Fremont City Council Meeting: 06/06/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Public Projects
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 4919) DOC ID: 4919
Updated: 5/31/2023 1:34 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 1 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM - First Public Hearing (Published Notice) on the Proposed FY 2023/24 - 2027/28 Capital Improvement Program and Two-Year Capital Budget
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 facilitate the process to approve an updated five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2023/24 through 2027/28 and adopt a two-year Capital Budget for fiscal years 2023/24 and 2024/25. A Proposed CIP was presented for public review and comment at the City Council meeting on May 16, 2023. The CIP approval process includes two public hearings, the first public hearing is scheduled for June 6, 2023. The second public hearing is scheduled for June 13, 2023 and includes consideration to adopt the CIP.
BACKGROUND: The scope of the City’s CIP is focused on investments to maintain and improve the City’s infrastructure related to transportation, parks, buildings, and public facilities. On May 16, 2023, staff presented to the City Council the Proposed 5-year CIP, with a full list of projects and expenditures having a total investment value of $296 million.
City Council input on the Proposed CIP was supportive and no changes have been made to the Proposed CIP. The full text of the CIP document and related budget appropriation actions is posted on the City’s website (see weblink provided below).
It is noted that at the May 16th meeting, the City Council and members of the public provided comments regarding considerations for implementing various projects included in the CIP. Among this input included the following:
• For the Central Park Community Center project, provide capacity for large meetings and events (may increase cost estimate and require additional funding). • For the replacement of park restrooms, consider design options supporting facilities for families, gender neutrality, and touchless features for handwashing and access. • For new dog parks, provide adequate parking and fencing. • For the Auto Mall Parkway median landscaping project, consider possible other uses for the wide median area (may increase cost estimate and require additional funding).
• For the Sabercat Trail extension project, include features to maintain a comfortable and scenic experience for all users and manage against high-speed bicycling. • For the update to the Active Transportation Plan, consider developing continuous street corridors and trails for people walking and bicycling, as well as neighborhood traffic calming improvements (on streets like Nicolet Avenue). • For electric vehicle infrastructure improvements, consider products provided by local companies and pursue grant funding opportunities.
Council Staff Report (ID # 4919) Meeting of June 6, 2023 Updated: 5/31/2023 1:34 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 2 • For future capital investment opportunities, consider identifying improvements to support the City’s commercial business districts.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: As presented and discussed at the City Council meeting on May 16, 2023, the following provides a summary of the CIP investment highlights.
General Fund Annual Transfers to the CIP
The proposed CIP continues a $7 million annual transfer (a total of $35 million over five years) of funding from the General Fund for capital maintenance activities that was approved by the City Council in FY 2022-23, increasing a past investment-level of $5 million annually. Also, a supplemental increase of $5.5 million in the annual transfer is proposed (increasing the annual transfer for capital maintenance facilities to $62.5 million over five years) to be allocated as follows:
• $2.5 million to pavement maintenance
• $2.0 million to building maintenance
• $0.9 million to capital replacement for parks
• $0.1 million to street tree 50/50 program
General Fund One-Time Transfers to the CIP
The most significant change in the Proposed CIP is the allocation of new one-time funding transferred from the General Fund to the CIP in the amount of $58 million based on past Council actions, and a new $2.1 million fund transfer. In summary, the use of these allocations is as follows:
• $21 million for the Central Park Multi-Service Community Center project as a City General Fund contribution to an overall $58 million project. Other secured and proposed funding sources include: $8 million from a State grant; $1 million from previously adopted CIP funds; $5 million from Parks CIP; and $23 million in proposed future revenue from grants and private contributions.
• $15 million to replace 21 old restroom buildings in City parks.
• $8 million to replace old and outdated heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in 11 City buildings with modern environmentally sustainable equipment.
• $5 million to provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure for City fleet vehicles to support City’s climate action policies and comply with State mandates for transitioning to zero emission vehicles.
• $5 million to rehabilitate and replace aging building systems at City Hall include the roof, fire alarms, and HVAC.
• $1.7 million for new Fire Alerting System to align with new County standards for emergency communications.
Council Staff Report (ID # 4919) Meeting of June 6, 2023 Updated: 5/31/2023 1:34 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 3 • $1.65 million for a new Vehicle Evidence and Storage Building at the Police Center to meet standards for securing evidence from vehicle involved in crime investigations or traffic crashes. This closes a construction funding gap for a project previously approved by the City Council.
• $826,000 for the Central Park Synthetic Turf Replacement project to replace the aging turf at the dog park.
• $506,000 for Central Park Sports Lighting Transformer Replacement Project to replace aging infrastructure.
• $2.1 million as a new fund transfer to the existing Water Conservation and Median Upgrades program as a contribution for an overall $5.1 million project to landscape the median islands along Auto Mall Parkway. A request for a $3 million federal grant is current under consideration for this project.
Transportation Investment Highlights
The proposed Transportation CIP includes projects (totaling $112 million) focused in the areas of: pavement and sidewalk maintenance; traffic operations and signal system improvement; bicycle and pedestrian facilities; and major projects. All of the projects are implemented in a manner consistent with the City’s policies related to traffic safety (Vision Zero), complete streets (providing mobility equity for all travel modes, ages and abilities), and improving traffic flow. Provided below is a summary of proposed investments, funding levels and new projects:
• Basic Maintenance Projects – The highest level of funding in the Transportation CIP is allocated to ongoing annual projects to: repave City streets; repair sidewalks, curbs, and gutters in the worst condition; and build ADA curb ramps. The overall funding amount for “basic maintenance” is $74 million. In the next two years, work will be completed on a multi-year program to repair sidewalks in a severely damaged condition, where the sidewalk deflection exceeded 4 inches.
• Traffic Operations and Signal Projects – The proposed investments in traffic operations and signal projects include annual expenditures to maintain existing traffic signals (195 signals); maintain or expand fiber optic communication network within the roadway; modernize equipment for more efficient operations; construct new traffic signals at priority locations to improve safety and operation; and to respond to community interests and concerns related traffic operations. The overall funding amount for “traffic operations and signal projects” is approximately $20 million. Key traffic operation projects included in this CIP budget cycle include the development of reliable signal coordination timing along key north-south and east- west regional corridors (e.g., Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont Boulevard, Decoto Road, Mowry Avenue, Stevenson Boulevard, Warm Springs Boulevard, Osgood Road, Auto Mall Parkway, Thornton Avenue, and Grimmer Boulevard) to manage traffic speeds and minimize the amount of red lights experienced by motorists, as well as the design and construction of a new Traffic Management Center at the City’s Development Center office to allow for enhanced monitoring and management of signal operations.
Council Staff Report (ID # 4919) Meeting of June 6, 2023 Updated: 5/31/2023 1:34 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 4 • Bike/Pedestrian Projects – The City receives dedicated funds from the County Measure BB program and State grants for improvements and expansion to the City’s bicycle and pedestrian facilities as identified in the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, Vision Zero program, and Safe Routes to Schools program. The overall funding amount for the “bike/ped projects” is approximately $11 million. It is noted that other Transportation CIP programs and projects (e.g., complete street roadway projects) may also include bicycle and pedestrian facility elements that are in addition to these bike/ped projects.
• Major Projects – A portion of the City’s Transportation CIP is oriented toward major and regional projects. This includes the City’s support for upgrading the State Route 262 corridor and developing the new Irvington BART Station, projects led by Alameda CTC and BART respectively. Additionally, the City is leading the planning and design for modernizing freeway interchanges at 680/Mission and 880/Decoto, as well as developing new bridges for bicycling and walking over freeways at 680/Sabercat Trail and 880/Innovation District. Other “major projects” include three new regional trails: Dumbarton to Quarry Lakes, East Bay Greenway, and Niles Canyon Trail, and a complete street corridor project along Decoto Road. Work is also ongoing for the “Centerville Railroad Quiet Zone Corridor Project”. The overall amount of new funding for “major projects” in the proposed CIP is $6 million.
Notable grant-funded projects included in the prior CIP is the Centerville Complete Streets Project, which is planned to be bid out for construction in Fall 2023.
Park Investment Highlights
The proposed Parks CIP includes project allocations (totaling approximately $20.9 million) focused in the areas of: continued funding for existing major projects underway; upgrades to play areas; expansion of trail and pedestrian facilities; and new pickleball court and dog park facilities. Projects are consistent with the previously adopted Parks and Recreation Master Plan adopted in March of 2022. The Recreation Commission considered proposed projects in three meetings during October and November of 2022, and January 2023.
During the Commission’s review, they considered projects consistent with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
This year the Recreation Commission addressed significant revenue shortfalls in the Parks Development Impact Fee program along with high inflationary pressures in the construction industry and throughout the economy. The primary focus is to address a shortfall of approximately $8 million in Park Impact Fee revenues, address shortfalls in existing project budgets due to construction cost inflation, and to address community demand for pickleball courts and dog parks. Several projects, such as Central Park Loop Trail/Parking Lot and Pacific Commons Sports Park (phase two), are scheduled for delay in order to address the $8 million shortfall, but previously approved projects and priorities have not been eliminated.
On January 18, 2023, the Recreation Commission voted unanimously to forward the following proposed Parks CIP to the City Council for consideration. Significant themes in the proposed CIP include the following:
• Major Park Improvements – Much of this year’s capital investment is for continued support for on-going major park projects including: Centerville Community Park, Council Staff Report (ID # 4919) Meeting of June 6, 2023 Updated: 5/31/2023 1:34 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 5 Palm Avenue Community Park, and Rix Neighborhood Park Expansion. Proposed allocations in this CIP will complete funding for these projects.
• Investments in Pickleball Courts and Dog Parks – New pickleball courts and a dog park are proposed at Vallejo Mills Historic Park to address strong community demand for these facilities. In addition to Vallejo Mills, a new dog park is proposed for the park property at Ardenwood Blvd. and Paseo Padre Parkway and a large pickleball complex is planned for the first phase of Pacific Commons Sports Park.
• New Central Park Community Center – A significant contribution from Park Impact Fees is proposed for exterior improvements associated with the Community Center.
General Government / Public Facilities Investment Highlights The proposed General Government / Public Facilities CIP allocations total $39.6 million. The largest amount of $23 million is programmed to collect contributions and grants in support of the new Central Park Community Center. Approximately $18 million is being accumulated from Development Impact Fees collected for new or expanded infrastructure to support City growth with funding to be used for Fire Department and Capital facilities. Of this $18 million, $5 million is allocated to pay debt on public facilities completed in the past, $10 million is programmed to support the development agreement for the Age Well Center in South Fremont, and $343K is allocated to purchase fire equipment and uniforms. The remaining amount is not being budgeted at this time until sufficient funds are accumulated.
Department internal funds support the development permitting system in an amount of $1.3 million.
General Plan Conformity Findings
In compliance with state law, the proposed CIP has been reviewed by the Community Development Department and found to conform with the City’s General Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed Capital Improvement Program for FY 2023/24 – 2027/28 programs approximately $296 million in projects over the five-year life of the plan.
Approximately $122 million will be appropriated in FY 2023/24 – 2024/25. Adoption of the CIP, at the second public hearing, will appropriate and allocate funds for Fiscal Years 2023/24 - 2027/28.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The adoption of this five-year CIP itself is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and environmental review is not required for its adoption. The CIP is a planning tool used to identify future capital projects, anticipated time for implementation and funding sources.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
WEBLINK: The FY 2023/24-2027/28 Proposed Capital Improvement Budget is posted on the City’s website at http://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/finance/financial- reports
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Hold a public hearing.
Council Staff Report (ID # 4919) Meeting of June 6, 2023 Updated: 5/31/2023 1:34 PM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 6
2. Receive information and consider all capital improvement projects proposed for the Five-Year FY 2023/24-2027/28 CIP.
3. Provide direction as needed on the FY 2023/24-2027/28 Proposed CIP, for consideration on June 13, 2023.