City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
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File ID: 2022-02005 11/15/2022 Consent Item 22.
Submittal of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Fiscal Year 2023 Multipurpose Grant Application
File ID: 2022-02005
Location: Marysville Boulevard and Grand Avenue, Del Paso Heights, District 2 Recommendation: Pass a Motion authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to submit an application for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fiscal Year 2023 Brownfields Multipurpose Grant in the amount of $800,000.
Contact: Amanda Wallace, Development Project Manager, (916) 808-5453, [email protected], Office of Innovation and Economic Development Presenter: None.
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
Additional Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Sacramento (Agency) acquired 3739 and 3801 Marysville Boulevard in Del Paso Heights for the benefit of a “Town Center” concept. Creation of a Town Center at the intersection of Marysville Boulevard and Grand Avenue is a key component of the Marysville Boulevard revitalization strategy which seeks to stimulate a complete revitalization of the area though the elimination of vacant parcels, improvement of parking and traffic, enhancement of lighting, and expansion and recruitment of businesses.
As part of the Agency dissolution process, 3739 and 3801 Marysville Boulevard became assets of the Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency (RASA). The City of Sacramento received approval to acquire these two properties from the RASA in 2019 (City Council Resolution 2019-00490) and has since been working to prepare these sites for future redevelopment, including conducting environmental investigations to identify and characterize potential contamination. A Phase II investigation for 3739 revealed the presence of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) stemming from an unknown, offsite source. The City is currently conducting supplemental Phase II investigation
File ID: 2022-02005 11/15/2022 Consent Item 22.
activities to identify the source and extent of the contamination, however, additional assessment and remediation will be costly.
In September 2022, the EPA released guidelines for the Fiscal Year 2023 Brownfields Multipurpose Grant (MPG) with a submittal deadline of November 22, 2022. The MPG provides funds to carry out a range of eligible assessment and clean-up activities, including site reuse planning and community engagement. Applicants can apply for up to $800,000 per grant under this solicitation.
Staff recommends applying for an $800,000 MPG to fund additional assessments and clean-up activities for 3739 and 3801 Marysville Boulevard. MPG funds will also be used to develop a community-informed Town Center Implementation Plan that assesses current conditions and identifies specific actions and funding sources for addressing development constraints within the Town Center.
Policy Considerations: The action in this report is consistent with the 2009-2014 Del Paso Heights Implementation Plan, the Marysville Boulevard Investment Initiative (MBI), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) California Sustainable Design Action (SDAT) Report, the Project Prosper Initiative, and the current initiative, Marysville and Del Paso Boulevard Forward Together.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations: Submitting this grant application is not considered a project as defined by Section 15378(b) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines because it involves government fiscal activities that do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment, therefore, this action is except from CEQA review.
Sustainability: The remediation and reuse of a brownfield site meets the sustainability goal of reusing underutilized properties.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: Del Paso Heights has some of the highest rates of poverty, unemployment, high school dropout, and crime in Sacramento, and some of the lowest salaries and educational attainment. It lacks some basic retail and services that most other neighborhoods have, and it lacks a clear commercial center that can help reinforce the sense of place. Redeveloping the intersection of Marysville Boulevard and Grand Avenue as the Del Paso Heights Town Center is a catalyst to revitalizing the Marysville Boulevard corridor and addressing the area’s historic disinvestment.
Remediating the known brownfield sites at Marysville Boulevard and Grand Avenue is critical to attracting investment and realizing the community’s vision for the Town Center. The EPA MPG
File ID: 2022-02005 11/15/2022 Consent Item 22.
provides funds to assess, remediate, and plan for the reuse of brownfield sites. The City will use MPG funds to assess and remediate two of the most central and visible corner parcels (3739 and 3801 Marysville Boulevard) and develop a Town Center implementation Plan. The implementation plan will guide City policy and investment initiatives to support economic development in Del Paso Heights and provide a roadmap for future investors.
Financial Considerations: The proposed grant application requests $800,000 from the EPA to assess and remediate 3739 and 3801 Marysville Boulevard and develop a community informed Town Center Implementation Plan. The EPA does not require a financial match for the FY 2023 grant cycle. If awarded, staff will return to City Council to accept the award and establish a grant budget.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.