Agenda Item Wording:
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Fiscal Year 2025-26 Federal Congressional Community Project Funding Requests - Approve the submittal of federal Congressional Community Project Funding requests for the upcoming 2025-26 Fiscal Year.
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Deadline for Action: 1/21/2025
Submitting Department: Administration
Contact Name and Phone Number:
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, John.Lollis@visalia.city, (559)713-4323
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the submittal of three (3) federal Congressional Community Project Funding requests for the upcoming 2025-26 Fiscal Year, including $4 million for the Riggin Avenue Safety Improvement Project, $3.5 million for the development of Groundwater Recharge Basin F, and $2 million for the Mobile Emergency Operations Command Center and security barriers.
Background Discussion:
With the seating of the 119th United States Congress having occurred on January 3, 2025, preparations are beginning to be made by the Offices of both Congressman Costa and Fong to begin receiving federal Congressional Community Project Funding (CPF) requests (commonly known as earmarks), which provide direct federal funding to selected projects. In the 2023-24 Fiscal Year, the City requested $3.5 million and received CPF funding of $700,00 from Congressman Costa for the development of Groundwater Recharge Basins. In the current 2024-25 Fiscal Year, the City requested $3 million and has tentative CPF funding of $2 million from Congressman Fong for the Tulare Avenue Safety Improvement Project, and requested $5 million and has tentative CPF funding of $850,000 from Congressman Costa for the Downtown Main Street Improvement Project.
The City is seeking to expedite the finish of the complete streets development of Riggen Avenue between Shirk Street and St. John’s Parkway, improving the undivided unlit two-lane road without sidewalks to a median divided four-lanes with sidewalks, streetlights and Class IV bicycle lanes, with the final segment between Akers and Roeben Streets expected to begin construction in Summer 2026. Riggen Avenue is considered to have regional significance within Tulare County in serving the Visalia Industrial Park, which Measure R Regional funds have been designated by the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) for the project. The project area is within Congressman Costa’s representative district, which with an estimated cost $6 million for the project segment, staff recommends the submittal of a CPG request of $4 million to Congressman Costa for consideration of support.
As previously mentioned, Congressman Costa supported a $700,000 CPF request in the 2023-24 Fiscal Year for the development of Groundwater Recharge Basins, which are located north of State Route 198 and south of the City’s planned Eastside Regional Park. Congressman Fong has expressed his interest to support a CPF for Visalia in support of groundwater recharge, which although not located in his representative district, Congressman Fong is agreeable to supporting additional CPF funding for the development of Groundwater Recharge Basins given its overall benefit to the residents of Visalia. With an estimated cost of $7.5 million, staff recommends the submittal of a CPF request of $3.5 million to Congressman Fong for consideration of support.
Congressman Fong has also expressed his interest to support a CPF for Visalia in support of the Visalia Police Department. Chief Salazar has recommended the needed replacement of the Department’s mobile emergency operations command center. In addition, in the event of its deployment to a critical incident, safety barriers would be mobilized to protect and isolate a designated area for public safety response. The mobile operations command center has an estimated acquisition cost of $1 million, and the acquisition of mobile security barriers are also estimated at $1 million.
TCAG is also considering its submittal of a CPF request to Senators Padilla and Schiff for the development of hydrogen generation to support hydrogen fuel cell zero-emission vehicles, which could be implemented in partnership with the City.
The City’s lobbyist has recommended to limit each CPF request to no more than $4 million, which as evidenced by previous CPF requests, final CPF awards are generally significantly reduced. CPF requests will likely begin to be received by Congressional Offices beginning likely in March.
Fiscal Impact:
Any CPF funding supported and received will greatly assist in the implementation of projects.
Prior Council Action: None
Other: None
Alternatives: The City Council could modify the amount requested and/or project selected for the submission of a CPF request or decline to submit requests
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve the submittal of three (3) federal Congressional Community Project Funding requests for the upcoming 2025-26 Fiscal Year, including $4 million for the Riggin Avenue Safety Improvement Project, $3.5 million for the development of Groundwater Recharge Basins, and $2 million for the Mobile Emergency Operations Command Center and safety barriers.
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A