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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: September 16, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Department: City Manager's Office
Subject: Authorization to Apply as a Co-Applicant to the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Project
Development Grant (Wards 1,2,3, and 7)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, authorize the City Manager or designee to apply as a co-applicant to the California Strategic Growth Council for a Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Project Development Grant and execute all related application documents.
City Manager's Comments
We are requesting City Council approval to apply as a co-applicant for this funding.
The Arts Connection will be the lead applicant.
Executive Summary
In 2016, the California Legislature adopted AB2722, which authorized the creation of the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Grant Program administered by the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) for broad-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction projects that provide local economic, environmental and health benefits to disadvantaged communities. SGC has administered prior rounds of the TCC grant program and is now on Round 6 with an application deadline of September 30, 2026, and awards announced in Spring 2027. The TCC Round 6 includes a $5,000,000 Project Development Grant option designated for pre-development activities and associated infrastructure to support communities to meet their climate and community resilience goals.
Background
The Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Grant Program is administered by the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) and was established to fund community-led development and infrastructure projects that achieve significant environmental, health, 3 6
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and economic benefits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and benefit California’s most disadvantaged and overburdened neighborhoods. Funding for TCC Round 6 is used from a voter approved initiative- Safe Drinking Water, Wildlife Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Proposition 4), a $10 billion General Obligation Bond commonly known as the Climate Bond. The Climate Bond supports projects that reduce GHG emissions through any three categories for submissions depending on the phase of the projects: planning (award up to $300,000), development (award up to $5 million), and implementation (award up to $27.5 million).
Approximately $15 million is available for Project Development awards. This option funds pre-development that advances community-led climate and resilience projects toward implementation, including engagement, feasibility studies, environmental assessments, plans and designs, permitting, financial planning, and small pilot or demonstration projects.
Round 6 applications opened May 29, 2026, with applications due September 30, 2026. The grant term is for two years, following an anticipated three to six-month post- award consultation process; leveraged funding is not required. Award notices are anticipated in Spring 2027.
Discussion
One of the requirements of the TCC Grant Program is the formation of a multi- stakeholder partnership that includes a lead applicant and at least two co-applicants or partners. Eligible lead applicants include public agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations (CBOs), Tribal governments, joint powers authorities, special districts, or mutual water companies. The application team must establish a formal collaborative Governance Structure, documented through a signed partnership agreement or memorandum of understanding (MOU) to define and manage the roles and responsibilities of the partners throughout the grant term.
The City was approached to serve as the public-sector co-applicant for a Project Development application led by the Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF), with Tree People, the Garcia Center for the Arts, and Arts Connection anticipated to serve as additional co-applicants. Just San Bernardino and other community entities have been identified as potential partners or participants. The application is currently under development; legal names, funded roles, and final project team will be confirmed as part of the application submission.
The project, “Resilient E Street Cultural District” is centered on the central E Street Corridor. The project identifies two anchor concepts: the Garcia Center for the Arts near 11th Street and Arts Connection’s 478 N. D Street All-Electric Food Hub and Cooling Commons.
Arts Connection proposes pre-development of an approximately 0.26-acre site for an all-electric food hub, an artist-designed cooling commons, and a culinary workforce development site. The concept includes artist-designed solar shade canopies, five 3 6
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flexible vendor bays, solar generation and battery storage, clean plug-in power for mobile food vendors, a protected pedestrian promenade, an accessible restroom and water station, shaded gathering space, climate-appropriate landscaping, public art, and wayfinding. A related workforce and small-business development program would provide culinary entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, affordable access to vendors, recurring vending opportunities, and business support.
The Project scope includes community engagement, feasibility analysis, planning and design, environmental and permitting review, cost and financing work, and operations planning to advance the two anchors and evaluate corridor connections. Concepts under study include trees and urban greening, shade, filtered-water and cooling facilities, solar and electric-vehicle charging, e-bike/shared mobility, and safer bicycle connections. A limited temporary pilot may be included only if it fits the State’s pilot/demonstration rules.
The proposed Project is intended to complement the City’s ongoing downtown revitalization, mobility, public realm, sustainability, and economic development efforts.
Staff recommends that the City serve as a co-applicant on the IECF’s TCC Round 6 Project Development application. The City’s role as the relevant public agency for the incorporated Project Area.
Approval by the Mayor and City Council for the City to serve as a co-applicant does not establish or designate the broader E Street Cultural District, approve permanent construction, grant a land-use entitlement, commit City property, or make a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination. It also would not materially expand the City’s obligations without further City Council approval. As the project application develops, the City’s anticipated responsibilities would occur in stages and remain subject to the final application, approved work plan and budget, and applicable City authorization procedures.
If awarded, staff will return to the Mayor and City Council for approval. At that time, staff will present the Collaborative Governance Structure proposed in the Project Development application, including the final co-applicants and partners and, as applicable, letters of commitment from agencies whose jurisdictions are included in the proposed project efforts.
Strategic Goals and Priorities
The request to approve the grant application aligns with No. 3: Improve the Quality of Life through localized strategies to remedy systemic environmental, health, and economic disparities.
Fiscal Impact
There is no additional General Fund Impact associated with this action. If awarded, a separate action will be brought forward to authorize the Finance Director to appropriate the corresponding revenue budget to allow for reimbursement of eligible 3 6
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project expenditures through the TCC Project Development Program grant fund.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, authorize:
1. The City Manager or designee to apply as a co-applicant to the California Strategic Growth Council for a Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Project Development Grant and execute all related application documents.
Attachments
1. Attachment 1 – Proposed Project Area Map
2. Attachment 2 – TCC Round 6 Project Development Application Materials (Sample)
Ward:
First Ward; Second Ward; Third Ward; Seventh Ward
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
N/A
CC
Eric Levitt, City Manager