CITY COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Department(s):
Transportation
CEQA: Not a Project,
Public Project No. PP17-
006. Grant Application
with no commitment or
obligation to enter into an
agreement at the time of
application.
Coordination:
City Attorney’s Office,
City Manager’s Budget
Office, Office of
Economic Development
and Cultural Affairs,
Environmental Services
Department, and Housing
Department
Dept. Approval:
/s/
John Ristow
Council District(s):
#5
CMO Approval:
5/31/23
SUBJECT: 2023 TRANSFORMATIVE CLIMATE COMMUNITIES PLANNING GRANT
APPLICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Department of Transportation, working with the Environmental Services Department, Housing Department, and Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs, to apply for and, if awarded, accept a Transformative Climate Communities Planning Grant for $300,000, and delegating the authority to the City Manager, or her designee, to negotiate and execute all related documents.
BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATION:
The Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program is part of the state’s Climate Budget and funds the “development and implementation of neighborhood-level transformative climate community plans that provide local economic, environmental, and health benefits to disadvantaged communities.” This opportunity uniquely aligns with both the City’s equity and Climate Smart San José goals. This action is the first in a two- step process. First, through this authorization, the City will apply for a TCC Planning Grant. If awarded, the Planning Grant will fund necessary work for the City to apply for a TCC Implementation Grant.
Th
e TCC Program focuses investment on communities most burdened by environmental, socioeconomic, and health inequities, as identified by the state’s CalEnviroScreen 4.0, a screening tool used to “help identify communities disproportionately burdened by multiple sources of pollution and with population characteristics that make them more sensitive to pollution.” At least 51% of the project area must be in a disadvantaged community and the balance of the area must be in a low-income community. The grant requires collaboration with community-based organizations, including as co-applicants. Veggielution, a community farm and gathering space in Emma Prusch Farm Park, is the City’s co-applicant representing the Sí Se Puede Collective. The Sí Se Puede Collective comprises five established and respected organizations serving the Mayfair community: Veggielution, Somos Mayfair, Grail Family Services, Amigos de Guadalupe, and School of Arts and Culture. Because the TCC is a place-based program, the project area must be a defined community or neighborhood. The City and the Sí Se Puede Collective identified an eligible project area in the greater Mayfair neighborhood that conforms to this requirement. See Attachment - TCC Project Area.
T
he City and Sí Se Puede Collective’s proposed activities aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public and environmental health, and expand economic opportunity and shared prosperity. They also address planning issues or priorities that directly benefit the community and prepare it for future funding opportunities. In doing so, they address several transformative element themes that are required for TCC Implementation Grants: 1) Displacement avoidance, 2) Climate adaptation and resilience, 3) Community engagement, 4) Housing preservation, and 5) Workforce development.
A
t the end of this planning grant process, the City will have a detailed proposal ready to submit for an implementation grant.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 6/13/23
FILE: 23-870
ITEM: 2.13
Commission Recommendation/Input: There is no commission recommendation or input.
COST AND FUNDING SOURCE:
Other than staff time, there is no cost associated with this grant application. If awarded, the Department of Transportation would receive $300,000 from California’s Strategic Growth Council. The planning grant does not require City grant matching fund, but staff anticipates a matching component for a future implementation grant. The grant funding will be recognized and appropriated when the funds are received.
FOR QUESTIONS CONTACT: Laura Stuchinsky, Emerging Mobility Program Lead, (408) 975-3226
Attachment: TCC Project Area
Attachment
Subject: 2023 Transformative Climate Communities Planning Grant Application