Agenda Item #12.4
For Council Meeting of: July 25, 2023
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JASON NUTT, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE CLIMATE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM GRANT FUNDING AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by the City Manager’s Office that the Council, by resolution:, 1) approve the submittal of a State Grant application under the Transformative Climate Communities Program for a variety of community initiatives focused in Southwest Santa Rosa; 2) authorize the City Manager to submit grant applications, accept grant awards, execute grant agreements, and execute all related documents and any amendments thereto on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Manager’s Office intends to apply for a Development Grant through the Strategic Growth Council in combination with multiple community partners in Santa Rosa to further develop a variety of community initiatives focused in Southwest Santa Rosa. These initiatives will be community based and include community engagement and strategic planning work for the Hearn Community Hub project; expanding water-use efficiency efforts through the City’s direct install program replacing existing indoor water fixtures; create an urban-greening program to complete a tree-planting campaign and establish a new green space and park; establish various workforce development projects focused on residents in Southwest Santa Rosa.
BACKGROUND
The State of California through the Strategic Growth Council annually awards $350,000,000 to communities with low income and pollution through the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) program to help communities achieve sustainability, equity, economic prosperity and quality of life. The TCC program has three primary objectives:
Achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions Improve public health outcomes and environmental benefits Expand economic opportunity and shared prosperity
The TCC program looks to realize these objectives through a series of six transformational elements that must be considered by communities seeking funding:
Community Engagement
Workforce Development
Displacement Avoidance
Climate Adaptation & Resilience
Data Collection & Indicator Tracking
Leveraging Funding
Incorporating each of the transformative elements ensures comprehensive community benefits by incorporating the deep community focus throughout each of the initiatives.
This cycle the Strategic Growth Council added a new program, Developmental Grant, with an award of up to $5,000,000 to assist communities in bringing the partners together to further define, study and build the programs and initiative to ensure they are fully developed and prepared for the TCC Implementation Grant.
PRIOR CITY COUNCIL REVIEW
This resolution has not been previously brought before Council
ANALYSIS
This Resolution is required to be included with the TCC Developmental Grant application. Over the past several months, staff has been working with community partners and stakeholders to understand community needs, potential programs and initiatives that could benefit from TCC funding. Understanding the potential value of the TCC funding to create a positive impact to some of our most disadvantaged and impacted communities provides an exciting opportunity.
The TCC program requires a focus on census tracts within our community that represent low-income and health impacted residents per AB 1550 and CalEnviroScreen 4.0, respectively. Given this criteria, the area defined by SR-12 to the north, US 101 to the east, Stony Point Road to the west and Bellevue Avenue to the south has been identified as the strongest project area and encompasses 2.98 square miles in southwest Santa Rosa. Census tracts in the project area include 6097153104, 6097153103, 6097153102 and 6097153200. According to the CalEnviroScreen4.0 data, two of these census tracts are in the top 25% of disadvantaged communities and three are considered low income under AB1550.
Staff has worked closely with community partners and stakeholders to identify the following programs and initiatives that closely align with the TCC program requirements:
Hearn Community Hub – In addition to a modern fire station, permanent Roseland Library Branch and a multi-cultural center, it will provide flexibility to the participating organizations to grow and thrive with the community by including spaces for various workforce and business development including maker’s spaces, drop-in office spaces, and classroom spaces.
Urban Greening Program – The proposed urban greening project will serve a dual purpose—a complete tree planting campaign and a complete green space and neighborhood park redesign for this area. This urban greening project will capture the spaces provided by several parks including Lower Colgan Creek Park, Bellevue Ranch Park, Southwest Community Park, Bayer Farm and Gardens, Roseland Creek Community Park and South Davis Park. The tree planting campaign will further enhance this entire community and reduce the impacts of GHG emissions.
Water Use Efficiency – Expanded water-use efficiency efforts through education and program funds to reduce water usage in private landscaping, grey water reuse and household appliance replacement. The primary effort will focus on a toilet replacement program that significantly reduces water usage.
Transportation Access – Implementation of several elements including new bicycle and pedestrian facilities, transit training and unlimited transit pass programs. Providing increased, intuitive and easy access to passenger car alternatives is critical to reducing GHG emissions in this community as well as providing enhanced personal wellness from more active transportation modes.
Workforce Development – Working with community organizations to develop access to the Fire Explore program, resume and interview training, food service and small business incubator and resilient green business education.
The community has expressed the desire for their neighborhood to be diverse, equitable, and sustainable built on civic engagement that empowers everyone to provide and support equal and affordable opportunities to obtain good housing, education and jobs; to enjoy vibrant cultural events and arts; and to live healthy lives in resilient neighborhoods that adapt to social and environmental change. Should the City’s TCC Implementation Grant application next year be successful, we will be well positioned to support our community partners to realize their desire. While award of the TCC Development Grant would provide us an excellent pathway to success, all partners feel strongly that our programs and initiatives have and will continue to demonstrate the strong commitment to realize all the TCC program elements.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
This action is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378 in that there is no possibility that the implementation of this action may have significant effects on the environment, and no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – TCC Grant Project Map
Attachment 2 – Intro to TCC & Development Track
Resolution
PRESENTER
Jason Nutt, Assistant City Manager
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE CLIMATE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM GRANT FUNDING PAGE 3 OF 3