City of Sacramento
City Council - 2PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2022-02045 12/13/2022 Consent Item 12.
Discretionary Grant Application: 2022 Urban Community Drought Relief Funding File ID: 2022-02045
Location: District 6
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution: 1) authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to submit a grant application to the 2022 Urban Community Drought Relief Funding program for the 21st Avenue Median Project; and 2) authorizing the City Manager or the City Manger’s designee to execute the grant agreement and any related grant documents upon award.
Contact: William Shunk, Senior Engineer, (916) 808-2986, [email protected]; Ofelia Avalos, Engineering Services Manager, (916) 808-5054, [email protected], Department of Public Works
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
Additional Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: On October 10, 2022, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) released final guidelines for the 2022 Urban Community Drought Relief Funding program. The program offers financial assistance to address drought impacts and includes $75 million specifically for turf replacement projects. The minimum award amount for the program is $3 million and applications are due on January 31, 2023. Staff has reviewed the guidelines for the DWR program and has determined the 21st Avenue Median Project would be competitive for this funding source.
The Department of Public Works has retained a landscape architect who is producing several concepts for the project that will be shared with the community for feedback. This effort will specifically target replacement of the existing ornamental turf and provide concepts for continued recreational land uses. The concepts presented to the community will depend on the outcome of the grant application and the total budget available to the project. Preliminary cost estimates for turf replacement of 12 acres of the median have been estimated to be $8 million dollars.
The Department of Urban Forestry will be heavily involved to ensure there are no adverse effects to existing trees. No tree (unless found to be unhealthy or otherwise dangerous) will be removed as part of any project. The ultimate objective of the project is to create a more financially and
File ID: 2022-02045 12/13/2022 Consent Item 12.
environmentally sustainable median area while preserving opportunities for a robust community public space.
Policy Considerations: The project is consistent with the following policies from the Sacramento 2035 General Plan:
U 2.1.10 Water Conservation Standards - The City shall achieve a 20 percent reduction in per-capita water use by 2020 consistent with the State’s 20x2020 Water Conservation Plan.
U 2.1.11 Water Conservation Programs - The City shall implement conservation programs that increase water use efficiency, including providing incentives for adoption of water efficiency measures.
U 2.1.16 River-Friendly Landscaping - The City shall promote “River Friendly Landscaping” techniques which include the use of native and climate appropriate plants; sustainable design and maintenance; underground (water-efficient) irrigation; and yard waste reduction practices.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): Submission of grant applications is not subject to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Under CEQA general rule 15061-B-3, CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. These actions will have no effect on the environment and are therefore not subject to CEQA review
Sustainability: This project will reduce water usage and result in more sustainable medians with reduced maintenance costs.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: The City has limited financial resources for replacing ornamental turf with drought tolerant landscaping in its many medians. Securing a grant for the 21st Avenue Median Project will allow the City to leverage its local funding to retrofit more median acreage than would be possible without the grant.
Financial Considerations: The estimated total cost to complete the 21st Avenue Median Project is approximately $8 million. Federal and State funding is increasingly important for the delivery of Capital Improvement Projects as local funding is limited and often restricted. The grant program does not have a required match, although non-participating costs are anticipated which will require local funds. If the grant is successful, the local funds necessary to deliver the 21st Avenue Median Project are not anticipated to exceed $1 million and are currently reserved in the Drought Tolerant Landscaping Replacement CIP (R15235100). Staff will return to the City Council to accept the grant funding allocation if the grant is successfully awarded.
File ID: 2022-02045 12/13/2022 Consent Item 12.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
RESOLUTION NO.
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
DISCRETIONARY GRANT APPLICATION: 2022 URBAN COMMUNITY DROUGHT
RELIEF FUNDING
BACKGROUND
A. On October 10, 2022, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) released final guidelines for the 2022 Urban Community Drought Relief Funding program. The program offers financial assistance to address drought impacts and includes $75 million specifically for turf replacement projects. The minimum award amount for the program is $3 million dollars and applications are due on January 31, 2023.
B. Staff has reviewed the guidelines for the DWR program and has determined the 21st Avenue Median Project would be competitive for this funding source.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee is authorized to submit a grant application to the 2022 Urban Community Drought Relief Funding program for the 21st Avenue Median Project.
Section 2. The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee is authorized to execute the grant agreement and any related grant documents upon award.