City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: DECEMBER 12, 2023 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARD: 1
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT AN INCREASE OF GRANT FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $876,000 FOR THE RIVERSIDE CIVIL RIGHTS WALK PROJECT AND AUTHORIZE A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,216,000 FROM MEASURE A ISSUE:
Authorization to accept an increase in grant funds from $2,340,000 to $3,216,000, and increase of $876,000, in Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle VI grant funding through the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC); and authorize a supplemental appropriation and transfer of Measure A funds in the amount of $3,216,000.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the acceptance of an increase in grant funds from $2,340,000 to $3,216,000, and increase of $876,000, in Active Transportation Program Cycle VI grant funding through the Southern California Association of Governments and Riverside County Transportation Commission; and With at least 5 affirmative votes, and upon grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or designee, to record an increase in revenue in the amount of the grant award and appropriate an equal amount in expenditures in the Capital Outlay-Grants Fund, Riverside Civil Rights Walk Project revenue and expenditure accounts.
BACKGROUND:
On June 7, 2022, the City Council authorized the Public Works Department to submit an Active Transportation Program (ATP) Cycle VI grant application to the California Department of Transportation in an amount up to $3,500,000 for improvements to connect 17 points of historic interest in the Downtown and adjoining areas to create a Riverside Civil Rights Walk.
On June 21, 2022, the City Council approved Master Agreement Administering Agency-State Agreement No. 08-5058S21 allowing the City to continue to receive state funds for transportation projects. With the same action, City Council adopted Resolution No. 23870 designating the City Manager to execute the Master Agreement, Program Supplement Agreements, and/or any amendments thereto with Caltrans.
On December 13, 2022, the City Council accepted a grant award in the amount of $2,340,000 under the ATP Cycle VI program as administered by Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), leaving an $876,000 funding gap of the original $3,216,000 total project cost. City Council also authorized the City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents in the process of applying for and securing funds under the Active Transportation Program Cycle VI.
The City of Riverside has participated in the ATP grant program since its inception in 2014, seeking funding for important active transportation projects through the submission of multiple grant applications during the first five calls for projects. To date, the City has been successful in securing millions of dollars in federal and state grants for multiple projects under ATP Cycles I, II, III, and VI benefiting the City and its resident by constructing critical pedestrian and cyclist safety and mobility enhancements.
The proposed project will develop a themed active transportation loop named the “Riverside Civil Rights Walk.” Thermoplastic markings, similar to the Boston Freedom Trail, and wayfinding signs will guide pedestrians through a series of stops relating to Riverside’s rich history of Civil Rights achievements and occurrences of importance.
DISCUSSION:
At the time of the submittal of the grant application, no matching funds were required to request State funds for the Civil Rights Walk project. While the project did not meet the awarded point threshold to receive funding directly through the State, the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) initially recommended to award partial funds for the Civil Rights Walk to Riverside based on the California Transportation Commission’s draft score and award list. RCTC recommended funding in the amount of $2,340,000 leaving a funding gap of $876,000 to be matched by the City.
However, on June 28, 2023, RCTC informed the City that the California Transportation Commission (CTC) adopted the 2023 ATP Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) Component, approving an increase in ATP grant funding of $876,000 to cover the full project cost of $3,216,000.
On September 28, 2023, RCTC provided Program Supplement Agreement No. 00000A289 to be executed by the City Manager to receive grant funds.
City staff recommends accepting the full project funds to meet the planned construction start window of Fiscal Year 2025/26. Every effort will be made to advance the project in an expeditious manner.
The City team has initiated planning for the Civil Rights Walk project and on October 30, 2023 convened the first stakeholder meeting for the project. Staff plan to host a town hall meeting to receive public feedback during the project planning process.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The proposed project contributes to Strategic Priority 1 Arts, Culture and Recreation, Goals 1.1 to 1.5 and Strategic Priority 6 Infrastructure, Mobility & Connectivity, Goals 6.1, 6.2, and 6.4.
This project aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The project is supported by the priority objectives of the Riverside PACT. The Civil Rights Walk would serve public interest, benefit the City’s diverse populations, and meet the needs of the community based on their feedback.
Equity – The purpose of the Active Transportation Program is to encourage a healthy lifestyle and enhance public health by increasing safety and mobility of biking and walking, and ensure that disadvantaged communities fully share in the benefits of the program.
Fiscal Responsibility – Riverside is a prudent steward of public funds and ensures responsible management of the City’s financial resources by awarding construction and consultant services contracts to the lowest responsive bidders and utilizing available grant funding from the State’s Active Transportation Program.
Innovation – Riverside is inventive and timely in meeting the community’s changing needs and prepares for the future through collaborative partnerships and adaptive processes. The City will partner with several entities to develop an outdoor, interactive learning opportunity for students and visitors with the use of a mobile application and AR technology.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The proposed ATP project aims to increase the proportion of biking and walking to connect residents to economic & educational opportunities, improve community resilience, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated fiscal impact of this action is $3,216,000. The is no required City match for this grant. Upon Council approval and grant award, the entries listed in Table 1 - Funding Sources below will be recorded.
Table 1 - Funding Sources
Fund
Project
Account
Amount
Capital Outlay-Grants
Riverside Civil Rights Walk
Revenue
9926600-335450
$3,216,000
Expenditures
9926600-440236
$3,216,000
Table 2 – Project Costs
Task
Amount
Environmental Studies and Permits (PA&ED)
$200,000
Design Plans, Specifications, and Estimate
$75,000
Construction
$2,666,000
Administration
$275,000
Total
$3,216,000
Prepared by: Brett Craig, Senior Traffic Engineer
Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra Norton, City Attorney
Civil Rights Walk Grant Matching Funds ● Page 2