November 19, 2024
TO: City Council
REQUESTED BY: Travis Randel, Deputy City Manager, Development Services APPROVED BY: Robert A. Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution No. 4047 Approving the Supplemental Agreement for CDBG Funds
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council:
) Determine that the approval of a Supplemental Agreement with the County of Riverside for the Use of Community Development Block Grant Funds Program Year 2024-2025 is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. Further, the project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15302 (Replacement of Reconstruction), 15303 (New Construction of Conversion of Small Structures), 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land), 15311 (Accessory Structures), 15323 (Normal Operations of Facilities for Public Gathering), and 15332 (In-Fill Development Project) as the project includes the demolition and replacement of existing playground equipment, within an existing and established Public Park; 2) Approve and adopt Resolution No. 4047 approving the Supplemental Agreement with the County of Riverside for the Use of Community Development Block Grant Funds Program Year 2024-2025;
3) Authorize and direct City staff to file a Notice of Exemption within (5) working days following the date of adoption of Resolution No. 4047;
4) Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the Supplemental Agreement; and 5) Appropriate $212,548 from Fund 029.
DISCUSSION:
The County of Riverside (County) receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds as a qualified urban county under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) CDBG Program. The County, through the Department of Housing and Workforce Solutions (HWS), distributes the CDBG funds through its Urban County Program to cooperating cities like the City of San Jacinto.
The CDBG Program brings federal dollars to local communities for the purpose of assisting low and moderate income residents through public services, infrastructure improvements, economic development programs, and the elimination of slums and blight. Funds are allocated through a complex formula based in part on total population and the total number of low and moderate income households within each participating city. To be eligible for CDBG funding, a program or project must meet at least one of the three national objectives:
• Activities benefitting low and moderate income persons/households • Activities which aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight • Activities designated to meet community needs having a particular urgency Programs and/or projects must also meet the eligibility requirements of the HWS’s CDBG Program. While the CDBG Program allows for funding of public services, the Program does not require that any specific amount of funds be utilized for public service programs. However, it does not allow more than 15% of the total allocation to be utilized for public service programs with the balance of funds being allocated to public facilities and economic development programs. On the other hand, the CDBG program does allow local jurisdictions to utilize 100% of their allocation for public facilities projects at the discretion of the local governing board.
On August 7, 2023, the City Council approved a Cooperation Agreement with the County of Riverside for the use of Community Development Block Grant Funds for the Program Years 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27.
Thereafter, on December 5, 2023, the City Council authorized the City Manager to complete and submit an application to Riverside County Housing and Workforce Solutions for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation for the Sallee Park Playground Improvement Project, the Boys and Girls Club of Menifee Valley Project, and the Voices for Children Riverside County Court appointed special Advocate Project.
If approved and executed, between the City and County, the Supplemental Agreement will allow the City to utilize $222,548 in CDBG funding, as proposed in the December 11, 2023 application, of which $212,548 will be applied towards the Sallee Park Playground Improvement Project and $10,000 will be applied to the Voices for Children Project. The City improvements include but are not limited to the removal of the existing playground and installing a new ADA feature, a playground, a pour and play surface, a shade structure, and an ADA water fountain.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The current request before the City Council is to approve and execute the Supplemental Agreement with the County of Riverside for the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for Program Year 2024-2025. The agreement will enable the City to allocate funding for the rehabilitation project at Sallee Park, which includes the demolition and replacement of existing playground equipment and associated surfaces.
Staff has reviewed the project and determined that it is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15060(c)(2) states that the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, while Section 15060(c)(3) clarifies that the activity is not a project as defined under Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
The project further qualifies for several categorical exemptions due to its scope and nature:
• Section 15301 (Existing Facilities): The project involves the repair and maintenance of public structures, specifically replacing and updating playground equipment. • Section 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction): The project entails the replacement of existing equipment with new structures serving the same purpose and capacity. • Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures): The project includes the installation of small new structures, such as playground apparatus. • Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land): The project includes minor alterations like grading and surface preparation.
• Section 15311 (Accessory Structures): The project include playground apparatus qualifies as an accessory structure supporting the primary recreational use of the park. • Section 15323 (Normal Operations of Facilities for Public Gatherings): The project aligns with the park’s regular use for public gatherings and recreational activities. • Section 15332 (In-Fill Development Projects): The project meets criteria for in-fill development, being situated in an urbanized area consistent with the general plan and zoning regulations.
The combination of these categorical exemptions supports the determination that the Sallee Park rehabilitation project will not result in significant environmental impacts and is exempt from CEQA. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Supplemental Agreement, thereby enabling the project to proceed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Riverside County has awarded CDBG funding to the City in the amount of $212,548 for the Sallee Park Playground Improvement Project. Approval of this action will not impact the General Fund. In the event that the grant funding is not sufficient to complete the project, additional appropriation will be requested in conjunction with the award of the project contract following a competitive procurement process.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution 4047 Approving Supplemental Agreement for Use of 2024-2025 CDBG Funds Supplemental Agreement CDBG 24-25