City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: APRIL 18, 2023 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARD: 2
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE CLEAN CALIFORNIA LOCAL GRANT PROGRAM OFFERED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS ALONG MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD BETWEEN KANSAS AVENUE AND CANYON CREST DRIVE – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUE:
Adoption of a Resolution authorizing an application for funding in an amount not to exceed $3 million from the Clean California Local Grant Program offered by the California Department of Transportation for beautification efforts along Martin Luther King Blvd. between Kansas Avenue and Canyon Crest Drive.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to apply for, submit, and execute all required documents with the California Department of Transportation for the Clean California Local Grant Program through June 30, 2026; Receive a grant for Fiscal Year 2023/24 in the amount of $3 million, or the actual amount awarded, from the California Department of Transportation Clean California Local Grant Program; and
3. With at least five affirmative votes, and upon grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue and appropriate expenditures in the amount of the grant award in the Fiscal Year 2023/24 California Department of Transportation Clean California Local Grant Program accounts.
BACKGROUND:
According to Assembly Bill 149 (Sec.16), the Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) was created and codified under Streets and Highway Code §91. 41 et al., run by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). This program was created to beautify and clean up local streets, roads, parks, walkways, transit hubs, and other public areas. Additional elements of the CCLGP initiative include efforts to reduce litter, state safety and beautification projects, and public education campaigns.
For the Fiscal Year 2023/24 State budget, an additional $100 million was added to the CCLGP. Although grants shall not exceed $5 million dollars each, proposals are encouraged to remain within $3 million dollars as the expected maximum award. The grant program's second cycle of funding is to help achieve the following goals:
Reduce the amount of waste and debris within public rights-of-way, pathways, parks, transit centers, and other public spaces; Enhance, rehabilitate, restore, or install measures to beautify and improve public spaces and mitigate the urban heat island effect; Enhance public health, cultural connections, and community placemaking by improving public spaces for walking and recreation; and Advance equity for underserved communities.
DISCUSSION:
On February 14, 2023, Caltrans released the final CCLGP application requirements. The City proposes to use this grant to establish a clean, green, and safe pedestrian path along Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard (MLK) between Kansas Avenue and Canyon Crest Drive. Community improvements will beautify MLK between Kansas Avenue and Canyon Crest Drive and Bordwell Park by increasing recreation and neighborhood pride. The plan may include drought-tolerant landscaping, shade trees in the park and parking lot, basketball court improvements, rebuilding the Riverside Police Department/visitor outdoor gym, rebuilding the children’s playground and/or outdoor gym, adding artistic elements about Bordwell Park's history, and possibly slurry/overlaying the parking lot. MLK improvements may also include improved medians and a walking path from Kansas Avenue to Canyon Crest Drive. The walking path may include rest areas, water stations, drought-resistant landscape, lighting, and an Interpretive Path with an artistic element telling the history of this part of the City of Riverside, with an emphasis on the community and University California, Riverside agriculture.
The grant application is due April 28, 2023, and funds are anticipated to be distributed in August/September 2023. The Project must be completed and implemented by June 30, 2026. 50% of the CCLGP funds are targeted at underserved communities. The higher the percentage of underserved communities served, the lower the match requirement. The funds received will be used to target and develop programs to meet the goal of beautification efforts along the MLK between Kansas Avenue and Canyon Crest Drive.
Within a half-mile of the MLK project site, at least 25% of the population is identified as underserved. The "Severity of Disadvantage" (SOD) of the project site community determines the local match percentage. Based on our preliminary findings using the match calculation form, the community surrounding the project scored 55, exceeding the score of 51 and requiring no funding match from the City of Riverside, however; City Staff wish to be prepared in case the CCLGP changes the calculation and the City has to match at least 25% of the funding which would equate to $750K, which potentially could be found in departmental budgets over the life of grant activities.
The City is utilizing its approved grant writer panel in order to complete this grant in a timely manner at a cost of approximately $15,000.
The Public Works Department, Parks & Recreation, CEDD Arts & Cultural Affairs, and the Mayor's Office are collaborating on this project together.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item supports Strategic Priority 1 – Arts, Culture and Recreation and Goal 1.5 – Support programs and amenities to further develop literacy, health, and education of children, youth, and seniors throughout the community, Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being and Goal 2.4 – Support programs and innovations that enhance community safety, encourage neighborhood engagement and build public trust, and Strategic Priority 6 – Infrastructure, Mobility & Connectivity and Goal 6.1- Provide, expand and ensure equitable access to sustainable modes of transportation that connect people to opportunities such as employment, education, healthcare, and community amenities, Goal 6.2-Maintain, protect and improve assets and infrastructure within the City’s built environment to ensure and enhance reliability, resiliency, sustainability and facilities connectivity, and Goal 6.4- Incorporate Smart City strategies into the planning and development of local infrastructure projects.
This item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust –The City will submit this application with the intention of promoting public benefit, assisting the City's diverse populations, and addressing the needs of the community.
Equity – Within a half-mile of the MLK project site, at least 25% of the population is identified as the most underserved. The project will benefit pedestrians, cyclists, and park visitors along a 1.5-mile stretch from Bordwell Park through Canyon Crest Dr.
Fiscal Responsibility – Participating in the CCLGP grant enables the City to make various improvements utilizing outside funding. Awarding any contracts to the lowest responsive bidder will ensure responsible management of the City's financial resources and acts as a good steward of public funds.
Innovation – City collaboration between Public Works, Parks & Recreation, CEDD Arts & Cultural Affairs, and the Mayor's Office will connect the community beginning with Bordwell Park along MLK between Kansas Ave. and Canyon Crest Dr. with the improvement from this MLK project.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Investing in our community parks and trails with a commitment to maintenance will ensure long-lasting benefits to the pedestrians, cyclists, and residents of the City of Riverside.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of this action includes up to $3 million in grant funding and a potential grant match of up to $750K. Upon City Council approval and grant award, an increase in revenue and appropriation of expenditures in the amount of the grant award will be recorded in the Grants and Restricted Programs (215) Fund, Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) for the Fiscal Year 2023/24 revenue account number 9348400122-334100 and expenditure account number 9348400122-440210.
Prepared by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Concurrence: Pamela Galera, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Resolution
Local Match Calculation Form
Grant Application for Clean California Local Grant Program ● Page 2