June 21, 2022
Economic Development
DATE: June 21, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Shasa Curl, City Manager
Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
Samantha Carr, Environmental Manager
Subject:
City’s Transformative Climate Communities Program
Application and Memorandum of Understanding
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact on the City’s General Fund related to the adoption of this Resolution; however, if grant funds are awarded, funding up to $35 million would be granted, over a five-year funding period, which would support implementation of the projects identified in the City’s application.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City staff members are seeking City Council adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a
Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program
application, and to enter into a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with co-applicants (project
partners). If awarded, the TCC grant program would
provide approximately $35 million, over a five-year
funding period to implement projects that reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and implement place-
based strategies to provide local economic,
environmental, and health benefits to disadvantaged
communities in Richmond. The City of Richmond must
provide evidence of a passed formal resolution in the
AGENDA
REPORT
June 21, 2022
TCC proposal that includes an authorization to apply for and accept a TCC Implementation Grant and authority to
execute all related documents.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: ADOPT a resolution authorizing the city manager or designee to apply, accept, and appropriate a
Transformative Climate Communities grant and execute
all related documents, if awarded, and authorizing the
city manager or their designee to execute a
Memorandum of Understanding with Co-applicants –
Economic Development Department/Community
Development Department (Lina Velasco/Samantha Carr
510-620-5407).
DISCUSSION:
Background
The Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) program is administered by the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) in partnership with the California Department of Conservation. The TCC Program funds approximately three $35 million grants for investment in communities that are the most overburdened by environmental, socioeconomic, and health inequities by implementing projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and implement place-based strategies to provide local economic, environmental, and health benefits. The City of Richmond submitted a TCC grant application in 2020, but it was not awarded. City staff members have been working with Co-applicants to reapply and identify projects for the grant application.
TCC Planning Grant – Richmond Resilience Roadmap
On February 18, 2020, the City Council adopted the Richmond Resilience Roadmap (Roadmap), funded by a TCC Planning grant through a partnership with The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Richmond Community Foundation focused on developing a community-driven climate resilience strategy for the Iron Triangle, Santa Fe, and Coronado neighborhoods (Project Area). The Roadmap, which is the result of a larger community outreach and engagement process, identified nine potential projects that can advance the Strategic Growth Council’s sustainable communities objectives, such as improving air quality, improving water quality, reducing GHG emissions, improving transportation, and strengthening community resiliency to the impacts of climate change (Attachment 1).
The TCC Planning grants were designed to prepare communities to identify potential projects for TCC implementation grants.
TCC Implementation Grant Application
June 21, 2022
The City’s TCC implementation grant application, named Richmond Rising: Healthy, Connected, and Climate Strong (RR) Project, seeks funding to implement five of the nine projects identified in the Richmond Resilience Roadmap, including:
1. The Richmond Wellness Trail,
2. Urban Greening Master Plan implementation,
3. Richmond Greenway Master Plan implementation,
4. Harbour Way Complete Streets Plan, and
5. Low-income solar and home weatherization.
The RR Project for the TCC Implementation Grant will focus on the Iron Triangle, Santa Fe, and Coronado neighborhoods outlined in grey on the map below. The City of Richmond and stakeholders have identified several objectives in the project that would benefit individuals and families residing in the Project Area including increasing solar installation and energy efficiency, water efficiency, health and well-being, active transportation, urban greening and green infrastructure, and equitable housing and neighborhood development.
If awarded a TCC implementation grant, the RR Project would leverage additional funding from State, County, and local funds as well as in-kind contributions from co- applicants. The project proposal includes community engagement throughout the project implementation.
Project Readiness and Memorandum of Understanding
June 21, 2022
The full application must demonstrate “readiness” requirements established by the State, including implementation plans for indicator tracking, community engagement, displacement avoidance, and workforce development. If awarded, the grant agreement, appropriation of funds, and other implementation actions shall be executed by the City Manager or their designee, as authorized by the Resolution in Attachment 2.
The MOU between the City of Richmond and Co-applicants include, but are not limited to the following, GroundWork Richmond, GRID Alternatives, LifeLong Medical, Pacific West Communities, Inc, The Trust for Public Land (TPL), and Urban Tilth. The purpose of the MOU is to memorialize basic terms to govern the planning and implementation of the scope of work included in the Transformation Plan, pass through specific grantor policies and obligations, implement the Collaborative Stakeholder Structure, create a clear decision-making process, and define roles, responsibilities, and requirements for partners.
POLICY SYNERGIES
The RR Project supports multiple city plans including the City’s General Plan 2030, Climate Action Plan, Richmond Resilience Roadmap, Urban Greening Master Plan, Richmond Wellness Trail Vision Plan, Pedestrian Plan, and Richmond Bicycle Master Plan. The TCC Program requires applicants to include policies and programs specific to the project development that help avoid the displacement of existing residents and local businesses and ensure key stakeholders benefit from the investment. The RR Project shall advance the following policies that will directly or indirectly conserve energy resources and reduce GHG emissions.
General Plan 2030 Goal EC1 Leadership in Managing Climate Change, Goal EC2 Clean and Efficient Transportation Options, Goal EC3 Sustainable and Efficient Energy Systems, Goal EC4 Sustainable Development, Goal EC6 Climate-Resilient Communities, Goal CR1 An Expanded Multimodal Circulation System, Goal CR2 Walkable Neighborhoods and Complete Streets, and Goal CR3 A Safe and Well-Maintained Circulation System. The RR Project will also comply with goals in the Health and Wellness Element, and Public Safety and Noise Element.
Climate Action Plan Strategy EE3 Promote Green Building, Strategy RE1 Increase Local Solar Energy Generation, Strategy TL2 Promote Complete Street Improvements, Strategy TL3 Improve Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure, Strategy TL6 Expand Car Sharing, Bike Sharing and Ride Sharing, Strategy WA4 Support Water Infrastructure Improvements and expand Water Reclamation and Reuse, GA1 Support Urban Tree-Planting Programs, GA 2 Support Local Agriculture and Food Production, GA3 Support Green Infrastructure and Streetscape Design, RC1 Improve Community Preparedness for Climate Emergencies, RC2 Increase Resilience of Local Housing to Climate Change, RC3 Increase Resilience of Critical Infrastructure to Climate Change, and RC6 Protect Public Health and Promote Health Equity.
June 21, 2022
Urban Greening Master Plan: The RR Project will include tree planting at opportunity site identified in the Urban Greening Master Plan, as well a green infrastructure on other streetscape projects.
Richmond Pedestrian Plan: The RR Project shall directly implement all plan goals. The Richmond Wellness Trail was adopted as an Addendum to the Pedestrian Plan on April 25, 2017. The Richmond Wellness Trail connects parks and open space within the City via an active transportation route. Richmond Bicycle Master Plan: The RR project will implement the Harbour Way Complete Street project ensuring safe bicycle, pedestrian and vehicle facilities are provided.
The RR Project aligns with and supports the Health in All Policies Strategy and Ordinance, the Richmond Fair Rent, Just Cause for Eviction, Homeowner Protection Ordinance, and the Zoning and Subdivision Regulations Ordinance.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Richmond Resilience Roadmap
Attachment 2 – Resolution