Agenda Item Wording:
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Fiscal Year 2026-27 federal congressional community project funding requests - Approve the submittal of federal congressional community project funding requests for the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year.
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Deadline for Action: 1/20/2026
Submitting Department: Administration
Contact Name and Phone Number:
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, John.Lollis@visalia.gov, (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 2026-27 Fiscal Year, including $4 million for the Shirk Street Capacity Enhancing Project, $4 million for the Law Enforcement Training Facility, and $1 million for the development of the Visalia Industrial Park Employment Resource Center.
Background Discussion:
With the second session of the 119th United States Congress having begun on January 5, 2026, 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 2024-25 Fiscal Year, the City requested $3 million and received tentative CPF funding of $2 million from Congressman Fong for the Tulare Avenue Safety Improvement Project, and requested $5 million and received tentative CPF funding of $850,000 from Congressman Costa for the Downtown Main Street Improvement Project, however, both CPF requests were ultimately not funded due to the lack of an adoption of a federal budget.
In the current 2025-26 Fiscal Year, the City requested $4 million from Congressman Costa for the Riggin Avenue Capacity Enhancing Project between Akers and Roeben Streets, $3 million from Congressman Costa for the Downtown Main Street Improvement Project, $3 million from Congressman Fong for the Tulare Avenue Safety Improvement Project, $3 million from Congressman Fong for the Eastside Regional Park Groundwater Recharge Basins, $1 million from Congressman Fong and Senators Padilla and Schiff for the Tulare County Event Barricade System, and $3 million from Senators Padilla and Schiff for the Hydrogen Plant and Bus Fueling Station Project. Congressman Costa supported the Riggin Avenue Project request and the City has received tentative CPF funding of $250,000 pending Congressional funding bill approval, and Congressman Fong supported the Groundwater Recharge Basins Project request and the City has received tentative CPF funding of $2 million pending Congressional funding bill approval. Although Senator Padilla supported the Event Barricade System and Senator Schiff supported the Hydrogen Project, the Senate Appropriations Committee did not select either project for funding.
The City is seeking to continue the Shirk Street Capacity Enhancement Project south of State Route 198 to improve traffic flow and support future growth, involving roadway widening and improvements including center median, curb, gutter, sidewalks, bike lanes, lighting and signalization, landscaping, as well as utility upgrades involving the installation of storm drain lines. Shirk Street is considered to have regional significance within Tulare County, which $5 million in Measure R Regional funds have been designated by the Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) for the project. The project area is within Congressman Fong’s representative district, which with an estimated total cost of $20 million for the project segment, staff recommends the submittal of a CPF request of $4 million to Congressman Fong for consideration of support.
Both Congressman Costa and Fong have expressed interest in supporting a CPF for Visalia in support of the Visalia Police Department, which the development of a new Law Enforcement Training Facility and new indoor shooting range is planned for the next phase of the Civic Center. The estimated cost of the new facility is approximately $5 million, including necessary equipment. The federal guidelines for CPF requests specifically prohibits the use of funds for construction but does allow for the equipping of facilities. In the current 2025-26 Fiscal Year, there are three (3) CPF requests for shooting ranges in other jurisdictions that have been funded between $1 million and $3 million.
Congressman Costa has expressed his interest in supporting the City’s proposed reuse of the Tulare County Office of Education’s (TCOE) Doe Complex as an Employment Resource Center within the growing Visalia Industrial Park considering the significant employment opportunities the businesses provide for residents across the region. The Doe Complex reuse project focuses on enhancing Visalia’s ability to grow and retain primary jobs in the Industrial Park by providing a “one stop” resource center that would serve existing and prospective Industrial Park employees, enhancing existing employers’ ability to attract and retain skilled workers while also expanding equitable access to industrial career ladders. This project aims to break barriers to upskilling in partnership with existing companies which leverages a strong business retention and expansion focus that will aid in business attraction efforts.
Congressman Costa has expressed particular interest in the proposed development of an extended-hour childcare facility at the Employment Resource Center to be operated by TCOE’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program. The ECE Program found that almost seventy percent (70%) of Tulare County parents need childcare to go to work, especially during non-traditional hours, and that twelve percent (12%) need ECE to attend school or receive training. Improvements to the facility for preliminary childcare services include the conversion of office space, installation of an outdoor playground, and perimeter fencing, and are estimated at $1 million.
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 in March.
Fiscal Impact:
Any CPF funding supported and received will greatly assist in the implementation of projects. If the City is awarded funds, staff will return to Council to appropriate at that time.
Prior Council Action:
January 21, 2025: Fiscal Year 2025-26 federal congressional community project funding requests (File No. 24-0462)
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 2026-27 Fiscal Year, including $4 million for the Shirk Street Capacity Enhancing Project, $4 million for the Law Enforcement Training Facility, and $1 million for the development of the Visalia Industrial Park Employment Resource Center.
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: N/A