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SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL
MEETING DATE: December 16, 2009 AGENDA ITEM:
DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office CITY MANAGER: Dave Anderson
PREPARED BY: Crystal Morrow DIRECTOR: Barbara Powell
Administrative Analyst II Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolutions to Join CaliforniaFIRST and Authorize Sacramento County to Apply for
and Accept State Energy Program Funds on Behalf of the City of Saratoga
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept report and approve resolutions to join CaliforniaFIRST and authorize Sacramento County
to apply for and accept State Energy Program (SEP) funds on behalf of the City of Saratoga.
BACKGROUND:
At the November 18, 2009 meeting, Council approved a letter of commitment to participate in the
CaliforniaFIRST pilot program that will begin between spring and early summer 2010.
CaliforniaFIRST is a turnkey property assessed clean energy (PACE) or municipal financing
program that was developed by the California Statewide Communities Development Authority
(“California Communities”) and will be administered by Renewable Funding. Additional
information about California First is provided the November 18 staff report on CaliforniaFIRST
(Attachment A).
To join the pilot program, the Council needs to approve the attached resolution to join
CaliforniaFIRST (Attachment B). This resolution makes certain findings and determinations
required by law and will authorize California Communities to accept applications from Saratoga
property owners, conduct assessments, and levy assessments against the property of participating
owners. Additionally, the resolution provides authorization for the payment of a set-up fee to
cover legal, procedural, and technology costs associated with joining the CaliforniaFIRST
program. The set-up fee for Saratoga is $12,500.
Secondly, Renewable Funding and California Communities have been working with Sacramento
County to prepare a SEP municipal financing program grant application to cover the costs of
program financing, local coordination, and marketing for all municipalities participating in the
pilot CaliforniaFIRST program. This would include Saratoga’s set-up fees.
By approving the attached resolution authorizing Sacramento County to apply for and accept SEP
monies on behalf of Saratoga (Attachment C), the City’s set-up fees for the CaliforniaFIRST
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program will be covered by SEP funds, if the requested SEP monies are awarded to Sacramento
County.
STAFFING REQUIREMENTS:
California Communities and Renewable Funding will handle most major functions of the
CaliforniaFIRST financing program. This includes reports on local participation data that will be
provided to all cities and counties enrolled in CaliforniaFIRST. However, if the City chooses to
participate in CaliforniaFIRST then some City staff time would be required to:
- Support the CaliforniaFIRST program during implementation by helping to brand the
CaliforniaFIRST web portal, attending training provided by CaliforniaFIRST on program
requirements, participating in update meetings, coordinating with other local cities, and
providing feedback on design and branding during the pilot stage.
- Respond to questions and direct residents to CaliforniaFIRST when property owners
request information from the City, rather than using the CaliforniaFIRST website, email
address, or toll-free phone line.
- Optionally, the City may also decide to support CaliforniaFIRST by developing or taking
part in supplementary programs, such as marketing and outreach, energy audit, or
participant education programs. CaliforniaFIRST does not require this additional support.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
If the City should decide to approve the resolution to join the CaliforniaFIRST pilot program then
the cost of participation for Saratoga will be $12,500. However, this cost may be covered by
Sacramento County’s SEP grant for municipal financing. If the SEP funds for the
CaliforniaFIRST program are not awarded, the City has two options:
1. The City may choose not to pay the set-up fees and withdraw from the CaliforniaFIRST
program.
2. Alternatively, the Council may decide to use Council Contingency Funds to pay for the
set-up costs. The Council may authorize this use of Council Contingency Funds now or
after SEP awards have been announced.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
The City will not approve resolutions to join CaliforniaFIRST or authorize Sacramento County to
apply for SEP funds on behalf of Saratoga and will consequently not participate in the
CaliforniaFIRST pilot program.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
N/A
FOLLOW UP ACTION(S):
Implement Council direction.
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ADVERTISING, NOTICING AND PUBLIC CONTACT:
Nothing additional.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: November 18, 2009 staff report on the CaliforniaFIRST letter of commitment
Attachment B: Resolution to join the CaliforniaFIRST program
Attachment C: Resolution authorizing the County of Sacramento to apply for and accept SEP funds on
behalf of the City of Saratoga