TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, Acting City Manager
FROM:
Stephanie Katsouleas, Public Works Director
Prem Kumar, City Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Resolution Authorizing the Allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds for Fiscal Year 2018/2019 (Public Works Director Katsouleas).
CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 18-0012
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that City Council conduct a Public Hearing and adopt Resolution No.18-0012 authorizing the use of Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, estimated at $99,323, for the construction of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant curb ramps throughout the City. This proposed project is consistent with the City’s 2018-2022 Capital Improvement Plan.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-2019 the City of Manhattan Beach will receive an estimated $99,323 from the Community Development Block Grant program. This estimate is based on current CDBG funding levels and is consistent with the amount of CDBG funding the City typically receives annually; the actual appropriation amount to be received by the City will be provided by Los Angeles County in spring 2018.
BACKGROUND:
The mission of the CDBG Program is to improve the quality of life for low and moderate income persons, aid in the prevention of neighborhood deterioration and meet other urgent community development needs. One eligible use is the construction and/or reconstruction of curb ramp projects to ensure compliance with current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The City of Manhattan Beach has participated in the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CDBG program, administered by the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission (LACDC) for the past twenty (20) years, to successfully install or upgrade its ramps to be ADA compliant; and the current 5-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) adopted by City Council identifies continuation of this initiative with CDBG funds. It is worth noting that due to the economic profile of Manhattan Beach, the only qualifying uses that have been identified for CDBG funding are related to access improvements for the disabled.
Continuing construction of ADA compliant curb ramps will increase pedestrian mobility and promote safety improvements. For FY 2018/19, the estimated CDBG allocation will cover the cost to upgrade approximately fifteen (15) to twenty (20) accessible curb ramps (see Attachment 2, CDBG Project Location List). These locations prioritize intersections near local schools and prevailing walking routes to schools. Additionally, up to a maximum of twenty percent (20%) of the total project budget may be allocated for construction management, grant administration and federal labor compliance services.
In addition to these planned installations, staff plans to return to the City Council in spring 2018 with an additional opportunity to expand the number of curb ramps that can be upgraded by participating in the LACDC’s CDBG Revolving Grant Fund Program. This program, which allows cities to request an advancement of grant funds, was just announced by the LACDC. As soon as the program guidelines and application process are released, staff will determine the amount of funding potentially available and the feasibility of expanding the proposed CIP. Participation in the program would allow for more efficient utilization of staff resources, as well as potentially better bid prices due to economies of scale for the curb ramp work.
DISCUSSION:
In order to comply with federal regulations, the City must conduct a Public Hearing to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the City’s CDBG program’s proposed use of funds. Resolution No. 18-0012 identifies the proposed CDBG project, funding amount, and staff’s delegated authority to make minor adjustments, if necessary, to the CDBG project, due to minor variations in CDBG programmatic requirements, and/or to adjust funding allocations and commitments as directed by the LACDC. Therefore, staff recommends that City Council conduct the public hearing and adopt the attached resolution. Notice of the public hearing was properly posted at City Hall, Manhattan Heights and the Joslyn Community Center on December 28, 2017. It was also advertised in the Beach Reporter, the City’s publisher of record, on January 4, 2018.
POLICY ALTERNATIVES:
Not Applicable.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
In order to comply with federal requirements pertaining to citizen participation and public outreach, the public was afforded a minimum of fourteen (14) day notice of this Public Hearing. The Notice of Public Hearing (Attachment 3) was posted at various City public facilities on December 28, 2017 and published in the Beach Reporter on January 4, 2018.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Class 1(c) categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301, Existing Facilities of the State CEQA Guidelines. Thus, no further environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 18-0012
2. CDBG Project Location List
3. Notice of Public Hearing