Fremont City Council Meeting: 02/07/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Grants
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 4793) DOC ID: 4793
Updated: 2/1/2023 1:20 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 1 ACCEPTANCE OF STATE FUNDING GRANTS - (1) Authorize the City Manager to Accept and Appropriate a Total of $20.5 Million in State Funding Grants for the Sabercat Bridge and Trail Extension Project ($12 Million), the Central Park Community Center Project ($8 Million), and the Housing Navigation Center Operating Costs ($500,000); (2) Adopt Resolutions Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Grant Funding Agreements; and (2) Find Actions are Exempt from CEQA Review.
Contact Persons:
Name: Hans Larsen Suzanne Wolf
Title: Public Works Director Community Services Director Div/Dept: Public Works Community Services
Phone: 510-494-4722 510-494-4329
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to incorporate new State grant funds into the City’s budget and to facilitate implementation of funded activities related to extending the Sabercat Trail, developing a new Community Center in Central Park to replace the current Teen Center and Fremont Community Center, and to continue homeless services at the Housing Navigation Center through June 30, 2025.
BACKGROUND: On September 6, 2022, the State of California adopted legislation establishing their budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 under Assembly Bill No. 179, Chapter 249 (AB 179). The State Budget included “earmark” allocations to specific projects and programs identified by State legislators. With support from State Assemblymember Lee and former State Senator Wieckowski, budget allocations were provided to three projects in Fremont. A ceremonial event acknowledging the new State funding grants was held on October 13, 2022, at the Sabercat Trail.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The scope and funding amount for the State budget earmarks allocated to the City of Fremont are described below:
• Sabercat Trail Extension and Trail Upgrades in Sabercat Historical Park The proposed Sabercat Trail Extension project will extend and improve the existing trail, located in the Mission San Jose area. The project will extend the trail that runs through Sabercat Historical Park, to the west over Interstate 680 to connect with the Irvington community at Osgood Road. The existing trail will be widened and improved within the Sabercat Historical Park and extended from the easterly end of Sabercat Historical Park along Pine Street to connect with Mission Boulevard and Ohlone College.
A new interpretive area in Sabercat Historical Park will inform the community about the unique paleontological history of the area from 1.9 million years ago.
For the Sabercat Trail Extension Project, AB 179 appropriated $6 million from the State General Fund to the Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS), which requires a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a funding agreement with the State and certifying approval of the project application, Council Staff Report (ID # 4793) Meeting of February 7, 2023 Updated: 2/1/2023 1:20 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 2 that the City will have sufficient funds to complete and operate the project, and that the City agrees comply with the requirements of the 2022-23 Procedural Guide for Local Assistance Specified Grants. Another $6 million were appropriated to the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), for which Caltrans requires a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into agency-state master agreements in order to receive funding for the Sabercat Project and for other state and federal-aid funded projects that may be approved by Council in the future. The resolution is also required to reflect changes Caltrans made to its form resolution for agency-state master agreements and related agreements.
The Sabercat Trail Extension project has been approved by the City Council and is currently funded by the State Natural Resources Agency for environmental clearance and final design. The additional state grants would fund the Irvingtonian Fossil Museum planning efforts, final design consultant costs for the Sabercat Existing Trail Upgrades inside the Sabercat Historical Park, right of way acquisition for the Sabercat Trail Extension project, and additional final design consultant costs for the Sabercat Trail Extension. The allocated State funds also include partial funding for project construction, which will be used to help leverage additional construction funding from other sources. Further information about the project is featured on the City’s MyFremont community engagement platform (see weblink below). • Central Park Community Center
The proposed Central Park Community Center project will develop a new Multi Service Community Center in Central Park, replacing the current Teen Center and Fremont Community Center, and providing expanded space for indoor recreation and community programs. Having a modern multi service center is identified as a top priority in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan approved in 2022.
AB 179 appropriated $8 million from the State General Fund to the City of Fremont for the Central Park Community Center project, through a budget line item titled “Fremont Teen Center Building Upgrades,” for which a resolution is required authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with the State. The State grant will be used to plan and design a new community center and contribute to the construction costs. Additional funding will be needed for project construction. Project planning and community engagement activities are expected to be underway beginning in Spring 2023. • Homeless Housing Navigation Center
The Housing Navigation Center (HNC) was approved by Council and has been in operation since September 2020. Operating costs include Housing Navigators and other supportive service staff, meals for participants, facility costs, and overhead expenses.
Flex funds are used to provide rental and security deposits, titrated rental assistance, or a bedroom set-up. Funds may also be used to secure employment for participants, costs such as clothing, tools, trade schooling, or automobile registration. This State funding will extend operation of the HNC by supplementing funding in fiscal years 2023/24 and 2024/25. The City’s current agreement with Bay Area Community Services (BACS) to operate the HNC allows the City to offer services through June 30, 2025.
AB 179 appropriated $500,000 from the State General Fund to the Department of Housing and Community Development to be allocated to the City of Fremont for the Council Staff Report (ID # 4793) Meeting of February 7, 2023 Updated: 2/1/2023 1:20 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 3 Housing Navigation Center. Staff is recommending Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a funding agreement with the State for this project. No resolution is required for this funding agreement. The City Manager is already authorized by the City Council to execute grant agreements with the State Department of Housing and Community Development.
FISCAL IMPACT: Staff is recommending that the $12 million for the Sabercat Trail Extension project and the $8 million for the Central Park Community Center project be appropriated in the State Capital Grants Fund (Fund 525). The $500,000 for the Housing Navigation Center was appropriated in the Miscellaneous Operating Grants Fund (Fund 193) under the City Council’s delegation of authority to the City Manager.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The recommended actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because they are an administrative fiscal activity and not projects pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
As a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance, the City Council on February 15, 2022 adopted the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Sabercat Trail Extension Project in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15074, with implementation of the adopted mitigation measures, there is no substantial evidence that the project as mitigated will have a significant effect on the environment; and that the Mitigated Negative Declaration reflects the independent judgment and analysis of the City of Fremont.
Subsequent planning for the Central Park Community Center Project will include a community outreach process and preparation of an environmental clearance in accordance with CEQA guidelines.
WEBLINK: www.my.fremont.gov/sabercat
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Resolution - Caltrans Agency-State Agreements
• Draft Resolution - CP Community Center
• Draft Resolution- Sabercat
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the following actions related to the State Grant Funds:
1. Find the actions are exempt from environmental review, each as a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance, under CEQA Guidelines, Section 15378 (administrative and funding activity not a “project” under CEQA) and Section 15061 (no possibility the activity may have significant effect on the environment).
Environmental review will be conducted as part of the project environmental clearance process, as appropriate.
2. For the Sabercat Bridge and Trail project (Parks and Recreation Grant): Accept AB 179 funds in the amount of $6 million, appropriate the funds to the Sabercat Trail Extension Project – PWC8977-525, and adopt a resolution approving the city application for specified grant funds from the State Budget Act of 2022/23 in the amount of $6 million and certifying the City will have sufficient funds to complete and operate the project and will comply with the general provisions contained in the Council Staff Report (ID # 4793) Meeting of February 7, 2023 Updated: 2/1/2023 1:20 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 4 funding contract required per the 2022-23 Procedural Guide for Local Assistance Specified Grants.
3. For the Sabercat Bridge and Trail project (Caltrans Grant): Accept AB 179 funds in the amount of $6 million, appropriate the funds to the Sabercat Trail Extension Project – PWC8977-525, and adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute agency-state master agreements for the Sabercat Bridge and Trail project and for other transportation projects that may be approved by the City for which state and/or federal funding is approved.
4. For the Centra Park Community Center project: Accept AB 179 funds in the amount of $8 million, appropriate the funds to the Central Park Community Center Project– PWC9087-525, and adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a funding agreement with the State.
5. For the Housing Navigation Center: Accept AB 179 funds in the amount of $500,000, appropriate the funds to the Housing Navigation Center project, and authorize the City Manager to execute a funding agreement with the State. No resolution is required for this item.