024. Senator McGuire was elected to the Senate in 2014 and has served as Majority Leader since 2022. He terms out of the Legislature in 2026 and has filed paperwork to run for Insurance Commissioner.
By the evening of September 14, the legislature had advanced a total of 1,046 bills to the Governor for his consideration. By October 14, the Governor had signed 890 measures into law and vetoed 156—an approximate rate of 85% to 15%. The Legislature is now adjourned and will resume the second year of the two-year legislative session on January 3, 2024.
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RPPG/CITY OF FOSTER CITY HIGHLIGHTS 2023
COMBINED DELIVERABLES AND TOUCHPOINTS
PROVIDED TO AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
Legislative updates, legislative and budgetary position letters, policy, and political analysis, meetings with City and/or state legislature on behalf of the City.
*As of October 31
SUCCESS RATE ON LEGISLATIVE ENGAGEMENT
— MAKING THE CITY’S VOICE HEARD
RPPG achieved the desired outcome or secured critical
amendments to dramatically reduce adverse impacts on the City. (6 desired outcomes based on RPPG’s engagement out of 6 total)
PIECES OF LEGISLATION TRACKED ON BEHALF
OF THE CITY
Legislation tracked and assessed for impacts on City
operations, legal and/or local decision making.
230+
IN REVENUE PROTECTED
Amount of funds that RPPG was able to secure in previously promised vehicle license fees (VLF) in the fiscal year 2023- 2024 budget that was owed to the City.
$676K+
IN STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING SECURED
Combined funds that RPPG secured for the City from state and federal grants.
$1.3M
1,490+
100%
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KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
At its core, legislative advocacy is working with individual lawmakers (both within the City’s legislative district and out), committee staff, the Governor’s administration, and regulatory officials to support the City’s policy goals. Equally important is the ability to work with those same stakeholders to mitigate legal, operational, or fiscal impacts that state legislation may have on the City of Foster City.
Successful legislative advocacy is predicated on raising awareness and education. Being able to empower City Council, staff, and the City’s advocacy team are critical in any effort to advance legislative efforts. In Sacramento, direct advocacy can range fr om working personally with a legislator, an aide, policy committee staff, and/or the Administration on the wording of a bill, to mobilizing broad coalitions that align with the City’s cause. This work includes educating legislators, supporters, and the public about the issue, working with the media, and continuously seeking out allies and being persistent over long periods of time.
Over time, a sustained legislative advocacy effort will help the City form strong allies. Working with lawmakers and familiarizing them with your concerns often results in lawmakers, even those outside of your legislative district, becoming champions for your specific issues. Establishing personal relationships with legislators, both in the City’s legislative district and outside of its district , provides the City with the credibility needed to have a meaningful impact during the legislative process. While there is no guarantee that a sustained effort will lead to success on any particular issue of importance, a lack of a sustained effort will lead to state policies that will remove local decision making and create new financial, legal, or operational challenges for the City of Foster City . Below is a condensed narrative outlining many of the highlights and key performance indicators of success during the 2023 legislative session.
Highlights: Legislative Advocacy Success
Protect Critical Vehicle Licensing Fee Revenue Backfill (City Position, Support) Each year, San Mateo County (SMC) along with the taxing agencies within the county engage the Administration in ongoing—and at times contentious negotiations regarding the backfill of Vehicle Licensing Fees (VLF). Ensuring that the State adheres to its legal obligation to backfill these revenues requires a sustainable level of engagement with a broad coalition of stakeholders. As the backfill amount continues to grow, securing this revenue via the budget process has become increasingly challenging.
This year, the total backfill request for the entire county came in at $32,898,051—of which $676,977 was allocated to the City of Foster City.
Using the projected budget deficit as political cover—the Newsom Administration did not include the backfill request amount in the January Budget proposal. This was the first time since the inception of this issue (dating back to Governor Schwarzenegger) that the Administration did not include this allocation. In response, RPPG worked alongside San Mateo County’s lobbying team in advocating for the City on this issue. In addition, we worked with Assemblymember Papan providing her staff three separate in- depth policy briefings on the issue—as well as providing the Member with City-specific talking points in advance of her meeting with Administration officials.
In response to our sustained engagement with Assembly and Senate Budget committees, we were successful in getting VLF funding discussed as an action item during March budget hearings. Despite the robust discussion—including testimony from RPPG and other stakeholders in support, the Administration still did not include the backfill amount in its May Revise budget proposal. While this was truly an unprecedented moment, our team along with the broader coalition pushed forward, meeting several times
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with the entire SMC delegation, legislative budget staff, Department of Finance, and worked extremely close with Assemblymember Papan and Senator Becker’s Capitol staff in pushing hard for this inclusion.
As a result, we were successful in securing the $32,898,051 total backfill allocation in the final budget package. This is an issue that will be ongoing as we seek a more permanent solution in the 2024 legislative session and beyond.
AB 309 (Lee) The Social Housing Act (City Position, Oppose Unless Amended) On July 13, Assemblymember Alex Lee (D, San Jose) significantly amended his Assembly Bill (AB) 309 which would have created a statewide Social Housing Act pilot program. In short, the measure would have required the California Department of General Services (DGS) to build three social housing projects on state-owned land. Moreover, the pilot program raised several policy questions and provided virtually zero requirements that local agencies be consulted prior to project approvals. RPPG provided the City wit h a detailed policy analysis on the amended measure and engaged directly with the Assemblymember, the Senate Appropriations staff and the Newsom Administration to express concerns about such a drastic policy shift leading into the last month of the legislative session. We also worked with DGS to highlight the cost drivers to their agency prior to the Senate Appropriations analysis. As a result, the Department of Finance assessed costs ranging from $350-400 million to comply with the measure. Despite the new costs to the State, AB 309 did advance to the Governor for his consideration. RPPG met with the Administration in advance of the bill passing out of the Legislature to express our policy concerns with this approach.
On October 7, Governor Newsom vetoed AB 309. In his veto message the Governor States:
“This bill infringes on state sovereignty over state -owned real property… and could potentially cost the state several hundred million dollars in capital expenditures…This bill creates new additional cost pressures and must be considered in the annual budget in the context of all state funding priorities.”
SB 532 (Wiener) San Francisco Bay area toll bridges: tolls: transit operating expenses (City Position, Oppose)
SB 532 was a gut-and-amend- measure—meaning all of the original content in this measure was stripped and replaced with a new policy proposal. As amended, SB 532 would have temporarily increased each of the seven state-owned toll bridges in the San Francisco Bay Area by $1.50 with annual COLA increases.
Further the measure have required these additional revenues to be directed to various mass -transit operators instead of bridge infrastructure maintenance and improvements. RPPG alerted the City as soon as the measure was amended, we then provided a detailed analysis of the measure and worked with City staff to brief the counsel of the potential impacts to City residents. Upon council direction to oppose the bill, RPPG immediately engaged. Several actions were taken including drafting a formal opposition letter, meeting with Senator Weiner’s staff to outline concerns and working with a group of likeminded stakeholders—including the Bay Area Council to highlight the policy flaws and disproportionate impacts this measure would have to vulnerable communities. While the measure did advance out of the Assembly Transportation Committee, the bill would not have received enough support to advance off of the Assembly Floor.
On August 23, Senator Weiner announced that he was pulling his bill from consideration— effectively stopping any further action on this issue for the remainder of the year.
Water Rights Bill Package:
SB 389 (Allen) State Water Resources Control Board: investigation of water right (City Position, change from Oppose to Neutral as Amended)
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AB 1337 (Wicks) State Water Resources Control Board: water diversion curtailment (City Position, Oppose)
AB 460 (Bauer-Kahan) State Water Resources Control Board: water rights and usage: interim relief: procedures (City Position, Oppose)
Dubbed the “Water Rights” bill package, three pieces of legislation were touted by supported as critical updates to the State Water Resources Control Board’s ability to make informed and timely water management decisions while building climate resilienc y for the future . In reality —however—these proposed measures fundamentally changed the implementation and enforcement of California’s water rights system. Collectively this package was an attack on the current water rights system and presented substantial alarming concerns for not only public water agencies, but to local agencies throughout the state and the communities they serve.
Californians throughout the state would have been directly impacted by uncertain delivery of water services and a potential spike in the cost of water if a local supply issue was created by the measures’ implementation. In fact, the Bay Area Water and Supply Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) stated that these measures “Threaten the security of our Bay Area water supplies and undermine the basic foundation of water management and water delivery.”
RPPG worked closely on behalf of the City with lead water advocates and a robust coalition of stakeholders to educate lawmakers on the direct concerns of their communities . We focused on both the over -reach and legal confusion that would be created by these proposed laws. Ultimately, stakeholders were able to successfully stop the forward motion of both AB 460 and AB 1337. SB 389 became the sole vehicle for negotiation, and after much effort and discussion, was amended to remove the concerns of the bulk of the stakeholder opposition coalition – including the City’s, who moved to neutral prior to the bill heading to the Governor’s desk.
AB 460 and AB 1337 were defeated by the opposition coalition.
On October 8, Governor Newsom signed SB 389 into law as substantially amended to remove the City’s opposition.
Client Communication
Client communication is a critical component of our overall advocacy approach. The better informed our clients are, the better the advocates we can be for them. One way to achieve this goal is to provide memos which include client -specific analyses of legislation, of regulatory matters, and of the over all legislative process, as needed. RPPG has sent more than 80 memos to your team in 2023 which have detailed legislative analyses that illustrate client-specific impacts and/or potential funding sources for the City and which keep it apprised of specific legislation and policies that may be of interest to the City or impact City operations, including but not limited to the following areas:
• State budget, including infrastructure trailer bills. • Constitutional amendments.
• Ballot measures.
• Regulatory actions.
• Transportation and public works.
• Housing, ADUs, land use, and homelessness.
• Public employer-employee relations and conditions.
• Potential state and federal grant opportunities.
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In 2023, RPPG has conducted bi- weekly Zoom meetings with the City to keep it updated on what is happening in Sacramento. We call these check -in meetings the “bookends”; in between these meetings, our team connects with City staff almost daily via calls and emails. We have also presented slide decks to staff and Council, as needed, on legislative developments and on the City’s engagement in the legislative process.
RPPG has also provided the City with a legislative summary each month which informs the City Council and staff of key developments in the Legislature and of announcements by the Administration, and which updates the City on any positioned legislation. Additionally, our team has provided Monthly Activity Reports, which detail every touchpoint RPPG has had with and on behalf of the City. These reports highlight work product, including:
• One-on-one “deep dive” meetings with City department heads. • Providing opportunities for the City to establish and maintain relationships with members of the Administration and its legislative delegation as well as lawmakers across California.
Other RPPG Efforts
At RPPG, the job does not begin and end with state legislative advocacy. We worked tirelessly throughout this year to assist the City of Foster City in any way we were able. This includes helping to solve local issues that have a state nexus, working with City staff on new policies of relevance, and providing education and awareness to City Council and staff.
Revisiting the City of Foster City’s Legislative Platform: The legislative platform is a set of guiding principles that reflects the overarching ideals and vision of the Council. This document is critical in an overall legislative advocacy program as it provides broad policy statements that enable the City and its legislative advocacy firm to sift through the thousands of legislative proposals introduced each legislative session. Having a solidified legislative platform will enable to City to establish an effective gameplan at the start of each legislative year.
This year, our team met with each individual councilmember to solicit feedback and input into the document. RPPG, along with city staff made wholesale changes to the proposed platform . Our team co- led an informational hearing in November of 2023 to allow council to revi se and further evaluate specific direction of the platform. After a robust discussion and further council direction, City staff believes that council will formally adopt its first legislative platform later this year.
Detailed Legislative Analysis: RPPG provided detailed analyses of several pieces of legislation. These analyses have been critical in helping the City assess potential implications that pending legislation may have on operations, local discretion, and/or authority. Examples include but are not limited to:
• Standalone analysis of ACA 1 (Aguiar-Curry)
• Standalone analysis of ACA 13 (Ward)
• ACA 1 and ACA 13 and Interfacing with the CBRT measure, Combined Analysis • Standalone analysis of the proposed Government Transparency Act • Standalone analysis of Proposition 1: Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act of 2024 • Standalone analysis of AB 309 (Lee)
• Standalone analysis of SB 532 (Wiener)
• Enacted Housing and Transportation Bills
• Summary of Enacted 2023 Surplus Land Act Bills, specifically SB 747 (Caballero), AB 480 (Ting), SB 229 (Umberg), SB 34 (Umberg), AB 129 (Budget Trailer Bill), AB 1734 (Jones-Sawyer), and AB 1469 (Kalra)
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• Update on the status of VLF funds
Updates on the Legislative and Fiscal Process: RPPG provided timely informational updates during critical stages of the budget and policy processes. These updates provided the City with the necessary situational awareness of statewide trends, fiscal updates, what the City is positioned on, and how RPPG is engaging on its behalf. Examples include but are not limited to reports on:
• Bill introduction deadline
• House of Origin deadline
• Suspense file updates
• End of session legislative update
• Budget updates: January proposal, May-Revise, June budget update, and final budget update • Budget Trailer bill update: Governor’s infrastructure package
Client-Specific Webinar on 2023 New Housing Laws: In an effort to provide unique value to the City.
Our team hosted a client-specific “new housing law” webinar on November 9, 2023. The 75-minute session aimed to drive awareness on the most impactful pieces of legislation, provide insight on imp lementation and answer any questions clients may have on a specific issue. Our team also provided a comprehensive power point presentation as well as additional analysis on recent changes to the surplus lands act.
LOOKING AHEAD: 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Change in Committee Chairs
With one of the most publicly contentious Assembly leadership changes in recent memory, it is a forgone conclusion that there will be major turnover in committee chairs. Upon the official transition, Speaker Rivas made swift changes to empower his closest allies—replacing Speaker Emeritus Rendon’s entire team.
However, given the timing of the transition, committee chairs have mostly stayed in place. As previously mentioned, the only two policy committee chair changes both have big impacts to local agencies with Isaac Bryan, the former Elections chair, elevated to Majority Leader and Cecilia Aguiar -Curry, former Local Government chair, elevated to Assembly Speaker pro Tempore. It is likely we will see major turnover in other committees directly impacting local government including Appropriations, Revenue and Taxation, Transportation, and others. Any such changes could potentially impact the pathway of priority legislation, either by creating new opportunities or further obstacles. It is widely anticipated that committee appointments will be announced sometime this month.
At his inaugural ceremony in the Capitol, Speaker Rivas spoke to tackling the state's housing and homelessness crises, improving public services and infrastructure, and combating climate change as his priorities. At the end of session, the current Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee credited the leadership of Rivas “for making labor legislation a priority and helping position it to pass.” Given the Speaker’s agricultural roots and strong personal lived experiences and ties to the labor movement, we can expect the Speaker to continue to put his power behind these proposals in 2024 and into the future. Just prior to the Assembly adjournment of the 2023 Legislative session, Speaker Rivas indicated 2024 would include a focus on homeowners’ insurance, housing, public safety, homelessness, and the fentanyl crisis. In late October, Speaker Rivas announced
the formation of a new Select Committee on Retail Theft, chaired by Assemblymember Rick Zbur (D, Los Angeles). In the announcement, the Speaker stated his "expectation that the retail theft select committee will act with focus and urgency.”
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We also may see changes to committee chairs in the Senate due to the President pro Tempore change from Senator Atkins to Senator McGuire, who are also similarly ideologically aligned. Senate committees for which turnover is most likely to impact local governments include Governance and Finance, Appropriations, and Judiciary. Although no changes in the Senate have yet been made, we can expect announcements in January after the leadership change becomes official. Given that Senator McGuire’s district is heavily affected by wildfires, it is likely that we will see this continue as a priority for the Legislature.
Looming Budget Deficit
As projected in the final budget released in June 2024 will see continued budgetary problems and likely additional cuts. The Legislature’s non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) recently released a report estimating that the FY 23- 24 budget solved a $27 billion deficit, which is notably below the $31.5 billion deficit that the budget closed. The LAO attributes this difference to policies that had originally been projected to be included in the FY 23-24 budget but were ultimately not enacted. The LAO had previously projected a $9 billion deficit for the next couple of budget cycles, though these forecasts may change when Governor Newsom releases his FY 24-25 budget proposal in January. It was projected in the May revision of the FY 23 -24 budget that in a recession scenario and depending on the circumstances, general fund revenues could shrink up to $100 billion below current projections through FY 26-27.
For local government, an extended period of state fiscal uncertainty has the potential of cutting both ways.
On the one hand, polices that aim to reduce local authority by mandating a new program have the potential of being held due to the state’s budgetary concerns associated with new state reimbursable mandates. On the other hand, the Legislature has a long history of raiding local budgets to close that gap on its own budgetary challenge. We have already seen the elimination of redevelopment agencies and the redirection of local property taxes to the Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund in order to close state budget gaps.
Local governments need to remain vigilant in aggressively fighting any attempts by the state to reduce local funding formulas, or other longstanding tools that local agencies rely on to provide critical services.
A Slowdown in Housing Legislation…Not so Fast
Over the past four years we have seen well over 120 new housing laws that are designed to increase the production of housing at all income levels. In 2023 alone we saw more than 150 housing-related measures introduced and about half of them were signed into law. Despite these legislative efforts, California has yet to realize the production boom that Governor Newsom has hoped for. Local government planning and land use is often easier for legislators to focus on rather than grappling with the realities of private markets, allocating major funding for subsidized housing, and challenging developers, environmental organizations, and other powerful interest groups. While local governments certainly have a responsibility to set the table and streamline local approval processes, it is arguable that much of this has already been addressed by layers of state laws, including many recently approved laws that local agencies are working diligently to implement.
To that end, an October 13, 2023 LA Times Editorial
, Jason Elliot, the Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff
and the Administration’s unofficial “Housing Czar”, was quoted saying, “The next challenge is implementing the ambitious housing laws that have been passed over the last seven years. All the pieces are in place.
It is now time for California to put those pieces to work, to permit the housing, to say yes to new housing and to hold local governments accountable for their responsibilities.”
So, will this mean a slowdown in the sheer volume of housing and homelessness -related legislation introduced next year? Likely not. It is expected that we will continue to see measures that aim to further
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bolster oversight and enforcement authority to the Attorney General and the Housing and Community Development Department. Moreover, it is likely that we will see more focus on measures that require local agencies to prioritize infill streamlining that fit within a jurisdiction’s Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS), resulting in increased heights and densities near transit. Measures such as AB 68 (Ward), which did not advance this year, would have required local governments to demonstrate the necessity for housing growth in suburban areas in order to meet housing mandates. These policies will be a top priority for housing advocates.
Government Transparency Act
Earlier this year, nonprofit Consumer Watchdog proposed a ballot measure that, if passed by voters, would require a considerable increase in both state and local agency responsibility and cost, and would likely result in a high volume of frivolous litigation filed under the California Public Records Act. Titled the “Government Transparency Act”, it is currently in the process of qualifying for the November 2024 ballot.
Due to the severe costs that the requirements of the Act would impose on all public agencies, it is expected to face strong response from the Legislature and the Administration. The measure has until June 28, 2024, to qualify for the November ballot. Should this occur, we have major c oncerns that Legislature may cut a deal with ballot proponents by passing legislation which exempts the state while enacting the same or similar provisions currently being proposed impacting local government. Should a deal be reached, this would happen quickly, and we be in exchange for the proponents withdrawing the measure from the ballot.
Should this happen, local governments are at risk of being left “holding the bag”. We saw a similar process occur in 2018 when the California Business Roundtable pulled its tax measure in exchange for the state banning the ability of local governments to enact local soda taxes for 12 years.
Climate Bond
Given that Governor Newsom balanced the FY 23-24 budget on a future resources bond, and that climate remains a top priority for the Governor and the Legislature, we anticipate such a bond to continue to advance next year and to be put to voters on the November 2024 ballot. The bond authors, currently Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D, Coachella) and Senator Ben Allen (D, Malibu), and other stakeholders, are currently aiming for a bond in the $10-12 billion range. Both resources bonds, AB 1567 (Garcia) and SB 867 (Allen), are currently around $15 billion, but the determination of the final amount, what’s included, and which vehicle will carry the final package are all still under deliberation. Administration priorities will play a large role in shaping the end product. The expectation is that legislative leaders may push a bond through the legislative process much faster than usual in January so that stakeholders have ample time for voter outreach to be successful on the ballot. However, starker economic conditions may shape the final outcome and may change the overall debt load that the Governor is willing to endorse at the ballot box. Given the delay in income tax return collections due to IRS filing extensions, the Administration has warned the Governor’s January budget proposal may have to be premised on significantly limited revenue data. Timing of the bonds may be impacted and unable to move as quickly as legislative leaders hope while the state is forced to play catch up on determining updated projections based on final returns.
Wildfire Insurance
Governor Newsom signed an executive order on September 21 which requested that the Insurance Commissioner take regulatory action in the state’s insurance market. That same day, the Insurance Commissioner
announced a package of executive actions “aimed at improving insurance choices and protecting Californians from increasing climate threats while addressing the long-term sustainability of the
15 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
nation’s largest insurance market.” Additionally, on October 9, the Assembly Insurance Committee and the Assembly Select Committee on Wildfire Prevention held an informational hearing on the state of the homeowner insurance market in California. Leaders agreed on the need for mitigation and for insurers to adjust rates based on mitigation efforts that homeowners have taken. However, there was disagreement whether insurance companies were taking an appropriate response to the wildfires. It is likely that this will be a hot topic in 2024, particularly given the new Senate President Pro Tempore, Mike McGuire, has a personal connection to the issue as his district has experienced multiple catastrophic wildfires in recent years. We anticipate we may see legislation in 2024 related to the homeowner insurance market, that may include measures relating to streamlining regulations, incentives for homeowners to t ake mitigation actions, or funding for communities to build additional defensible spaces.
16 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
GRANT WRITING SERVICE: STATUS UPDATE
Over the past year, RPPG’s Grant Services Team has worked with the City of Foster City to provide information on potential grant opportunities, monitor funding cycles, and prepare competitive grant applications in collaboration with staff on behalf of the City.
More information regarding specific funding opportunities being tracked, pending application submittals, and federal earmark awards can be found in the tables below.
Upcoming Funding Opportunities – Indicated Interest & City Priorities
Grant Name Agency Amount Deadline Point of
Contact Notes
Coastal
Conservancy
Grants
Coastal
Conservancy TBD Ongoing Francine
Potential opportunity
to fund additional bay
trail improvements
related to levee
project. Met w/
Coastal Conservancy
and they were
interested in funding
improvements to the
trail. Will revisit
applying when timing
is right for project.
Assistance for
Latest and Zero
Building Energy
Code Adoption
U.S. Dept. of
Energy TBD Late 2024 TBD
Funding to facilitate
adoption and
implementation of
reach codes.
Small-Scale
Water Efficiency
Projects
U.S. BoR Maximum of
$100,000. Fall 2023 TBD
Total project cost
must be $225,000 or
less.
Pre-Disaster
Mitigation
Program
FEMA TBD TBD 2024 Francine
Will need to submit
application for funding
for pump station
retrofits after earmark
is approved.
Community
Policing
Development
U.S. DoJ –
COPS Office
Up to $50,000
for Microgrants TBD 2024 TBD
Potential funding
opportunities to
support City goals for
public safety.
One Bay Area
Grant – Round
4 MTC TBD TBD TBD
Opportunity to work
w/ SMCTA to develop
stronger proposals for
future rounds for
17 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
regional
transportation
funding.
County
Manager
Program Fund
BAAQMD Unspecified Unspecified TBD
Potential funding for
traffic light
synchronization.
Hazard
Mitigation Grant
Program
CalOES No maximum
amount. Ongoing TBD
Potential funding for
lift station generator
replacements.
Grant Proposals Submitted and Pending
Grant Name Agency Amount Submitted Point of
Contact Description
Community
Project Funding Rep. Mullin $1,383,069 3/17/2023 Francine, Marlene
Submitted request for
Lagoon Pump Station
seismic retrofits.
Received update 7/14
that request was
included, but funding
amount was reduced.
Key Stats for Grant Service
Total Amount Awarded:
Total Amount Pending:
N/A
$1,383,069
Total Amount Applied For: $3,485,500
LOOKING AHEAD: 2024 GRANT FUNDING
Over the past several years, we have seen unprecedented levels of discretionary spending at the state and federal levels. However, due to the state budget deficit, trends in state spending will begin to decline.
California faces a $31.7 billion deficit to be addressed through various strategies such as funding delays, triggers, and reductions. Programs involving water conservation, climate action, parks, and libraries have been particularly impacted. Major programs involving transportation, public safety, h ousing, homelessness, and community infrastructure remain stable, and proposed solutions to close the deficit aim to make as little impact on discretionary spending as possible.
In tandem with state spending strategies, funding programs at the federal level, specifically from t he Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) , will help mitigate the budget deficit. Funding for these programs remains stable, but may be impacted by the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election. It remains critically important that local governments prepare themselves to take advantage of these opportunities sooner rather than later.
18 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
RPPG will continue to monitor new developments in the coming year as we look at these potential changes in the grant funding opportunity landscape. However, we encourage all clients to proactively begin considering potential projects that align with these grant programs to prepare for solicitation releases throughout the upcoming year.
Transportation
State Highway Operations and Protection Program
Through the 2023 State Budget, Caltrans will continue delivering over $20 billion in planned state highway repair and rehabilitation projects in the State Highway Operations and Protection Program (SHOPP) over the next five years. SHOPP is a four -year document of projects that is adopted by the California Transportation Commission after holding at least two public hearings and a finding of consistency with the Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP). The adopted SHOPP is submitted to the Legislature and the Governor not later than April 1 of each even-numbered year.
• Deadline: 12/7/2023
• More information: https://catc.ca.gov/programs/state-highway-operation-and-protection-program
State Transportation and Improvement Program
STIP supports the implementation of regional Sustainable Community Strategies, as well as interregional travel. STIP is the biennial five-year plan adopted by the California Transportation Commission for future allocations of certain state transportation funds for state highway improvements, intercity rail, and regional highway and transit improvements. Guidelines for the 2024 STIP were released on August 16, 2023.
• Deadline: 12/15/2023
• More information: https://catc.ca.gov/programs/state-transportation-improvement-program
Transit and Intercity Rail Passenger Program
The Intercity Rail Passenger Program helps to reduce highway congestion and automobile fuel consumption while improving air quality and environmental protection by providing leadership in the planning and implementation of a passenger rail transportation system. Funding from this program will be disturbed by the California Transportation Agency through a population- based formula to regional transportation agencies. Informal Draft Guidelines for the program were released on September 1, 2023 and include allocation projections for each regional agency (pg. 4).
*Bay Area Clients Only: The Bay Area will receive nearly $800 million in TIRCP funds, which are likely to be used as matching funds to leverage federal grants for projects like BART Core Capacity and BART to Silicon Valley.
• Funding Cycle: TBD March 2024
• More information: https://calsta.ca.gov/subject-areas/transit-intercity-rail-capital-prog
Bridge Investment Program
The Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act contains a $36.7 billion appropriation to establish the competitive Bridge Investment Grant Program. Funding will support projects that replace, rehabilitate,
19 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
preserve, or protect one or more bridges on the National Bridge Inventory or projects that replace or rehabilitate culverts for the purpose of improving flood control and improved habitat connectivity for aquatic species.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. NOFA release scheduled for November 2023. • More Information: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/bip/
Note: The BIP – Large Bridge Projects application (separate from BIP Planning & Bridge Projects) is due November 27, 2023. This opportunity is for projects over $100 million.
Railroad Crossing Elimination Program
The Railroad Crossing Elimination Program is a competitive grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act. This program will provide funds for the elimination of hazards at railway - highway crossings. Funding will be available for both Construction Grants and Planning Grants. The Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act allocates $500 million per fiscal year from FY 22 – FY 26, for a total of $2.5 billion in funding.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. NOFA release scheduled for November 2023. • More Information:
https://railroads.dot.gov/grants-loans/competitive-discretionary-grant- programs/railroad-crossing-elimination-grant-program
Active Transportation Program
The Active Transportation Program (ATP) was created by Senate Bill 99 to increase the proportion of trips accomplished by walking and biking, increase the safety and mobility of non- motorized users, advance efforts of regional agencies to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals, enhance public health, and provide a broad spectrum of projects to benefit many types of users including disadvantaged communities. This year, the 2023 State Budget allocates $500 million for the next round of funding. Kick-Off meetings for ATP Cycle 7 hav e begun as of August 16, 2023.
• Funding Cycle: Application scheduled to open March 2024 with a due date of June 2024. • More information: https://catc.ca.gov/programs/active-transportation-program
Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)
Formerly known as the BUILD or TIGER grant, the RAISE program provides funds for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure that have a significant local or regional impact. RAISE applications can support either Planning Projects or Capital Projects. Research, demonstration, or pilot projects are only eligible if they will result in long -term, permanent surface transportation infrastructure that has independent utility. The Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act allocated $7.5 billion in funding for the RAISE Grant Program over five fiscal years.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024
• More information: https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants
Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA)
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The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program awards competitive grants for multimodal freight and highway projects of national or regional significance to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of freight and people in and across rural and urban areas. The Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act allocated $8 billion in funding for the INFRA Grant Program over the next five fiscal years.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024
• More information: https://www.transportation.gov/grants/infra-grants-program
Reconnecting Communities Program
In 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created a $1 billion program at the Department of Transportation to reconnect communities divided by transportation infrastructure – particularly historically disadvantaged communities too often nearly destroyed or cut in half by a highway. The Reconnecting Communities Program provides dedicated funding to state, local, metropolitan planning organizations, and Tribal governments for planning, design, demolition, and reconstruction of street grids, parks, or other infrastructure to address these legacy impacts.
• Funding Cycle: TBD – $200 million authorized for FY 24 funding. FY 23 closed on September 28, 2023.
• More information: https://www.transportation.gov/grants/reconnecting-communities
Clean California Local Grant Program
The Clean California Local Grant Program is a competitive statewide program created to beautify and clean up local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, transit centers, and other public spaces.
Projects that can be accessed through the multimodal transportation network are encouraged. The program’s goals are to reduce the amount of waste and debris within public spaces, beautify and improve public spaces, enhance public health, cultural connection, and community placemaking, and advance equity for underserved communities.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on May 31, 2023. • More Information: https://cleancalifornia.dot.ca.gov/local-grants/local-grant-program
Safe Streets and Roads for All
The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program provides funding to support local initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets, commonly referred to as ‘‘Vision Zero’’ or ‘‘Toward Zero Deaths’’ initiatives. The development and establishment of a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan is a key component of this program. Applications covering several entities are encouraged to apply. To apply for an Implementation Grant, an organization must have in place a Safety Action Plan that satisfies program requirements. The BIL allocates $200 million annually for FY 22-26.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on July 10, 2023. • More Information: https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A
PROTECT Program
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The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $8.7 billion in funding to create the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) discretionary grant program. Most of the funds ($7.3 billion) will be distributed by formula, and the remainder ($1.4 billion) will be distributed by competitive grant. Specifically, the program provides federal funding to projects to help communities address vulnerabilities due to weather, natural disasters, and climate change. The program also provides funds to plan transportation improvements and emergency response strategies to address those vulnerabilities.
• Funding Cycle: TBD Spring 2024. FY 23 closed on August 18, 2023. • More Information: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/fed-and-state-programs/protect
Congested Corridors Programs
The 2023 State Budget allocates over $3.5 billion for congested corridors, state/local partnerships, and trade corridor enhancement projects through 2027- 28. CTC has allocated funding for the following programs: $1.1 billion for the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP); $507.4 million for the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (SCCP); and $142.4 million for the Local Partnership Program (LPP).
TCEP and SCCP are formula funding grants that have been allocated. LPP has a competitive component and will be funding 11 projects that support counties, cities, districts, and regional transportation agencies where voters have approved fees or taxes dedicated solely to transportation.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024
• More information: https://catc.ca.gov/programs/sb1/local-partnership-program
Parks and Recreation
Outdoor Equity Grants Program
The 2023 State Budget allocates $25 million for the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, making $50 million available for Round Two funding. This program improves the health and wellness of Californians through new educational and recreational activities, service learning, career pathways, and leadership opportunities that strengthen a connection to the natural world. OEP’s intent is to increase the ability of residents in underserved communities to participate in outdoor experiences within their community, at state parks, and other public lands.
• Deadline: 12/14/2023. Future funding TBD.
• More information: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30443
Habitat Conservation Fund
The Habitat Conservation Fund allocates approximately $2 million each year to cities, counties, and districts. Eligible projects include nature interpretation programs to bring urban residents into park and wildlife areas, protection of various plant and animal species, and acquisition and development of wildlife corridors and trails.
• Funding Cycle: Anticipated deadline of June 2025
• More information: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21361
22 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
Recreational Trails Program
The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) administered by the Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) provides funds annually to develop non-motorized recreational trails and trails-related facilities. The 2023 State Budget allocates $25 million to this program for future funding cycles.
• Funding Cycle: Anticipated deadline of July 2025
• More information: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24324
Statewide Parks Program
Statewide Park Program (SPP) competitive grants will create new parks and new recreation opportunities in critically underserved communities across California. The 2023 State Budget allocated $53.5 million for future rounds of funding. Note: the FY 23 Round 5 cycle was cancelled due to the budget deficit.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024
• More information: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29939
Urban and Community Forestry Program (Inflation Reduction Act)
The U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program supports urban tree- planting, urban forest planning and management, and related activities, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on June 1, 2023. • More information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/urban-forests/ucf
Fire Response and Wildfire Mitigation
Wildfire Prevention Grants Program
The Wildfire Prevention Grants Program provides funding for fire prevention projects and activities in and near fire threatened communities. Funded activities include hazardous fuels reduction, wildfire prevention planning, and wildfire prevention education with an emphasis on improving public health and safety while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Funding Cycle: 1/10/2024
• More Information: https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/wildfire-prevention/
Community Wildfire Defense Grant
The purpose of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant is to assist at -risk local communities and Indian Tribes with planning for and mitigating against the risk created by wildfire. There are two primary project types for which the grant provides funding: The development and revising of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), and the implementation of projects described in a CWPP that is less than ten years old.
The program prioritizes at-risk communities that are in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low-income, and/or have been impacted by a severe disaster. This program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
23 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 applications were due October 31, 2023. • More Information: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants
Assistance to Firefighters Grant
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) focuses on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire- related hazards. Agencies can submit applications under three designations:
Operations and Safety, Vehicle Acquisition, or Regional Projects. For Operations and Safety applications, agencies may voluntarily designate their proposal as a “Micro Grant” (no more than $50,000). A mainstay of the annual competitive grant cycle, FEMA typically releases AFG applications in the early Winter.
• Funding Cycle: Anticipated release Q1 2024.
• More Information: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters
Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response (SAFER)
The Staffing for Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant program provides funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to assist in increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate fire protection from fire and fire- related hazards, and to fulfill traditional missions of fire departments. The SAFER grants are typically available in the early Winter, after the AFG.
• Funding Cycle: Anticipated release Q1 2024.
• More Information: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safer
Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program (FP&S)
The Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program (FP&S) provides financial assistance for fire prevention programs and programs that support firefighter health and safety research and development.
Organizations can apply under one of two categories: Fire Prevention and Safety or Research and Development.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on March 31, 2023. • More Information: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/safety-awards
Housing and Homelessness
Infill Infrastructure Grant Program (IIG)
The Infill Infrastructure Grant (IIG) program’s primary objective is to promote infill housing development by providing financial assistance for Capital Improvement Projects that are an integral part of or necessary to facilitate the development of a Qualifying Infill Project or a Qualifying Infill Area. All applications must include a Qualifying Infill Project. This program is part of the Multifamily Finance Super NOFA published by CalHCD.
• Deadline: Tentative deadline July 2024.
24 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
• More Information: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-and-funding/programs-active/infill- infrastructure-grant
Multifamily Housing Program
This program supports low-interest, long-term deferred-payment loans for new construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of permanent and transitional rental housing for lower -income households. The 2023 State Budget allocated $100 million for future rounds of funding.
• Deadline: Tentative deadline July 2024.
• More information: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-and -funding/programs-active/multifamily- housing-program
Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program (VHHP)
VHHP provides loans to support affordable multifamily housing for veterans and their families. Applicants must demonstrate clear market demand for the proposed project and target population. VHHP loans have an initial term of 55 years or longer. Projects cannot use funds from multiple CalHCD grant or loan programs to support development. This program is part of the Multifamily Finance Super NOFA published by CalHCD.
• Deadline: Tentative deadline July 2024.
• More Information: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-and-funding/programs-active/veterans- housing-and-homelessness-prevention
Farmworker Housing Grant Program (FWHG)
The Farmworker Housing Grant Program (FWHG) finances the new construction, rehabilitation, and acquisition of owner -occupied and rental units for agricultural workers, with a priority for lower income households through deferred-payment loans. New Construction or Rehabilitation Loans: Lien restrictions for assisted units are required for 55 years. Loans may be made in conjunction with low-income tax credit financing. This program is part of the Multifamily Finance Super NOFA published by CalHCD.
• Deadline: Tentative deadline July 2024.
• More Information:
https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-and-funding/programs-active/joe-serna-jr- farmworker-housing-grant
Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Grant Program
HHAP provides flexible funding to local jurisdictions to continue efforts to end and prevent homelessness in their communities . HHAP is a formula-based grant using point- in-time counts provided by each jurisdiction. These funds will be contingent on local jurisdictions developing regionally coordinated homelessness action plans.
Note: AB 129, known as the Housing and Homeless trailer bill , makes significant changes to the HHAP program, including new requirements for regional coordination, comprehensive plan development, and identification of roles and responsibilities. The bill language can be found here.
• Deadline: 3/27/2024
25 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
• More information: https://bcsh.ca.gov/calich/hhap_program.html
Encampment Resolution Grants
Encampment Resolution Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to counties, cities of any size, and Continuums of Care to assist in moving persons from homeless encampments into safe and stable housing. These competitive grants were first available in 2021 and have so far provided over $350 million in one-time General Fund to local jurisdictions. The 2023 State Budget allocated $400 million for future funding rounds.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024
• More information: https://bcsh.ca.gov/calich/erf_program.html
Project Homekey 4.0
Project Homekey provides funding to rapidly sustain and expand the inventory of housing for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Homekey is an opportunity for local public agencies to purchase motels and a broad range of other housing types to increase their community's capacity to respond to homelessness.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on July 28, 2023. • More Information: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/grants-and-funding/homekey
Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC)
The AHSC Program is designed to implement GHG emissions reductions through a reduction of vehicle miles travelled (VMT), or fewer and shorter auto- trips. The AHSC Program will fund integrated land use and transportation projects supporting low -carbon transportation options. Promoting mode shift to low - carbon transportation will require strategies that link residential areas, major employment centers and other Key Destinations to accessible, reliable, affordable, safe, and comfortable transit, and active transportation options.
• Deadline: NOFA scheduled for release in January 2024. Applications due March 2024. • More Information: https://sgc.ca.gov/programs/ahsc/
Sustainability and Climate Adaptation
Zero-Emission Vehicle Transit Funding
The 2023 State Budget includes a $1.1 billion appropriation to the new Zero- Emission Transit Capital Program to be distributed through 2026. Zero-emission transit equipment, transit facility and network improvement projects such as those that support replacing aging vehicle fleets with Zero- Emission Vehicles (ZEVs), and associated fueling or charging infrastructure or facility modifications, are eligible projects. ZEVs include heavy- and light-rail vehicles, buses, and other ZEVs used for transit service.
Funding from this program will be disturbed by the California Transportation Agency through a population- based formula to regional transportation agencies. Informal Draft Guidelines for the program were released on September 1, 2023 and include allocation projections for each regional agency (pg. 4).
26 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
*Bay Area Clients Only: The Bay Area will receive $400 million in funding under the new Zero- Emission Transit Capital (ZETC) Program.
• Deadline: 12/31/2023
• More information: https://calsta.ca.gov/subject-areas/transit-intercity-rail-capital-prog
Climate Pollution Reduction Grants
The Inflation Reduction Act provides $5 billion in funding to provide grants for developing plans to reduce GHG air pollution and implement projects identified in qualifying GHG air pollution reduction plans. As such, Implementation Grants are open to entities that received planning grants to develop Priority Climate Action Plans (PCAPs) under phase 1 of the CPRG program, as well as entities that did not directly receive a planning grant that are applying for funds to implement measures included in an applicable PCAP.
• Deadline: 4/1/2024
• More information: https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/climate-pollution-reduction-grants
Adaptation Planning Grant Program
The Adaptation Planning Grant Program (APGP) will provide $25 million to help fill local, regional, and tribal planning needs, provide communities the resources to identify climate resilience priorities, and support the development of a pipeline of climate resilient infrastructure projects across the state.
• Funding Cycle: TBD Winter 2023. FY closed on March 31, 2023. • More Information: https://www.opr.ca.gov/climate/icarp/grants/adaptation-planning-grant.html
Urban and Community Forestry Program (CAL FIRE)
The Urban and Community Forestry Program provides funding for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve functionality of urban forests, arrest the decline of urban forest resources, address climate change resilience, improve the quality of the environment in urban areas, and optimize co-benefits to urban residents.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024.
• More Information: https://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/urban-and-community-forestry-grant-programs/
Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law creates a new competitive grant program to strategically deploy publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure and other alternative fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors. The Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants is composed of two categories: Community Charging and Corridor Charging. The Community Charging Grant can be used to install electric vehicle charging and alternative fuel in locations on public roads, schools, parks , and in publicly accessible parking facilities. The Corridor Charging Grant will be used to Deploy electric vehicle charging and hydrogen/propane/natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors and in communities.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on June 13, 2023. • More Information: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/cfi/
27 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
Low or No Emission Transit Vehicle Program
The purpose of the Low -No Program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is to support the transition of the nation’s transit fleet to the lowest polluting and most energy efficient transit vehicles. The Low-No Program provides funding to state and local governmental authorities for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses, including acquisition, construction, and leasing of required supporting facilities.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024
• More Information: https://www.transit.dot.gov/lowno
Assistance for the Latest and Zero Building Energy Code Adoption
The Inflation Reduction Act provides $670 million in grants for states and local governments to adopt building codes that meet or exceed zero energy provisions in the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code or an equivalent stretch code.
• Deadline: TBD 2024
• More information:
https://www.energy.gov/scep/technical-assistance-adoption-building-energy- codes
Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program
The Inflation Reduction Act invests $1 billion to replace dirty heavy-duty vehicles with clean, zero-emission vehicles, support zero-emission vehicle infrastructure, and to train and develop workers.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024
• More information: https://www.epa.gov/inflation-reduction-act/clean-heavy-duty-vehicle-program
Water Quality and Conservation
Drought Resiliency Project (DRP)
The Drought Resiliency Projects (DRP) program supports projects that build long-term resilience to drought and reduce the need for emergency response actions. These projects are generally in the final design stage—environmental and cultural resources compliance may have been initiated, and the non- federal funding, necessary permits, and other required approvals have been secured. This is an annual funding competition from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
• Deadline: TBD 2024
• More Information: https://www.usbr.gov/drought/
Water Reclamation and Reuse Program (WRRP)
Through the Water Reclamation and Reuse Program (WRRP), known also as the Title XVI program, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation identifies and investigates opportunities to reclaim and reuse wastewaters and impaired ground and surface water in the 17 Western States and Hawaii. Title XVI includes funding
28 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
for the planning, design, and construction of water recycling and reuse projects in partnership with local government entities.
• Deadline: Two submission deadlines: 12/7/2023 and 9/30/2024. • More Information: https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/title/
WaterSMART Planning and Project Design Grants
Through Planning and Project Design Grants, Reclamation provides funding for collaborative planning and design projects to support water management improvements. This includes funding for: (1) Water Strategy Grants to conduct planning activities to improve water supplies (e.g., water supplies to disadvantaged communities that do not have reliable access to water, water marketing, water conservation, drought resilience, and ecological resilience); (2) Project Design Grants to conduct project -specific design for projects to improve water management; and (3) comprehensive Drought Contingency Plans.
• Deadline: 4/2/2024
• More information:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=349785
Water and Energy Efficiency Grant (WEEG)
The Water and Energy Efficiency Grants (WEEG) program provides funding for projects that result in quantifiable water savings, implement renewable energy components, and support broader sustainability benefits. These projects conserve and use water more efficiently, increase the production of renewable energy, mitigate conflict risk in areas at high risk of future water conflict, and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the western United States.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 awards were announced on April 28, 2023. • More Information: https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/weeg/
Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects (SWEP)
Through the WaterSMART Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects Reclamation provides 50/50 cost share funding to irrigation and water districts, tribes, states and other entities with water or power delivery authority for small water efficiency improvements that have been identified through previous planning efforts. Projects eligible for funding include installation of flow measurement or automation in a specific part of a water delivery system, lining of a section of a canal to address seepage, or other similar projects that are limited in scope.
• Deadline: 1/16/2024, 7/9/2024, 1/14/2025, and 7/8/2025 • More Information: https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/swep/index.html
Economic and Workforce Development
Community Economic Resilience Fund
The Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF) was created to promote a sustainable and equitable recovery from the economic distress of COVID-19 by supporting new plans and strategies to diversify local economies and develop sustainable industries that create high- quality, broadly accessible jobs for all
29 City of Foster City 2023 End of Year Report
Californians. CERF funding will be distributed regionally to projects that support the goals of the CERF Regional Plan.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024; varies regionally.
• More Information: https://opr.ca.gov/economic-development/
Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (PWEAA)
EDA funds Public Works (PW) projects to meet the construction and/or infrastructure design needs of communities to enable them to become more economically competitive. Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) projects should catalyze public -private partnerships to foster collaboration, attract investment, create jobs, and promote economic resiliency and prosperity. Projects must be related to a curr ent Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). All EDA projects should advance bottom -up economic development and prioritize the creation of living wage jobs.
• Funding Cycle: Applications are accepted and approved on an ongoing basis. It is recommended to submit a project prior to 3/15 for consideration for that fiscal year. • More Information: https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/public-works & https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/economic-adjustment-assistance
Build to Scale Program (B2S)
EDA’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) leads the Build to Scale (B2S) program. Under the Build to Scale program, EDA manages a portfolio of national grant competitions that further increase the capacities of regions to plan and implement ecosystems that support innovators, entrepreneurs, and startups that are growing technology-driven businesses, creating high-skill, high-wage jobs, and building the industries of the future.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on July 28, 2023. • More Information: https://www.eda.gov/funding/programs/build-to-scale
High Road Training Partnerships
The 2023 State Budget allocates $45 million to the High Road Training Partnerships (HRTP) program.
Ranging from transportation to health care to hospitality, the HRTP model embodies the sector approach used by the Californica Workforce Development Board — industry partnerships that deliver equity, sustainability, and job quality.
• Deadline: Spring 2024
• More information: https://cwdb.ca.gov/initiatives/high-road-training-partnerships/
California Youth Apprenticeship Grant Program
This program, run by the California Department of Industrial Relations, supports apprenticeship programs for youth between the ages of 16-24 that combine academic and technical classroom instruction with paid work experience through a proven earn-and-learn model.
• Deadline: TBD 2024
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• More information: https://www.dir.ca.gov/DAS/Grants/California-Y outh-Apprenticeship- Grant.html
Public Safety and Criminal Justice
Local Law Enforcement Gun Buyback Grant Program
$21 million in one- time funding has been allocated to the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) for this program. CalOES will be working with local law enforcement agencies to expedite targeted, coordinated gun buybacks in their communities.
• Deadline: TBD 2023
• More information: https://www.bscc.ca.gov/local-law-enforcement-gun-buyback-grant-program/
COPS Hiring Program
The goal of the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) is to provide funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career law enforcement officers to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Any budget cuts contributing to the need for CHP funding must be unrelated to the receipt of CHP award funds to avoid supplanting.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on May 11, 2023. • More Information: https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp
School Violence Prevention Program
The goal of the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) is to improve security at schools and on school grounds through the implementation of evidence- based school safety programs and technology.
Funds cannot be used to pay for salaries and benefits of sworn officers or civilian security guards.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on May 17, 2023. • More Information: https://cops.usdoj.gov/svpp
Community Policing Development Microgrants Program
Community Policing Development (CPD) Microgrants Program funds are used to develop law enforcement’s capacity to implement community policing strategies by providing funding to local, state, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies. When properly applied, community policing improves the identification and prioritization of community problems; builds trust and relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve; and enables an agency to build a culture toward accountability, transparency, open communication, and mutual trust.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on May 11, 2023. • More Information: https://cops.usdoj.gov/cpdmicrogrants
Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) Program
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The Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) program will fund projects that develop knowledge; increase awareness of effective mental health and wellness strategies; increase the skills and abilities of law enforcement; and increase the number of law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders using peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention, and other promising practices for wellness programs.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on April 21, 2023. • More Information: https://cops.usdoj.gov/lemhwa
Community Infrastructure
Building Forward Library Facilities Improvement Program
This equity-based grant program helps pay for capital projects for public library buildings that address critical maintenance needs, improve energy efficiency and sustainability, extend digital access, and expand physical access to library facilities.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024. FY 23 closed on May 18, 2023. • More information: https://www.library.ca.gov/grants/buildingforward/
Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative
The 2023 State Budget allocates $300 million for the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative. This program is the first step to creating an open-access, middle-mile network that will build infrastructure to bring high-speed broadband service to unserved and underserved communities, regardless of technology used, on equal economic and service terms. The program is run by the California Department of Technology (CDT).
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024
• More information: https://middle-mile-broadband-initiative.cdt.ca.gov/
Hazard Mitigation
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program makes federal funds available for pre-disaster mitigation activities. The program seeks to encourage and enable innovation, promote partnerships, provide a significant opportunity to reduce future losses, and support high- impact investments. Applicants must provide a Benefit-Cost Analysis for infrastructure proposals. Applicants must be covered under an active Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) to apply for funding. Project scoping funding can be requested to prepare for a future BRIC implementation grant proposal.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024/2025
• More Information:
https://www.caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the-director/operations/recovery- directorate/hazard-mitigation/bric/
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
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The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, tribal governments, and local communities to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the Nati onal Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Applicants must provide a Benefit-Cost Analysis for infrastructure proposals. Applicants must be covered under an active Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) to apply for funding. Project scoping funding can be requested to prepare for a future BRIC implementation grant proposal.
• Funding Cycle: TBD 2024/2025
• More Information: https://www.caloes.ca.gov/office-of-the-director/operations/recovery- directorate/hazard-mitigation/flood-mitigation-assistance/
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