REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
January 30, 2020
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 projects:
1. Adopt a finding that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to the Class 1 and Class 2 Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2; and
2. Approve a Sub-Recipient Agreement with the City of Fresno Department of Public Works for Project 11 Southwest Urban Forest Expansion totaling $212,199.21
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve a Sub-Recipient Agreement with the City of Fresno Department of Public Works for Project 11 regarding the Southwest Urban Forest Expansion and authorize the City Manager to execute all related documents to the administration, modification, monitoring and closeout of the Sub-Recipient Agreements for Project 11.
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 Southwest Urban Forest Expansion project has met the necessary thresholds and is ready to begin implementation.
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 Southwest Urban Forest Expansion project has met the necessary thresholds and is ready to begin implementation.
Project 11 Southwest Urban Forest Expansion
This project will plant approximately 295 trees along existing sidewalks, in street medians, park strips, and parks in southwest Fresno. Proposed locations include Jensen Median from 41st to MLK (35 trees), Elm Medians from Ventura to Jensen (80 trees), Fruit and Jensen Buffer (150 trees), Tupman Park (15 trees), and Chandler Park (15 trees). The City will partner with Tree Fresno to engage residents in tree planting and education in the park locations, and the partner and the City will provide basic planting education and ensure proper planting procedures to maximize long-term tree health and building urban forestry capacity in the community. The City of Fresno Department of Public Works will provide long-term maintenance on all trees and collaborate with the local Urban Forester as needed. Project 11 has not incurred any changes in budget or scope as originally shown in the MGA.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Project 11 falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the State of California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines. None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Section 15301/Class 1 consists of the operations, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency’s determination.
Section 15302/Class 2 consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced, including but not limited to: water main, sewage, electrical, gas, and other utility extensions, including street improvements, of reasonable length to serve such construction.
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 City of Fresno Department of Public Works for Project 11
2. Sub-Recipient Agreement Status Summary