City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2023-01437 11/14/2023 Consent Item 18.
Approving Application for California Urban Greening Grant (UGG) for Franklin Boulevard Complete Streets Greening Project (T15165500)
File ID: 2023-01437
Location: Franklin Boulevard between Sutterville Road/12th Avenue and 38th Avenue, District 5, Represented by Councilmember Maple
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution: 1) authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to apply for the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street Greening project through the Urban Greening Grant (UGG) program from the California Natural Resources Agency; and 2) authorizing the City Manager or City Manager’s designee to execute the grant agreement and related documents.
Contact: Rachel Patten, Sustainability Analyst, (916) 808-5016, [email protected]; Lucinda Willcox, Assistant Director, (916) 808-5052, [email protected], Department of Public Works
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: In October 2023, the California Natural Resources Agency issued a notification of funding availability for projects under the Urban Greening Grant (UGG) program, making available nearly $24 million on a statewide basis. The UGG program is intended to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gases by sequestering carbon, decreasing energy consumption, and reducing vehicle miles traveled. Projects must enhance parks and open space, use natural solutions to improve air and water quality, and reduce energy consumption, or create more walkable and bikeable trails.
Under the UGG grant guidelines, a minimum of 75 percent of the funds will be allocated for projects in disadvantaged communities. Disadvantaged communities are defined as either the top 25%
File ID: 2023-01437 11/14/2023 Consent Item 18.
highest scoring census tracts in CalEnviroScreen 4.0, or census tracts with median household incomes at or below 80% of the statewide average. (Note: CalEnviroScreen is a state mapping tool that uses environmental, health, and socioeconomic information to produce scores for every census tract. An area with a high score is one that experiences a much higher pollution burden than areas with low scores).
Projects must meet the following criteria:
§ Reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
§ Acquire, create, enhance, or expand community parks and green spaces; and/or § Use natural systems or systems that mimic natural systems to achieve multiple benefits.
Additional points will be given to projects that meet two of the following statutory priorities:
§ Provides park or recreational benefits to a critically underserved community or disadvantaged community;
§ Proposed by a critically underserved community or disadvantaged community; § Develops partnerships with local community organizations and businesses in order to strengthen outreach to disadvantaged communities, provide access to quality jobs for residents of disadvantaged communities, or provides access to workforce education and training;
§ Uses interagency cooperation and integration;
§ Uses existing public lands and facilitates the use of public resources and investments, including schools.
Based on the grant criteria and available funding, staff is recommending submission of an application to support planting and establishment of trees for the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street project (T15165500), with a grant request of $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 to plant, establish, and irrigate trees along the Franklin Boulevard corridor. The Complete Streets project is currently funded with various federal grant programs and local transportation funds.
Grant applications are due November 20, 2023.
Policy Considerations: Supplementing funding for the greening to enhance the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street Project (T15165500) supports General Plan policies for active transportation, investment in under-resourced communities, supporting economic development opportunities, and improving safety and sustainability, while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. This is also consistent with the goals of the Climate Action Plan.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act: The requested action is to pursue state grant funds to
File ID: 2023-01437 11/14/2023 Consent Item 18.
support the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street Project. The action is an administrative activity that would not result in a direct or indirect significant effect on the environment and is exempt from CEQA review. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5); 15060 (c)(3).
The City Council adopted the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring Plan on February 4, 2020. In addition, due to federal funding in the project, Caltrans issued a Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on March 16, 2020.
Sustainability: This action is consistent with the City’s Sustainability goals by promoting greenhouse gas emission reductions through carbon sequestration and supporting active transportation.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: The recommended project meets all grant and readiness criteria and maximizes competitiveness based on the following criteria:
1) Located in a disadvantaged community, as defined by CalEnviroScreen 4.0; 2) Reduces greenhouse gas emissions;
3) Use natural systems or systems that mimic natural systems to achieve multiple benefits. 4) Provides recreational benefits to a critically underserved community or disadvantaged community;
5) Uses existing public lands and facilitates the use of public resources and investments, including schools.
In addition, funding the planting and establishment of trees on Franklin Boulevard in connection with its transformation to a complete street will allow for greater greening in a corridor severely lacking in trees and shade. Trees and landscaping will support reduced heat, promote higher levels of active transportation, provide benefits in cleaner air and stormwater retention, and beautify the corridor. The project is in final design and will be ready to implement in 2024.
Financial Considerations: The proposed grant application would provide $1 to $2 million in State funds to support greening efforts for the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street project (T15165500). If the grant is awarded to the project, staff will return to the City Council to accept the grant and make necessary budgetary adjustments for the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street project.
The total project budget is estimated at approximately $23 to $24 million with a full greening component. There are currently over $22 million in federal, state, and local transportation funds programmed or within the project budget.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
RESOLUTION NO.
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
APPROVING APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS
FROM URBAN GREENING GRANT PROGRAM FOR FRANKLIN
BOULEVARD COMPLETE STREETS GREENING PROJECT (T15165500) BACKGROUND:
A. The Legislature and Governor of the State of California have provided funds for the Urban Greening Grant program; and
B. The California Natural Resources Agency has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of this grant program and has established the necessary procedures; and
C. The City’s Franklin Boulevard Complete Streets Project (T15165500) meets the criteria of the Urban Greening Grant program and is eligible for a grant request to plant, establish, and irrigate trees along the Franklin Boulevard corridor; and
D. The California Natural Resources Agency requires a resolution certifying the approval of project application(s) by the City Council before submission of the grant application(s) to the State; and
E. If the City’s grant application is selected, the City will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out the project.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City approves the filing of an Urban Greening Grant application for the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street Greening project.
Section 2. The City certifies that it understands the assurances and certifications in the grant application.
Section 3. The City certifies that there will be sufficient funds to operate and maintain the projects consistent with the land tenure requirements or will secure the resources to do so.
Section 4. The City certifies that it will comply with the provisions of Section 1771.5 of the State Labor Code.
Section 5. The City certifies that the project will comply with any applicable laws and regulations including, but not limited to, legal requirements for building codes, health and safety codes, disabled access laws, environmental laws, and that prior to commencement of construction, all applicable permits will have been obtained.
Section 6. The City certifies that it will work towards the Governor’s State Planning Priorities intended to promote equity, strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and promote public health and safety as included in Government Code Section 65041.1.
Section 7. The City Manager, or the City Manager’s designee, is appointed as the City’s agent to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to, applications, agreements, payment requests and other documents which may be necessary for acceptance of the grants and completion of the project.