Agenda Item Wording:
title
Authorize the City Manager to submit a grant application to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) Call for Projects.
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Deadline for Action: 2/1/2022 - Applications due to Caltrans
Submitting Department: Administration - CIP Engineering
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Casey Chu, Assistant Engineer, casey.chu@visalia.city, 713-4491
Dolores Verduzco, Financial Analyst, dolores.verduzco@visalia.city, 713-4540
Frank Senteno, City Engineer, frank.senteno@visalia.city, 713-4331
Nick Mascia, Assistant City Manager, nick.mascia@visalia.city, 713-4323
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to submit a grant application to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) Call for Projects to include the project below.
• Recreation Park Enhancement Project ($2,690,350.00 - Design & Construction)
Background Discussion:
The Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) of 2021, established by Assembly Bill 149, is part of the Clean California initiative to:
1. Decrease the amount of litter and debris in public spaces
2. Beautify and enhance public spaces and to mitigate the urban heat island effect
3. Improve public health, cultural connections, and community placemaking by developing public spaces for walking and recreation
4. Create equity for underserved communities
The CCLGP, developed by Caltrans, is a competitive statewide program that is part of the $1 billion Clean California initiative to remove litter and beautify public spaces. The initiative includes $296M for local beautification projects. Each grant awarded by the CCLGP has a maximum limit of $5M and the funds must be spent by June 30, 2024.
Caltrans released the CCLGP call for projects on December 1, 2021 and the deadline to submit applications is on February 1, 2022. The project award notification is on March 1, 2022. Caltrans will evaluate CCLGP applications received and will award projects in accordance with the following selection criteria:
1. Narrative (20 points)
2. Project’s Population Benefit (20 points)
3. Project’s Relative Population Benefit to Underserved Communities (35 points)
4. Demonstrated Community Need (50 points)
5. Project’s Outcomes Assessment Form (40 points)
6. Scope, Cost, and Schedule (35 points)
The total possible score is 200 points. Although not explicitly stated, projects are expected to be awarded in the order of the scores, from highest to lowest, until all available funding is utilized. As the CCLGP grant is a one-time opportunity, unselected projects will not be kept for future call for projects or receive a debrief of the grant application.
In order to give the City its best chance and to be competitive in this call for projects, staff recommends submitting a project that focuses on enhancing the usage of Recreation Park in downtown Visalia by addressing the surrounding areas. The project was developed through a collaboration effort between the CIP Engineering and the Parks & Urban Forestry divisions. The Recreation Park Enhancement Project was deemed to be the best suited project to be submitted for the grant as it touches upon all aspects of the grant’s goals.
Staff is currently selecting a consultant to perform the design for an existing, city parking lot project (6010-72000/CP0430-999), on the northwest corner of Center Avenue and Dudley Street adjacent to Recreation Park. The Recreation Park Enhancement Project’s scope of work for the CCLGP grant will add additional features to enhance Recreation Park and, if awarded, design for these features will be added to CP0430’s design contract. Should the City be successful and receive the CCLGP grant, the design for the additional features have already been identified as optional design tasks and can be quickly procured from the consultant.
The Recreation Park Enhancement Project, to be submitted to the CCLGP call for projects, as shown on Attachment 1 - Project Location Map will include:
• Additional Parking Lot 1 (Northwest of Dudley Street and the Alley)
• Alley Improvements
• Sidewalk Improvements
• Concrete Art Walkway & Mural Walls
• Recreation Park Shade Structures
• Bike Route Connection (Goshen Trail to Recreation Park)
• Outdoor Venue (Stage location shown may change based on final design)
There is a frequent accumulation of trash and debris in the vicinity of the project area. Additionally, the area surrounding the park appears blighted and unappealing. Through these improvements, the area will receive added public visibility, lighting, and improved aesthetics via infrastructure improvements alongside new trash receptacles to discourage littering in the area.
The additional parking lot improvements will help alleviate the limited parking availability for not only Recreation Park but also downtown. These parking lots will use green infrastructure such as bioswales for storm water runoff and solar lighting while incorporating additional landscaping to beautify the area. The existing alleyway will be reconstructed due to its poor condition. Additionally, a multipurpose sidewalk will be installed for connectivity between the new parking lot and Recreation Park.
Concrete Mural Walls will be put in not only to separate public spaces from private spaces, but to also act as a location for public art. Similarly, the concrete art walkway not only provides access to the additional parking lots; but also, further develops the visual character of the City of Visalia.
Shade structures will be included in Recreation Park to provide cover to protect the users of Recreation Park and to prolong the lifespan of the playground equipment. The project will improve connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians by connecting the Goshen Trail to Recreation Park and downtown Visalia in a safer manner. Lastly, an outdoor venue will be established to provide a space for events for the community.
Staff is conducting public outreach in the form of a survey to gauge community support for the Recreation Park Enhancement Project. Additionally, Staff presented this item to the City of Visalia’s Park and Recreation Commission on January 11, 2022 and received positive feedback.
Fiscal Impact:
As a requirement for the grant, a local match, based on the severity of the underserved communities being impacted by the project, must be calculated for and subsequently presented in the grant application. The more disadvantaged the underserved community is, the lower the amount of local match contribution is required.
Staff has determined that the local match necessary for the Recreation Park Enhancement Project is 25%. The local match requirement amount is $672,587.50, based on the estimate shown below, and may change as the grant application and cost estimate are further developed.
Following is a summary cost breakdown for the project. Amounts shown below are estimates since project components are still being developed and cost estimates will be further refined.
Recreation Park Enhancement Project
Cost of Improvements:
CP0430 (South of Alley) $356,688.00
Parking Lot 1 (North of Alley) $392,375.00
Alley Improvements $77,350.00
Sidewalk Improvements $122,450.00
Concrete Art Walkway & Mural Wall $174,825.00
Recreation Park Shade Structures $99,000.00
Goshen Trail Connection $232,725.00
Outdoor Venue $400,000.00
Construction Cost $1,855,413.00
Construction Contingency (20%) $371,083.00
Consultant Design (10%) $185,541.00
Design Staff Time (5%) $92,771.00
Construction Management (5%) $92,771.00
Construction Inspection, Testing, & Surveying (5%) $92,771.00
Total Project Cost $2,690,350.00
Local Match Required (25% of Total Project Cost) $672,587.50
Staff has identified fund sources to address the local match requirements of the grant. These fund sources include the General Fund (001), Measure R Local (131), Measure R Trails (132) and other local fund sources to provide the necessary local match.
Contingent upon grant award, staff will return to Council to request acceptance of the grant, request appropriation of grant funds, and request appropriation of local match funds in the amount of $672,587.50.
Prior Council Action:
None.
Alternatives:
Do not submit the Recreation Park Enhancement Project to the Clean California Local Grant Program’s Call for Projects.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to submit a grant application to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the Clean California Local Grant Program (CCLGP) Call for Projects.
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Environmental Assessment Status:
To be determined during preliminary engineering phase.
CEQA Review:
To be determined during preliminary engineering phase.
Attachments:
1. Attachment 1 - Project Location Map