DATE: September 9, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Agreement with the City of Fowler for the Fowler Panzak Park ADA Improvements (CDBG 24231)
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute Agreement with the City of Fowler for the Fowler Panzak Park ADA Improvements, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Project No. 24231, which consists of accessibility improvements within an existing park, reconstructing sidewalk, curb, and gutter around the perimeter of the park, the addition of sidewalk for accessibility within the park, reconstruction of ADA curb ramps to meet current ADA standards, modification of on-street parking to provide new ADA stalls with ramps, and installation of a rubberized tile system beneath existing playground equipment, effective upon execution through May 20, 2026, total CDBG funding amount not to exceed $766,000; and
2. Approve and authorize the Director of Public Works and Planning to evaluate and grant timeline extensions and scope modifications for completion of the Project, as requested by the City of Fowler, in compliance with the Federal CDBG regulations, and so long as the modifications do not change the fundamental nature of the project.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the first recommended action will provide Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for the Fowler Panzak Park ADA Improvements (Project), included in the County’s 2024-25 Annual Action Plan approved by the Board on June 18, 2024, and 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan approved by your Board on August 5, 2025. The Project cost is estimated at $1,121,781; the City of Fowler (City) will provide a local financial contribution of $355,781. This item pertains to a location in District 4.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may elect to not approve recommended action one and direct the City to propose a different eligible use for its CDBG funds. However, a different use would require an amendment to the 2024-25 Annual Action Plan and the 2025-2026 Annual Action Plan and may impact the County’s ability to meet its CDBG expenditure timelines set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Your Board may also elect not to approve recommended action two, requiring any modifications to the timeline or scope to come to your Board for approval, resulting in delays to the Project. In such an event, the recommended agreement would need to be modified to remove those provisions that authorize the Director of Public Works and Planning (Director) grant modifications to the Project timeline or scope.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The total estimated Project cost is $1,121,781. CDBG funds in the amount of $766,000 are included in the Department of Public Works and Planning - CDBG Org 7205 FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget. The County provides the funds on a reimbursement basis. The City shall provide any and all local financial contribution in excess of the CDBG funds that may be necessary to complete the Project.
DISCUSSION:
HUD annually allocates CDBG funding to the County using a formula based on census data for Fresno County and its partner cities. Using the same formula, the County then reallocates a portion of the CDBG funds to its partner cities through a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) for the purpose of carrying out housing and community development activities. The JPA permits the partner cities to select eligible projects for submission to the County for consideration. Under the JPA, the County is responsible for the overall administration of the CDBG Program and for the contract management of each project receiving CDBG funds. The recommended agreement contains a mutual indemnity clause consistent with the JPA. The JPA governing this Project was approved by the Board on August 8, 2023.
This Project, which was approved by the Board for inclusion in the 2024-25 Annual Action Plan and 2025-26 Annual Action Plan, consists of accessibility improvements within the existing Fowler Panzak Park, reconstructing sidewalk, curb, and gutter around the perimeter of the park, the addition of sidewalk for accessibility within the park, reconstruction of ADA curb ramps to meet current ADA standards, modification of on-street parking to provide new ADA stalls with ramps, and installation of a rubberized tile system beneath existing playground equipment.
The funds allocated by the recommended agreement are one-time funds representing the City’s CDBG program income received by the City from activities funded by the State of California’s CDBG program, and the State has allowed the County to administer the funds on behalf of the City, at the City’s request. The City’s 2025-2026 CBDG funds available from participation in the JPA will be brought back to your Board for consideration as an amendment after HUD approves the 2025-26 Annual Action Plan and those funds become available.
In addition to providing local funds in excess of the CDBG funds should it be necessary for the Project, the recommended agreement requires the City to prepare design plans and specifications that conform to Federal and State regulations governing Federally-assisted projects. The City will also be responsible for advertising and awarding of the Project to the lowest responsible bidder, and completion of the necessary construction engineering. The County agrees to review and approve the plans and specifications for compliance with Federal and State regulations prior to the City advertising the Project for bid. The City agrees to maintain the Project after completion.
Environmental Review No. CD24231 was completed for the Project under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Based on the environmental review, the Project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the CEQA Guidelines under Section 15301, Class 1 - Existing Facilities. Under Section 15301, a Class 1(c) exemption consists of the operation, repair, maintenance or minor alteration of existing public facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use, including existing highways, streets, and sidewalks. It has also been determined that the Project is exempt per Section 58.34 (a)(12) of the NEPA Guidelines because the Project meets the requirements for a categorical exclusion under Section 58.35 (a)(2).
The Project is expected to be completed by May 20, 2026. In the event the City requires additional time to complete the Project for a reason beyond the control of either party to the agreement, your Board’s approval of the recommended agreement and recommended action two authorizes the Director to grant such an extension. In the event the City requests to modify the scope of the Project, your Board’s approval of the agreement and recommended actions authorizes the Director to grant such a modification, so long as the modification complies with the Federal CDBG regulations and does not change the fundamental nature of the Project.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The City of Fowler has reviewed and approved the recommended agreement.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #16, August 5, 2025
BAI #8, June 18, 2024
BAI #40, August 8, 2023
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Location Map
On file with Clerk - Agreement with City of Fowler
CAO ANALYST:
Dylan McCully