HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-14 - AGENDA REPORTS - RECOVERY ACT 2009 (2)NEW BUSINESS
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
Agenda Item:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by:
April 14, 2009
V V
Michael P. Murphy,
AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009
City Manager's Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council receive report and provide direction to staff.
BACKGROUND
On February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) of 2009. The $787 billion federal economic stimulus contains
a combination of spending programs and tax credits; consisting of nearly $355 billion for
transportation infrastructure, health care programs, education, housing assistance, and energy
efficiency projects; $144 billion in state and local fiscal relief; and $288 billion in personal and
business tax credits. It is anticipated that California's share will reach $85 billion; $50 billion in
new spending and $35 billion in tax credits.
The one time project funds for the City of Santa Clarita will be received primarily via existing
formula allocations or through competitive grants. The formula allocations and grant programs
contain very specific eligibility requirements for individual projects to receive funding.
City staff will be aggressive in pursuit of Recovery Act funds, so that the maximum amount of
federal dollars reach the community. The City Manager established an Interdepartmental
Recovery Act Team to identify and pursue every available dollar for Santa Clarita. On a daily
basis, this 16 member team is responsible for sifting through various sources of Recovery Act
information, assessing the City's eligibility for specific opportunities and applying for funding.
One of the key sources of municipal information relating to the Recovery Act is the League of
California Cities' City Funding Book, a guide that outlines each funding program and provides
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detailed information on funding and eligibility guidelines as well as links to each program's
dedicated website. Another source is the City's subscription to the eCivis Grant Research
Network. This network provides staff with information regarding competitive grants that are
available through the Recovery Act. In addition, the team is also receiving updates from the
City's Washington, D.C. based lobbyists, Murray, Montgomery and O'Donnell, as specific
program information regarding the Recovery Act is released by the various federal departments.
City staff will be working in partnership with various public agencies, business groups and
non-profit organizations. Recently, a letter was sent to various public sector and private sector
entities expressing the City's desire for participation in a community -wide co -recovery effort.
Thus far, the City has been notified of $13,531,284 in formula allocations through the Recovery
Act including: $5,174,650 via the Highway Infrastructure Program; $5,125,864 in Transit
Capital Assistance; $1,565,800 through the Energy Efficiency Block Grant Program; $1,187,003
under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program; $303,635 via the Community Development
Block Grant Program; and $174,332 through the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program.
Staff has already submitted five transportation related projects to Caltrans in order to receive the
City's Highway Infrastructure Program allocation. These projects include: Asphalt Roadway
Rehabilitation Phase 1($1,500,000); Asphalt Roadway Rehabilitation Phase 2 ($1,619,549);
Traffic Circulation and Safety Improvements at Newhall Avenue and Sierra Highway
($305,000); Whites Canyon Road at Soledad Canyon Road Right Turn Pocket Traffic Circulation
and Safety Improvements ($1,200,000); and Bridge Rehabilitation for various City bridges
($550,101). An additional $10,600,000 in local transportation projects have been identified for
future submissions, should additional competitive grant funding opportunities become available.
Staff has also compiled a list of five projects for submission to the Federal Transit
Administration, in order to receive the City's Transit Capital Assistance allocation. Those
projects include: Newhall Metrolink Station Parking Expansion ($950,000); McBean Regional
Transit Center Park and Ride ($1,435,864); Transit Information Network Project ($1,740,000);
Universal Fare System Farebox Program Expansion (Paratransit) ($500,000); and the On -Board
Camera Upgrade Program ($500,000). Transit staff is currently evaluating a $2 million potential
submission for additional solar canopies at the Transit Maintenance Facility under the Transit
Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) competitive grant program.
The City's application to receive the $174,332 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant allocation is being
finalized. The City will use this money to supplement the existing Career Offenders Burglary
Robbery Apprehension (COBRA) law enforcement team. As a contract city for law
enforcement, Santa Clarita is not eligible as a direct recipient under the Community Oriented
Policing Services (COPS) program. Therefore, the City is working in partnership with the Los
Angeles County Sheriffs Department on a $540,000 COPS competitive grant.
In another funding category, staff recently submitted an application to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration requesting a discretionary grant in the amount of $2.7 million for
the removal of arundo in the Santa Clara River. The City will be notified of the grant award by
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May 1. Staff is also currently compiling a list of projects to submit under the Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Block Grant program. The City's competitive grant applications currently total
$5,240,000; bringing identified formula and competitive grant projects to $18,771,284.
Furthermore, while the City has been informed of its formula allocation amount, staff is waiting
for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to release guidelines as to how the
additional Community Development Block Grant allocation will be distributed and for what uses
the City can apply the money.
As part of the City's community outreach and transparency efforts, the Communications Division
has created a comprehensive Recovery Act section on the City's website, with plans to launch it
April 15. The Obama Administration has made it very clear that this entire process will be
transparent. As such, they have set up a website, Recoverygov, which will serve to notify the
public of all financial activity related to the Recovery Act. That national transparency effort will
be implemented at the City of Santa Clarita in order that the public can easily access information
related to local Recovery Act efforts.
The website will contain an overview of the Recovery Act and inform the public of available
funding programs. In addition, it will provide visual updates regarding individual project
activities or construction. The website will include a "funding matrix" detailing the amount of
money the City has applied for, received, each project to which the money is being applied, the
progress of construction for each project, and the number of jobs created or retained through each
project, consistent with the goals and requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act. The website will be continuously updated. A basic project funding matrix is attached.
The City will periodically be providing updates to Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Barbara
Boxer and Congressman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon regarding the City of Santa Clarita's
successes in obtaining Recovery Act funding. All three legislators have indicated their
commitment to assisting the City in securing funds or with any difficulties encountered during
the Recovery Act implementation.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other direction as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
No additional resources are required as all activities relating to the Recovery Act can be
performed within existing resources provided under the adopted 2008/09 City budget. Potential
to acquire millions of dollars in federal funding.
ATTACHMENTS
Recovery Act Project Matrix
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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
City of Santa Clarita, California
As of April 14th, 2009
Submitted Projects (Guaranteed Allocation)
ghway Infrastructure
$1,000,000
Asphalt Roadway Rehabilitation Phase 1
$1,500,C
Traffic Circulation and Safely Improvements at Newhall Avenue and Sierra Highway
$305,0
Whites Canyon Road at Soledad Canyon Road Right Turn Pocket Traffic and Circulation Improvements
$1,200,0
Bridge Rehabilitation for Various City Bridges
$550,1
Asphalt Roadway Rehabilitation Phase 2
$1,619,5
rrne Justice Assistance Grant
2 Career Offenders Burglary Robbery Apprehension (COBRA) Grant Deputies for 6 months
Submitted Projects (Guaranteed Allocation)
to be Submitted (Guaranteed Allocation)
ansit Capital Assistance
Newhall Metrolink Station Parking Expansion
McBean Regional Transit Center Park and Ride
Transit Information Network (TIN) Project Additions
Universal Fare System Farebox Program Expansion
On -Board Camera Upgrade Program
Community Development Block Grant
Specific Projects To Be Determined Based Upon Eligibility Guidelines
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
Specific Projects To Be Determined Based Upon Eligibility Guidelines
Neighborhood Stabilization Program
Specific Projects To Be Determined Based Upon Eligibility Guidelines
Total Projects to be Submitted (Guaranteed Allocation)
ibmitted Projects (Pending Competitive Grants)
itiona/ Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
297 Acre Arundo Removal Project
tderal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Recovery Program
1 Service Deputy for 3 -Year Period
tal Submitted Projects (Pending Competitive Grants)
to be Submitted (Pending Competitive Grants)
ansit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction - TIGGER
2 Solar Canopies at Transit Maintenance Facility
Projects to be Submitted (Pending Competitive Grants)
'otaLPendngCompetitive Grantsk,."
Pending Competitive Gants
Potential Projects to be Submitted
$1
187
$8,1
Installation of Wheelchair Ramps, and Repairs to Sidewalks and Gutters
$1,000,000
Traffic Circulation and Safety Improvements at McBean Parkway and Orchard Village Road
$2,100,000
Asphalt Roadway Rehabilitation Phase 3
$2,000,000
Newhall Avenue Pedestnan Safety Improvements Across Railroad Right -of -Way
$900,000
Golden Oak Pedestrian Safety Improvements Across Railroad Right -of -Way
$1,500,000
Traffic Circulation Improvements at Two Triple Left Intersections/Upgrade of Signal Heads to Light -Emitting Diode
$2,300,000
5th Street/Newhall Traffic Circle
%800000
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