REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
November 14, 2019
FROM: WILMA QUAN, City Manager
Office of the Mayor & City Manager
BY: JANE SUMPTER, Assistant 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 project regarding the Clean Shared Mobility Network:
1. Adopt a Class 3 Categorical Exemption under Section 15303(e) of the State of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. Approve Sub-Recipient Agreement A with the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce for the Clean Shared Mobility Network totaling $137,757.66
3. Approve Sub-Recipient Agreement B with the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce for the Clean Shared Mobility Network totaling $7,579,256.55
4. ***RESOLUTION - 17th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2019-133 appropriating $7,717,000 for the TCC grant (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt a class 3 categorical exemption under section 15303(e) of CEQA guidelines; approve Sub-Recipient Agreement A and Sub-Recipient Agreement B with the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation for Project 7 regarding the Clean Shared Mobility Network; adopt the 17th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2019-133 appropriating $7,717,000 and authorize the City Manager to execute all related documents to the administration, modification, monitoring and closeout of the Sub-Recipient Agreements for Project 7.
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 Transformative Climate Communities (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. Project 7 Clean Shared Mobility Network has not met the necessary thresholds to have access to the entire project allocation of $7,717,014.21, therefore two separate agreements were created. Agreement A will allow the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation to complete the tasks outline in the scope of work for the project, which includes project set up, project kickoff, partnership development and execution of contract agreements to fulfill readiness thresholds as outlined by the funding agency in the Scope of Work. Upon completion of Agreement A’s scope of work, as confirmed by the City, Agreement B will become effective and allow the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation to access the remaining project allocation and complete the remaining tasks discussed below.
BACKGROUND
The Transform Fresno Plan was created by a participatory steering committee comprised of community stakeholders from the Chinatown, Downtown and Southwest Fresno neighborhoods (Project Area). 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. This project has met a portion of the readiness requirements in order to move forward in execution of Sub-Recipient Agreement A. Once tasks within Sub-Recipient Agreement A are completed, Sub-Recipient Agreement B will be executed to continue with the implementation of Project 7.
Project 7 - Clean Shared Mobility Network
This project will establish a low carbon transit system of electric vehicle and bicycle shares, to provide low- or no-cost services throughout the Project Area and will include an electric vehicle (EV) hourly car share service with below-market rates for lower-income members (34 cars); EV vanpool with routes to employment centers (8 vans); electric bike share (200 bikes); level 2 and 3 electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) (42 charging stations); a volunteer driver program providing electric vehicle rides to underserved residents; and a Mobility Hub Customer Service Center that will provide a physical location for engaging with the program. The Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the project partners will develop a long-term operations and maintenance plan for the system during the first year of the grant term.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This project is exempt under Section 15303(e)/Class 3 of the State of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures, installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures, and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure. None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
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 A with Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation for Project 7
2. Sub-recipient Agreement B with Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation for Project 7
3. 17th Amendment to Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2019-133
4. Sub-Recipient Agreement Status Summary