DATE: AUGUST 23, 2022
DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATION
FROM: STEVEN S. CARRIGAN, CITY MANAGER
BY: DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS
JIM PIA, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
TITLE: SALINAS’ AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN UPDATE
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
This item provides an administrative update on the City’s various Council-adopted projects included in the Salinas recovery under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. No Motion is required.
DISCUSSION:
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided the City with $51,567,313 in relief funds. The City has now received all of this funding. As a reminder, the following project areas were adopted by the City Council in September of 2021.
ADOPTED ARPA SPENDING
Public Facilities: ($11.5 million) According to Treasury guidelines, Capital investments in public facilities to meet pandemic operational needs are eligible, including public building adaptations to implement COVID-19 mitigation. Staff has identified this expenditure area with $11.5 million in spending, including:
Adaptations to Salinas City Hall, $5 million
Hebbron Family Center, $1.5 million (for contingencies, unexpected costs, furniture, and fixtures) Fire Stations, and other Recreational Facilities, $3 million Playground Structures, Park Benches, Grills, $2 million (Majority to be spent in 93905 & 93906 due to having the higher number of COVID-19 cases) Public Infrastructure: ($12 million) Staff wanted to identify all vital City expenditure areas, even those that may not technically be addressed through ARPA allowable expenses. The Treasury Department gives recipients broad latitude to use funds for the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue. As a result, staff has identified this expenditure area at $12 million, as follows:
(Finance Committee has been involved in reviewing these projects) Sidewalk repairs, $6 million (Majority to be spent in 93905 & 93906 due to having the higher number of COVID-19 cases) Street repair / Traffic safety, $6 million ($3 million from City Hall improvements + $1 million from other public facilities above) (majority to spent in 93905 & 93906 due to having the higher number of COVID-19 cases) Investments in Water and Sewer: ($15.465 million) ARPA fund recipients may use Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to make necessary investments in water and sewer. Staff has identified this expenditure area at $15.465 million, as follows:
Sewer System Work, $4,620,000
Gabilan Creek Silt removal, $ 500,000
Natividad Creek Silt Removal, $1,545,000
Storm Water Master Plan, $ 800,000
Park Irrigation Upgrades $5 million
Stormwater Green Infrastructure $3 million
Homelessness/Housing: ($12.6 million)
Chinatown Navigation Center Operations, $1 million
SHARE Center Operations, $1 million Downtown Streets Team $ 600,000 Salinas Homeless Motel Program $3 million Affordable Housing Production Fund, $7 million (to facilitate affordable housing production, funds can be used for predevelopment, acquisition, construction, plans and studies)
SPECIFIC PROJECTS IDENTIFIED
DEPARTMENT UPDATES
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Funds have been equally split over the next two fiscal years to support partial funding for the Chinatown Navigation Center (CNC) operations. The CNC provides emergency shelter and housing navigation services in support of City Health & Safety Days.
SHARE Center
Funds provide support for the City's 50% portion of SHARE operations. The SHARE Center continues to serve our un-housed residents, operates at maximum capacity, and has a current waiting list of more than 600 individuals.
Downtown Streets Team
Funds are leveraged with other available sources to maintain multiple-team operations throughout targeted areas of the City. This program will support the Encampment Resolution Grant, City Health and Safety days, and emerging Alisal Vibrancy Plan work.
Salinas Homeless Motel Program
The City, in partnership with Monterey County Social Services, is currently operating a large-scale interim housing motel program for unhoused city residents. The program is jointly funded by City ARPA, CDSS Project Roomkey, and County ARPA funding. The program supports City Health & Safety Day outcomes. Those housed are being prepared for potential permanent housing at one of the City's Homekey projects. The City and County both continue to look for additional funding opportunities to extend program operations.
Affordable Housing Production
The Housing Division released an annual Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) in early 2022; held a well-attended Housing Developers Forum in mid-May; and just completed a joint Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process with the County of Monterey to select a developer for an affordable, multifamily development at 855 E. Laurel Drive. Each of the 8 proposals received, requested the use of City ARPA and HUD funds. The Division also continues to receive interest from developers such as CHISPA and Interim, Inc. Development is a typically slow process, and the ARPA expenditure timeline is tight. Staff will look for and push for opportunities to ensure full commitment and expenditure of funds by the stipulated deadlines.
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Stormwater Master Plan ($800k): This project has begun and should be complete by spring of 2023.
Closter Park Green Street Engineering Plans ($1.5M): A Request for Proposals (RFP) has been drafted and is currently in review. “Green City” Master Plan/Alternative Compliance Plan ($600k): This project has just been awarded. Work to begin in early fall.
No Parking Street Sweeping Community Engagement ($100k): This RFP is currently being drafted Street Sweeper Routes modifications ($200k): This RFP is currently being drafted.
No Parking Street Sweeping signage in High Priority/Pilot area ($400k): RFP to be drafted in early fall, 2022.
Pesticide Use Reduction Plan ($200k): RFP is currently being drafted.
Gabilan and Natividad Creek silt removal (3911.50.9727 and 3911.50.9086) Permitting process is ongoing, began prior to the ARPA funding and is necessary to proceed with the silt removal. An RFP for engineering specifications is being prepared to be issued so that it may be awarded in October. The engineering specifications and permits will lead to a bid package to be issued in the 2nd quarter of 2023.
Both creeks were damaged during March 2017 floods. The accumulation of silt and debris poses a potential flood hazard due to the flow restrictions in the stream channel. Project also removes vegetation currently populated by encampments. FEMA has withheld funding citing lack of maintenance.
Sewer system work (3911.50.8190)
The draft Sanitary Sewer Master Plan (SSMP) was recently reviewed with the consultant in June 2022. The SSMP provides a more definitive road map for the needed repairs on the sanitary sewer system which will be ARPA funded.
An RFP is being finalized for the evaluation of select portions of the system using closed-circuit television (CCTV). Results of the ARPA-funded CCTV evaluation will be used in conjunction with listed repairs in the SSMP to create a list of the most urgent problem areas. These problem areas will be addressed through a formal Bid Contract. CCTV work is scheduled to begin in October and extend over the winter into 2nd quarter of 2023. The contracted repair work is scheduled to begin in the 2nd quarter of 2023 and extend over the remainder of the year.
Sidewalks
Attached is a map that engineering staff is working on for the sidewalk project. This will be the $6 million in ARPA funds as well as $1.5 million in additional City funds. The ARPA portion was brought to the City’s Finance Committee in May, and we are hoping to bring this project back to City Council in September and go out using the City’s bid process.
Adaptations to Salinas City Hall
Public Works and Administration staff have been working with In Studio Architecture of Salinas, to identify a specific project scope appropriate for the aging City Hall building and the current budget. Although the project has not been finalized, we are focusing on vital renovation elements including a new roof, possibly with solar energy panels, a complete Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, and the abatement of any asbestos and/or other environmental issues. A renovation project of this size will most likely require additional funding and possibly the temporary displacement of City Hall employees at certain project times. All of these issues are being discussed.
All money will be encumbered by 2024 and work complete by 2026.
LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Playgrounds
We are wrapping up all cost estimates for playground repairs and an Agreement with Miracle Playsystems in the amount of $97,007.58 for the purchase of equipment and labor for repairs is on the Council Agenda for 8/23/2022. We anticipate bringing Agreements with the additional playground vendors for the balance of repairs in September 2022.
The direct purchase of engineered wood fiber playground surfacing material from Jet Mulch is on the Council Agenda for 8/23/2022. We are currently in the process of obtaining quotes to repair the poured-in-place surfacing material for select parks.
In September, we will be able to better determine final allocations for all Districts.
Irrigation Upgrades
The Irrigation Assessment RFP was released, and proposals are due on September 9, 2022. We anticipate having the assessment complete and issue an RFP for irrigation design in the fall of 2023.
Attachments
Community Development Department Spreadsheet
Sidewalk Project Map
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