HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-19-2009 SUPPLEMENTAL COUNCIL AGENDASARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: July 19, 2009
ORIGINATING DEPT: Public Works
PREPARED BY: John Cherbone
AGENDA ITEM:
CITY MANAGER:
DEPT HEAD: John Cherbone
SUBJECT: Grant Funding for Capital Improvement Projects — Study Session
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Accept report regarding Grant Opportunities and provide direction to staff regarding local match
funding recommendations.
REPORT SUMMARY:
Since the adoption of the 2010 -2011 Fiscal Year Budget, specific grant opportunities have
become available to the City that require local matching funds to qualify. The following is a brief
description of each grant and associated project scope followed by funding recommendations for
the local matches.
1. Villaize Pedestrian Enhancements - Phase II
Approximately three months ago, staff began pursuing a VTA grant opportunity aimed at
pedestrian improvements in core downtowns. The completion of the pedestrian and
beautification improvements in the Village, as conceived in the approved Village Conceptual
Master Plan, was a great candidate project for the grant. In light of the City's project readiness
and other favorable scoring advantages, we ask for $1.284 million which is the amount of
funding estimated to complete the Plan.
VTA received eight applications ranging from a $1.125 million project in San Jose to a $2.572
million project in Campbell. In order for a project to be recommended to the VTA Board of
Directors a project must score a minimum of 70 points out of a 100. Of the eight applications
submitted only two projects scored high enough to be recommended to the Board for funding, a
San Jose project and Saratoga's. Saratoga's application scored 2nd best of the group at 70. The
VTA Board is expected to vote on the matter in early August.
In order for the City to be awarded the $1.284 million grant a resolution will be required to be
passed (most likely in September) along with commitment by the City to met the local match
requirements. The grant requires a 20% local match which amounts to $256,800.
If approved, this project will fund the completion of the approved Village Conceptual Master
Plan. The City is not locked into any specific design that was envisioned in the Plan and has
flexibility to redesign, add, or eliminate specific facets of the Plan.
2. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
In anticipation of a greater need for publicly available charging stations for electric vehicles, staff
recently met with a company called ChargePoint which manufactures "smart" charging stations.
All of the major auto makers, except Volkswagen, have announced plans to begin production of
electric vehicles in the next five years. Consequently, an increasing number of electronic vehicles
will be available to consumers in the coming years. The battery life of these vehicles is expected
to range widely from 40 miles to 220 miles. Due to the limited range of these vehicles, many
owners will need to charge their cars at home and at their destination. Infrastructure needs to be
in place prior to the initial sales of electric vehicles due out by most manufacturers in the model
2011. Furthermore, there is a significant number of Americans who do not own a garage. These
drivers will need to have access to public charging stations before purchasing an electric vehicle.
Ultimately, ChargePoint argues that by investing in charging stations, cities and other
government entities can make it easier for the public to transition to electronic vehicles and
thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
ChargePoint was awarded a large public grant in the amount of $40 million through the federal
government that is basically a buy one charging station and get one free program in which certain
eligibility requirements are needed. Local jurisdictions happen to be eligible for this program.
Each station costs approximately $5,000. Assuming a ten unit project, the cost would be $25,000
or half the cost of purchasing outside of the federal grant. PG &E and electrical work costs are
unknown at this time, but a best guess estimate for two locations in the City is $40,000. Staff will
be asking PG &E for assistance with this project by waiving meter fees, etc. to reduce costs.
If approved, appropriate public locations for the charging stations will need to be determined.
Two appropriate locations are City Hall and the Village. The grant is first come first served, so
being able to take advantage of the program is demand dependent.
3. Tree Dedication Grants
This grant program is initiated by the City to assist residents with the costs of participating in the
City's Tree Dedication Program. The Program has been used primarily by residents for planting
memorial trees for loved ones. The current cost to participate is $500 for the cost of a 15 gallon
tree, planting, and future care. There is an additional cost for a dedication plaque, which can
range from $165 to $267 depending on plaque size. Although various amounts can be set aside to
fund this program, staff recommends $25,000. This amount would help fund the planting of 100
trees if the program was set up to reduce the cost by 50% from $500 to $250, however any
percentage can be adopted to fund each dedication grant.
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FISCAL IMPACTS:
In order to fund the $346,800 needed for the matching grant programs listed above staff has used
a variety of funding sources listed below; including the remaining CIP Reserve intended for
matching grants and defunding several smaller, older CIP projects.
Unallocated CIP Reserve: $221,983 (Available for any CIP Project)
City Entrance Signs /Monuments: $23,788 (Defend Project — Lower Priority Project)
Village Creek Trail: $20,000 (Defund Grant Match — Water District Grant
Unsuccessful)
Prospect Road Medians: $50,000 (Defund Grant Match — Grant Unlikely in
Near Future)
Canyon View /Elva Storm Drain: $15,000 (Defund Partially— Project Cost Savings Realized via
Contractor Proposal)
Village Pedestrian Enhancements: $16,029 (Defund Partially — Reduced Funding in Phase I can
be absorbed in Phase II)
$346,800
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Grant opportunities and associated projects will not move forward.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Council can choose other funding sources not listed in the staff report to fund the projects.
FOLLOW UP ACTION(S):
If the funding recommendations are approved, a Budget Resolution will be submitted to City
Council at the next available City Council Meeting.
ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
This item was posted as a City Council agenda item and was included in the packet made
available on the City's web site in advance of the meeting. A copy of the agenda packet is also
made available at the Saratoga Branch Library each Monday in advance of the Council meeting
and residents may subscribe to the agenda on -line by opting in at www.saratoga.ca.us.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
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