REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
MARY C. CHURCH, Grants Administrator
Public Works Department, Administration Division
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 59th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2021-178 to appropriate $115,800 for the Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project (Council Districts 3 & 7) (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the 59th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2021-178 to appropriate $115,800 for the Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Clean California Local Grant Program was created to beautify and clean up local streets and roads, tribal lands, parks, pathways, transit centers, and other public spaces. The program is part of the nearly $1.1 billion Clean California initiative that aims to assist the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) with addressing the continuous trash generation that overwhelms California’s public spaces. In February 2022, the City of Fresno (City) applied for funding for the Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project. On March 1, 2022, Caltrans announced a $5 million award to the City for the project. The project is located in the Anthony, Webster, and Hidalgo neighborhoods and will consist of large murals on columns and abutment slopes at four freeway interchanges, a mural installation at the Romain Community Center, improved LED lighting fixtures under the freeway bridges, beautification of the Belmont Avenue corridor through median island trees, landscaping and street trees, as well as community-based clean up events. Staff recommends Council adopt the amendment to the AAR in order to provide appropriations in the Public Works FY2022 Capital Budget to sufficiently cover anticipated expenditures for this new project.
BACKGROUND
The Clean California Local Grant Program is a two-year program to invigorate and brighten local communities across the state. In December 2021, Caltrans issued a Call for Projects for the program with a total of $296 million of funding available. On January 14, 2022, Council approved the grant application which was, subsequently, awarded in the amount of $5 million for the Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project. The award provides $4.5 million for infrastructure improvements and $500,000 for non-infrastructure elements focused on urban greening, improved walkability, community placemaking, and litter cleanup.
The Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project is located in the Anthony, Webster, and Hidalgo neighborhoods. It includes reconstruction and beautification of the median islands along the Belmont Avenue corridor from Abby Street to Millbrook Avenue, irrigation upgrades, reduction of impervious surface, and planting of 95 sidewalk and median trees. Amenity improvements will be made at five bus stops. Pedestrian scale LED lighting will also be installed at three bus stops under SR-180 at Fresno and First Streets. Eight murals will be painted along State Route 180 abutment slopes and columns at Blackstone Avenue, Abby Street, Fresno Street, and First Street and on the Romain Community Center. Beautify Fresno will conduct four volunteer-based neighborhood cleanup events at Anthony, Webster, and Hidalgo Elementary Schools. Funds will be provided for an anti-litter campaign which will include a social media campaign, digital billboards, and bus wraps. Lastly, a vendor will be contracted for litter pickup services along the Abby, Blackstone, First, and Belmont corridors within the project limits.
Staff is seeking Council approval on the attached AAR amendment which will appropriate funding for the Downtown Fresno Neighborhood Beautification and Cleanup Project. This will allow for work to begin on the project this fiscal year once the grant agreement is executed and a notice to proceed is received (estimated May 2022). The remaining project costs of $4,884,200 will be included in the FY2023 and FY2024 budgets.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 this item does not qualify as a “project.”
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable as this resolution does not include a bid or award of a construction
or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This resolution will have no impact on the General Fund. All proposed costs will be paid for with Clean California Local Grant funds. Adoption of the attached AAR amendment resolution will appropriate the necessary funding to start the project in the current fiscal year.
Attachment:
59th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2021-178