DATE:
October 8, 2024
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
City Manager’s Office
TITLE: Silicon Valley Clean Energy Grant
Agreement Amendments
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Amending the Senior Center Hot Water Systems and Community Education About Building Electrification Grant Agreements with Silicon Valley Clean Energy to Extend Project Completion Dates to December 31, 2025 and Authorizing the City Manager or Designee to Execute Ministerial or Administrative Amendments to the Agreements, to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 1 to the Council report).
BACKGROUND
The City Council accepted and appropriated funds from two grants from Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) on May 23, 2023 that included:
• $497,000 to electrify the Senior Center’s hot water system and stoves; and
• $70,000 to engage and educate residents and community groups about building electrification initiatives and their benefits.
The grant agreements stipulate that projects must be completed by December 31, 2024.
Approving the attached resolution would amend the agreements to extend project completion dates to December 31, 2025.
ANALYSIS
Senior Center Electrification Project
The Senior Center electrification project is under way with the design phase nearly complete.
The gas water heating system will be replaced with electric heat pumps that use solar thermal energy to further reduce utility costs. Sixteen (16) gas cooking appliances will be replaced with
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Grant Agreement Amendments
October 8, 2024
electric cooking appliances, such as induction stoves. Construction and installation of equipment and appliances are anticipated to be completed by December 31, 2025, which requir es an amendment to the project completion date in the SVCE grant agreement.
Community Education and Engagement Project
The community education and engagement project seeks to understand how Mountain View’s diverse community value s and understands building electrification. The desired outcome is to educate the community about building electrification while also learning how to refine the City’s messages, services, and products in a way that resonates with a variety of community members.
In particular, the engagement targets non-English speakers, youth, renters, and neighborhoods that have limited ability to participate in traditional engagement opportunities.
A short survey asking about building electrification was developed this year and has been distributed at neighborhood ice cream socials, National Night Out, the Day Worker Center of Mountain View’s Open House, and the Technology Showcase. The surveys were translated into Spanish, Chinese, and Russian.
The next phase of the project includes engaging with community-based organizations that serve the targeted demographics listed above to educate their clients about building electrification and receive feedback about how it could benefit or impact their household. In addition, focus groups could be utilized to provide deeper education about building electrification and how it benefits members of the group. The results of the survey and focus groups will be shared with the Council Sustainability Committee once completed. The project is anticipated to be completed by December 31, 2025, which requires an amendment to the project completion date in the SVCE grant agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
No matching funds are required for the Senior Center e lectrification grant , which results in $497,000 in grant revenue for the project . For the community engagement grant, the City provided $20,000 in matching funds that is currently budgeted in Sustainability Projects, Project 20-99, for a total project cost of $90,000, resulting in $70,000 in grant revenue for Sustainability Projects. The grants include reimbursement for some of staff’s time to implement the projects.
LEVINE ACT
California Government Code Section 84308 (also known as the Levine Act) prohibits city officials from participating in any proceeding involving a “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” if the official has received a campaign contribution exceeding $250 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the proceeding within the last 12 months. A city official is Silicon Valley Clean Energy Grant Agreement Amendments
October 8, 2024
similarly prohibited from accepting, soliciting, or directing a campaign contribution exceeding $250 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant to any proceeding involving a license, permit, or other entitlement for use for 12 months after a final decision is rendered in said proceeding.
Please refer to the “X” in the checklist below for information about whether the recommended action for this agenda item is subject to or exempt from the Levine Act.
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
_x_ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ General policy and legislative actions
For more information about the Levine Act, please see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html .
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not extend one or both agreements, which would result in having to forfeit the expected grant funds back to SVCE.
2. Provide other direction.
PUBLIC NOTICING
Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Rebecca Lucky
Sustainability Manager
Approved by:
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
RL/6/CAM/628-10-08-24CR
204452
Attachment: 1. Resolution