City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: NOVEMBER 7, 2023 FROM: PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AND WARDS: ALL
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE, OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY
SUBJECT: INTERFUND BUDGET TRANSFER OF 2014 COOL CALIFORNIA CHALLENGE COMPETITION GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $24,676 AND CALIFORNIA GREEN BUSINESS PROGRAM GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,440 FROM ELECTRIC FUND 510 TO GRANTS AND RESTRICTED PROGRAMS FUND 215 – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUE:
Authorize an interfund budget transfer of 2014 Cool California Challenge Competition Grant funds in the amount of $24,676 and California Green Business Programs Grant funds in the amount of $9,440 from Electric Fund (510) State Operating Grants accounts to Grants and Restricted Programs Fund (215) revenue accounts and appropriate expenditures in the same amount to Grants and Restricted Programs Fund expenditure accounts.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Authorize an interfund transfer from Electric Fund (510) State Operating Grants accounts for 2014 Cool California Challenge Competition Grant funds in the amount of $24,676 to Grants and Restricted Programs Fund (215) revenue accounts and appropriate expenditures in the same amount; and Authorize an interfund transfer from Electric Fund (510) State Operating Grants accounts for the California Green Business Program Grant funds in the amount of $9,440 to Grants and Restricted Programs Fund (215) revenue accounts and appropriate expenditures in the same amount.
BOARD RECOMMENDATION:
On October 23, 2023, the Board of Public Utilities voted unanimously, with one member absent, to recommend that the City Council authorize the interfund budget transfer of 2014 Cool California Challenge Competition Grant funds in the amount of $24,676 and California Green Business Programs Grant funds in the amount of $9,440 from Electric Fund (510) State Operating Grants accounts to Grants and Restricted Programs Fund (215) revenue accounts and appropriate expenditures in the same amount to Grants and Restricted Programs Fund expenditure accounts.
BACKGROUND:
On December 16, 2014, the Mayor’s Office submitted for City Council approval the acceptance of 2014 Cool California Challenge Competition grant funds in the amount of $32,950 and Green Business Program grant funds in the amount of $30,000 - $20,000 provided to the City of Riverside and $10,000 provided to the program administrator to establish a data tracking system.
The Cool California City Challenge
The Cool California City Challenge was a competition between 10 California cities to motivate and reward residents for reducing their carbon footprints and helping to build a more vibrant community. In 2014, the competition was in its second year and was made possible through a partnership between the California Air Resources Board, the University of California Berkeley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory, and the Energy Upgrade California TM initiative.
The competition was comprised of two parts, one from April 1 to May 31, 2014, based solely on the number of sign-ups for the program, and the second until August 31, 2014, which challenged participants to track driving and home energy use to earn “green points” for having low greenhouse gas emissions compared to similar households and “bonus points” for lowering emissions over time. To win the competition, teams throughout the city were encouraged to develop and compete against each other within the city and against teams located outside the city for a period of five months. At the end of the competition, more than 1,150 Riverside residents earned the City more than 3.2 million points, earning the City a total of $32,950 towards sustainability projects.
Green Business Program
In 2014, the City received a grant in the amount of $30,000 from Ecology Action, serving as the fiscal agent and administrator for the California Green Business Program (CAGBP), for the creation and setup of a Green Business Program. Riverside was selected as one of three recipients, along with the City of Mission Viejo and San Joaquin/Fresno Counties, to develop a CAGBP program locally. The grant funds provided $10,000 to CAGBP for the development of a statewide database and $20,000 towards Riverside’s program development.
Since 1986, the CAGBP has provided a comprehensive approach to helping small and medium-sized businesses prevent pollution, conserve water and energy, and reduce solid waste. Businesses that meet the standards of the program are certified and promoted locally and on the statewide CAGBP website. Green Business Program coordinators and auditors provide technical advice to help businesses implement pollution prevention and conservation measures and institute policies to improve long-term environmental practices.
DISCUSSION:
In 2014, the Cool California Challenge Competition grant funds and Green Business Program grant funds were appropriated into the Electric Fund and administered by RPU Customer Engagement on behalf of the City’s overall sustainability program.
Under the Cool California program grant ($32,950 total), 10% of the program funding was required to be awarded to a community group for their use for sustainability actions. The City fulfilled this requirement and awarded the Wood Streets Green Team, after a competitive program solicitation, a grant of $3,295 towards the development of a community garden, solar bench, tree planting, and an educational workshop. The remaining 90% of the total grant award was directed to be used for internships. A total of $4,979 was used towards an intern. The remaining funding has not been used due to staffing changes, citywide hiring limitations, and the transfer of sustainability duties to the City Manager’s Office and particularly the Office of Sustainability. The remaining funds will be used to pay for internships for the Office of Sustainability.
The City launched the Green Business Program in 2015 after the award of the $30,000 in grant funds. and the City received $20,000 for use in paying annual dues, providing marketing, and for recognition materials for businesses certified as Green Businesses. Of the $20,000 awarded to the City, $10,600 was used, per the grant guidelines, for statewide dues to the California Green Business Program, marketing materials, and for plaques for the businesses certified under the Program. The Program registered four locations in 2015 and 2016 before it was put on hold due to staff being transferred to work primarily on drought programming. It was not relaunched due to staffing changes and the transfer of sustainability-related responsibilities to the City Manager’s Office. The Program will be administered by the Office of Sustainability in the future and the remaining funds will support marketing materials and future program dues.
As part of the FY2022-2024 Biennial Budget, the City Council approved funding for the Office of Sustainability, and an Assistant City Manager has been designated as the City’s Chief Sustainability Officer. Two new positions were also approved in the mid-cycle budget and will be Office of Sustainability Fellows working on initiatives, projects, and building partnerships to advance sustainability in the city and region. As the lead work group for sustainability, the Office of Sustainability will take over the administration of these remaining grant funds, necessitating a transfer of the funds from the Electric Fund to the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 5 – High Performing Government and Goal 5.4 – Achieve and maintain financial health by addressing gaps between revenues and expenditures and aligning resources with strategic priorities to yield the greatest impact.
This item aligns with EACH of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – This transfer of funds to the City’s Grants and Special Program Fund aligns with accounting for other City grants and will enable more transparency in reporting and tracking by grant management staff.
Equity – The Office of Sustainability is the City’s leader for sustainability and is committed to equal access by every member of the community to share in the benefits of community progress.
Fiscal Responsibility – Riverside is a prudent steward of public funds and this transfer to the Grants and Special Programs Fund helps ensure responsible management of the City’s financial resources consistent with other grant funds.
Innovation – This item is neutral toward this Cross-Cutting Thread.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The Office of Sustainability will use these grant funds to help ensure the City’s capacity to persevere, adapt, and grow.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of this action is $34,116. Upon City Council approval, interfund transfers will be recorded in the Grants and Special Program Fund (215) Green Business Program revenue Account No. 9349600-334100 in the amount of $9,440 and Cool California Challenge revenue account 9349700-334100 in the amount of $24,676, and appropriate expenditures in these same amounts, with funds from Electric Fund (510) State Operating Grants Account Nos. 6900090-334100 (Cool California Challenge) and 6900100-334100 (Green Business Program).
Prepared by: Todd M. Corbin, Utilities General Manager
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Rafael Guzman, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachment: Presentation
Transfer of Sustainability Grant Funds • Page 4