DATE:
September 12, 2023
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
City Manager’s Office
TITLE: Application to the Community Resilience
Centers Implementation Grant Program
to Establish the Senior Center as a
Resilience Center
RECOMMENDATION
1. Authorize the City Manager or designee to submit an application to the Community Resilience Center s Implementation Grant Program from the California Strategic Growth Council and execute all related documents if awarded.
2. Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s Designee to Apply for and Accept Grant Funds from the California Strategic Growth Council for the Community Resilience Center Implemen tation Grant in an Amount up to $10 Million and Negotiate and Execute any Related Documents Necessary to Accept These Grant Funds, to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 1 to the Council report).
BACKGROUND
The California Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) Community Resilience Centers (CRC) Program is part of the State’s Climate Budget and funds planning, development, construction, and upgrades of neighborhood -level Community Resilience Centers to provide shelter and resources during climate and other emergencies, such as extreme heat events and poor air quality days. The program also funds ongoing year-round community services and programs, such as food distribution and work force development training, that build overall community resilience.
SGC received a $110 million General Fund appropriation in Fiscal Year 2022-23 to implement the program through the provision of grants, staff support, and third -party technical assistance. Of the total funds, $98.6 million is available for Round 1 grants. A total of $84 million is available for CRC Implementation Grants, each ranging from $1 million to $10 million, which will fund new construction and upgrades of facilities to serve as Community Resilience Centers, campus amenities with in one mile that su pport the use of the facilit ies, and a range of services and programs that contribute to resiliency.
Application to the Community Resilience Centers Implementation Grant Program to Establish the Senior Center as a Resilience Center
September 12, 2023
ANALYSIS
Through collaboration across multiple City departments and community -based organizations , the City has identified a project focused on the Mountain View Senior Center (Senior Center) as the top-priority for a CRC Implementation Grant application. The Senior Center was selected as the primary facility for this project because of its high utilization for recreation and social safety net services, its role as the City’s primary location for providing overnight shelter services during emergencies, and its proximity to other City-owned amenities, including the Community Center, the new Rengstorff Park Aquatics Center, The View Teen Center, and Rengstorff Park. The proposed project includes capital improvement projects , campus amenities, and ongoing programming, codeveloped with community -based organizations, to support resilience in Mountain View.
Project Scope
The proposed scope will include capital improvements to ensure the Senior Center can continue to operate and provide critical services during emergencies and climate events . Capital improvements under consideration include:
• Solar Panels and Back-Up Battery Storage: The project would install rooftop solar and solar carports as well as back -up battery storage at the Senior Center. This supports resiliency by ensuring the Senior Center has electricity during Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Public Safety Power Shutoff events and other power outages. It also reduces energy consumption by using battery power during peak-energy rate periods and by reducing dependency on a diesel generator.
• HVAC Electrification: This would convert the Senior Center’s existing natural gas-powered HVAC system to an electric heat pump system. This would complete the full electrification of the Senior Center. Project 22 -34 (Mountain View Senior Center) is electrifying the kitchen and water heating at the Senior Center.
• Electric Panel Upgrade : This would upgrade the capacity of the Senior Center’s electrical panel to support its full electrification and solar and battery installation.
• Air Quality Monitoring : This would install an outdoor air quality monitor at the Senior Center, enabling staff to monitor for unhealthy air pollution levels and adjust programming accordingly.
Application to the Community Resilience Centers Implementation Grant Program to Establish the Senior Center as a Resilience Center
September 12, 2023
The proposed scope will include campus amenities which support community access to the Senior Center. Campus amenities under consideration include:
• California Street Complete Streets Project: This would provide partial funding for construction of bike and pedestrian improvements to California Street, between Showers Drive and Shoreline Boulevard . California Street is one of the major roadways through which the community accesses the Senior Center and surrounding neighborhoods.
• Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging: This project would install EV chargers that are accessible to people who use mobility devices and people with other disabilities.
The proposed scope will include community resilience services and programs, implemented in partnership with community-based organizations. Services and programs under consideration include:
• Workforce Development Training: This could include trainings on outdoor workers’ rights and protections during extreme heat events and poor air quality days, EV technician training, and/or solar installation courses.
• Community Engagement on Climate Resiliency: This could include door-to-door outreach in disadvantaged neighborhoods near the Senior Center to provide public health resources, emergency preparedness supplies, and other resources related to resiliency.
Grant Application Process
Applications to the CRC grant program are due on September 18, 2023. Per the CRC program guidelines, the City’s grant application must provide evidence of a passed , formal resolution authorizing the City to apply for and accept a CRC Implementation Grant and execute all related documents if awarded. Round 1 CRC awards are anticipated to be announced by the end of 2023.
If Mountain View is awarded an implementation grant, the City will go through an approximately three- to six-month post-award consultation with SGC. Once the grant is executed, grant-funded projects need to be completed within four years.
California Environmental Quality Act
The proposed activity of applying for a CRC implementation grant is not a project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines , Section 15378(b) , as there is no commitment or obligation to enter into an agreement at the time of application. Appropriate environmental review consistent with the requirements of CEQA will be completed prior to specific project action.
Application to the Community Resilience Centers Implementation Grant Program to Establish the Senior Center as a Resilience Center
September 12, 2023
FISCAL IMPACT
Other than staff time, no cost is associated with this grant application. If awarded, the City of Mountain View would receive up to $10 million from the California Strategic Growth Council. At that time, staff would return to the City Council with a request for budget appropriations. The grant program does not require City grant matching. The grant is reimbursement-based; the City will need to allocate funding for the project, and SGC will reimburse the City , upon receipt of a reimbursement request, after each invoice is paid to the contractor and/or community-based organization partners. The City can request reimbursement from SGC on a bimonthly basis. SGC will retain the last 5% of the overall grant budget, to be paid once the State has determined that the grant terms have been fulfilled. Staff will return to the City Council for authorization if agreements with contractors and/or project partners exceeds the City Manager’s authority.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not authorize the City Manager or designee to submit an application to the Community Resilience Centers Implementation Grant Program from the California Strategic Growth Council and execute all related documents if awarded.
2. Provide other direction.
PUBLIC NOTICING—Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Lauren Anderson
Sustainability Analyst II
Danielle Lee
Chief Sustainability and Resiliency Officer
Approved by:
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
LA-DL/6/CAM
624-09-12-23CR
203315
Attachment: 1. Resolution Authorizing Application to Community Resilience Center Grant Program