REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
April 11, 2019
FROM: WILMA QUAN, City Manager
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
BY: LAURA MERRILL, Deputy City Manager
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
COURTNEY ESPINOZA, Program Implementation Manager
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the 2017 Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Grant and Transform Fresno Plan projects:
1. Approve a Sub-Recipient Agreement with Grid Alternatives Central Valley for Project #3 GRID Solar Collaborative Single Family Partnership totaling $883,826; and
2. Approve Sub-Recipient Agreement with Grid Alternatives Central Valley for Project #4 GRID Solar Collaborative Multi-Family Partnership totaling $352,549; and
3. Approve a Sub-Recipient Agreement with Fresno Metro Ministries for Project #12 Yosemite Village Permaculture Community Garden and Urban Farm Incubator totaling $367,500; and
4. ***RESOLUTION - 31st amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2018-157 appropriating $163,600 from the TCC Grant (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve a Sub-Recipient Agreement with Grid Alternatives Central Valley for Project 3 regarding GRID Solar Collaborative Single Family Partnership; approve a Sub-Recipient Agreement with Grid Alternatives for Project 4 regarding GRID Solar Collaborative Multi-Family Partnership; approve a Sub-Recipient Agreement with Fresno Metro Ministry for Project 12 regarding Yosemite Village Permaculture Community Garden and Urban Farm Incubator; authorize the City Manager to execute all related documents to the administration, modification, monitoring and closeout of the Sub-Recipient Agreements for Projects 3, 4 and 12; and adopt the 31st amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2018-157 appropriating $163,600.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On February 28, 2019, the City Council unanimously voted to approve a Master Grant Agreement (MGA) with the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) for the TCC grant award with the understanding that the Sub-Recipient Agreements between the City and Partners who will be receiving funds to implement components of the Transform Fresno Plan would be brought forward for subsequent Council consideration as they meet the required SGC readiness thresholds and receive a notice to proceed from SGC. The following projects have met the necessary thresholds and are ready to begin implementation.
• #3 GRID Solar Collaborative Single Family Partnership
• #4 GRID Solar Collaborative Multi-Family Partnership
• #12 Yosemite Village Permaculture Community Garden and Urban Farm Incubator
BACKGROUND
The Transform Fresno Plan was created by a participatory steering committee comprised of community stakeholders from the Chinatown, Downtown and Southwest Fresno neighborhoods. On February 28, 2019, the City Council unanimously approved the MGA which binds the City and SGC with the understanding that Sub-Recipient Agreements between the City and Partners who will be receiving funds to implement components of the Transform Fresno Plan would be brought forward for subsequent Council consideration as they meet the required SGC readiness thresholds and receive a notice to proceed from SGC. The City, as the grantee and fiscal agent, will oversee all projects approved by SGC to include reimbursement, monitoring and oversight according to the MGA. The projects referenced below have met those thresholds and are ready to begin implementation:
GRID Solar Collaborative Single Family Partnership (Project 3)
GRID alternatives will install 183 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic systems on 60 single-family homes in Southwest Fresno. GRID will also host monthly energy efficiency workshop classes and community outreach activities on solar qualification, training opportunities, and educating the community on energy efficiency and consumer behaviors that save money on electrical utility bills (led in partnership with Fresno Center for New Americans and Stone Soup Fresno). 100% of project beneficiaries shall be low-income families falling below 80% AMI in the TCC Project Area. Project 3 will target 133 TCC area individuals for on the job training in solar. GRID Alternatives will provide technical support to homeowners during the post-installation warranty period. Project 3 has not incurred any changes in budget or scope as originally shown in the MGA.
GRID Solar Collaborative Multi-Family Partnership (Project 4)
GRID Alternatives will install 91 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic panels on 5 Fresno Housing Authority multi-family buildings. 100% of project beneficiaries shall be low income families falling below 80% AMI in the TCC Project Area. Project 4 will train 67 TCC area individuals for jobs in solar. Project 4 aims to improve air quality and provide direct economic benefit for West Fresno families through electrical utility cost savings. GRID Alternatives will provide technical support during the post installation warranty period. Project 4 has not incurred any changes in budget or scope as originally shown in the MGA.
Yosemite Village Permaculture Community Garden and Urban Farm Incubator (Project 12)
Fresno Metro Ministry (FMM) is partnering with the Fresno Housing Authority to develop a resident-led community garden and urban greenspace in Southwest Fresno behind the 69-unit Yosemite Village housing complex (872 West Atchinson Court). The 7-acre site is less than 150 yards from the designated California Avenue Bus Rapid Transit corridor. Project 12 will incorporate organic and permaculture techniques including non-mechanical, no-till, no-spray methods that promote carbon sequestration and water conservation. The garden/farm includes native habitat, insectaries, fruit trees, greenhouse, walking path, composting, farm stand, and is available for general community use. Garden activities will be integrated with nutrition/cooking skills classes and job training/entrepreneurship opportunities. Farm activities on three half-acre demonstration parcels will also be integrated with the outreach, education, and training programs. Project 12 will establish a Garden Leadership Committee that will manage the garden’s operations and maintenance of the garden, and FMM will manage the operations and maintenance of the farm plots and greenspace. The Youth Leadership Institute will lead multi-cultural, multi-generational, multi-lingual outreach to residents and community members, to engage the community in the project site’s programming. Project 12 has not incurred any changes in budget or scope as originally shown in the Master Grant Agreement.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Projects 3 and 4, led by Grid Alternatives Central Valley, are not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
For Project 12, Environmental Assessment No. D-17-100 analyzed the proposed community garden submitted under Development Permit Application No. D-17-100 for property located at 872 West Atchison Court. The above-described project was determined to be Categorically Exempt by the Director of the Development and Resource Management Department, pursuant to Article 19 of the State CEQA Guidelines under Section 15303/Class 3 and Section 15304/Class 4. A notice of exemption was filed with the County Clerk on September 1, 2017 and was posted for 30 days with no comments or appeals received within the 30 day comment period.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered based upon conditions of state funding.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding for Transform Fresno Plan projects lead by Partners will be a direct pass-through of TCC grant funds and will be distributed on a reimbursement basis.
Attachments:
1. Sub-recipient Agreement with Grid Alternatives Central Valley for Project 3
2. Sub-recipient Agreement with Grid Alternatives Central Valley for Project 4
3. Sub-recipient Agreement with Fresno Metro Ministry for Project 12
4. RESOLUTION - 31st amendment to the AAR No. 2018-157 appropriating $163,600
5. Sub-Recipient Agreement Status Summary