DATE: May 7, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: California Adaptation Planning Grant Program Application
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Department of Public Works and Planning to submit a grant application to the State of California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research Adaptation Planning Grant Program for up to $650,000 to fund preparation of Fresno County’s Climate Adaptation and Action Plan (CAAP); and
2. If the grant application is awarded, authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning or designee, subject to review and approval by County Counsel as to legal form and the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector as to accounting form, to execute grant agreement, related documents, and any amendments thereto, necessary for participation in the State of California Adaptation Planning Grant Program.
REPORT
The State of California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Adaptation Planning Grant Program (APGP) has issued a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) to award funds to help fill local, regional, and tribal planning needs, provide communities with the resources to identify climate resilience priorities, and support the development of pipeline resilient infrastructure projects across the state. The County is eligible to apply for up to $650,000.
General Plan Policy HS-G.12 and HS-G.13 commit the County to seek funding and undertake preparation of a Climate Action Plan (CAP), with the objective of meeting Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction trajectory consistent with State law. A CAP can also include an inventory of existing conditions, reduction goals and targets, and an implementation strategy that helps meet the desired goals and identifies required resources and possible funding mechanisms. This grant application is proposing to fund the development of a Climate Adaptation and Action Plan (CAAP) which would meet the requirements in the General Plan to prepare a CAP.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to decline the recommended action. If this occurs, the Department of Public Works and Planning (Department) will continue to seek funding including other grant opportunities to begin preparing the County’s CAP. Policy HS-G.13 commits the County to undertake preparation of a countywide CAP within two years of adoption of the General Plan Review Policy Document (February 2026).
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the Recommended Actions would result in a Net County Cost. While the grant funds would pay for the cost of developing the CAAP, these funds cannot be used to pay for preparation of the required California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review. Because the level of environmental review (Negative Decleration, Mitigated Negative Decleration, Environmental Impact Report) required cannot be determined at this time, if awarded, the Department will coordinate with the CAO’s office and return to your Board for funding if required.
DISCUSSION:
On February 16, 2024, the Governor’s OPR released the NOFA for Round 2 of the APGP, which funds climate adaptation planning projects that are inclusive of diversity but also address the needs of vulnerable populations. OPR has a total of $9,500,000 and will fund APGP planning projects ranging between $100,000 and $650,000. The grant, in an effort to reach diverse communities, requires that applicants partner with a community-based organization or a California Native American Tribe, or justify the inability to do so.
Staff has identified two partners: Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC) and Self-Help Enterprises (SHE). Both agencies have agreed to assist in the outreach and community engagement in the preparation of the CAAP, and both have extensive history working with disadvantaged communities in Fresno County, a requirement of the grant, and have knowledge in different areas which will be useful in the development of the CAAP.
On February 20, 2024, your Board approved the Fresno County General Plan (GP) Review and Zoning Ordinance Update. Per policies HS-G.12 and HS-G.13 under the Health and Safety Element in the GP, the County committed to seek funding and undertake preparation of a CAP within two years of the GP adoption. If the grant is awarded, the funds will be used to develop the County’s CAAP. The complete APGP application is due May 20, 2024, and awards are expected to be announced in June 2024.
The grant requires that the project be completed within 24 months of the award. The APGP allows recipients to use funds for staff costs; program meetings; travel costs; language and information access; evaluation activities, engagement, outreach, education, and training; new partnerships; and indirect administrative costs.
The grant funds will be utilized by the Department to retain a consultant to prepare the County’s CAAP. The Department will return to your Board with an agreement for consultant services as it is anticipated that the contract for services will be over $200,000. Grant funds will also be used to pay for Fresno EOC, SHE, and for Department staff time in the management and preparation of the CAAP.
With the consultants’ assistance, the Department will identify the various unique factors that are impacting the County and propose tools to assist in the implementation of the CAAP. The CAAP may include a natural and working lands assessment, preparation of a greenhouse emissions analyses, and a funding strategy to implement the CAAP.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission
Self-Help Enterprises
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #6 February 20, 2024
CAO ANALYST:
Salvador Espino