DATE: March 28, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: 2015-16 Action Plan Amendment; Agreement with the City of Mendota for the Mendota 7th & Derrick Avenue Reconstruction, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Project No. 15473
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
TITLE
1. Amend FY 2015-16 Action Plan to delete the Mendota Water System Improvements, Community Development Block Grant Project No. 15471 ($300,200);
2. Amend FY 2015-16 Action Plan to add the Mendota 7th & Derrick Avenue Reconstruction, Community Development Block Grant Project No. 15473 ($304,726);
3. Approve and authorize Chairman to execute Agreement with the City of Mendota for the Mendota 7th & Derrick Avenue Reconstruction, Community Development Block Grant Project No. 15473 (304,726).
REPORT
The first and second recommended actions amend the County’s 2015-16 Action Plan, approved by the Board on May 5, 2015, to delete the Mendota Water System Improvements Project at the City of Mendota’s request, and add the Mendota 7th & Derrick Avenue Reconstruction Project as a replacement. The Action Plan, which is submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development annually, identifies all planned activities to be undertaken by the County and its partner cities in that program year using County entitlement funds.
The third recommended action provides Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for the Mendota 7th & Derrick Avenue Reconstruction Project, which is being added to the County’s 2015-16 Action Plan, originally approved by the Board on May 5, 2015. Of the $304,726 agreement amount, a total of $300,200 is available from the City’s 2015-16 allocation of CDBG funds as listed in the Action Plan, and the additional funds are available from the City’s remaining balance of CDBG funds.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
The Board may direct the City to propose a different eligible use for its CDBG funds. A different use would require an amendment to the Action Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The total estimated project cost for the Mendota 7th & Derrick Avenue Reconstruction Project is $882,119. CDBG funds in the amount of $304,726 are included in the Public Works and Planning - Community Development Block Grant Org 7205 FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget. The City of Mendota will provide all sums of money in excess of the CDBG funds necessary to complete the project.
DISCUSSION:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually allocates CDBG funding to the County using a formula based on census data for the 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 Agreement contains a mutual indemnity clause consistent with the JPA.
The Mendota Water System Improvements Project, which was originally approved by the Board for inclusion in the 2015-16 Action Plan, was put out to bid twice, with low bids significantly exceeding estimated project costs. The City determined that the Water System Improvements Project was not financially feasible to construct, and submitted a written request to cancel the project. The Director of Public Works & Planning approved the cancellation, and the City repaid all expended CDBG funds on that Project, as required by HUD. The recommended actions will amend the FY 2015-16 Action Plan to cancel the Mendota Water System Improvements Project, add the Mendota 7th & Derrick Reconstruction Project, and execute the new project Agreement.
The Mendota 7th & Derrick Avenue Reconstruction Project consists of realigning 7th Street to provide a perpendicular intersection with Derrick Avenue (State Route 33). The project includes street reconstruction, landscape and landscape irrigation, new and replacement street lighting, decorative concrete, a new memorial sign, pedestrian crossing improvements, and ADA-compliant curb returns. As part of the realignment, a small park/plaza area will be created at the west end of 7th Street. Existing utility and storm drainage infrastructure will be relocated and/or modified to accommodate the proposed improvements. A portion of an existing parking lot will be reconfigured to accommodate the street realignment. The improvements will provide safer vehicle and pedestrian travel and improve the aesthetics of the area.
In addition to providing funds for the Mendota 7th & Derrick Avenue Reconstruction Project, the Agreement requires the City of Mendota to prepare the design plans and specifications in conformance with Federal and State regulations governing Federally-funded projects. The City of Mendota will be responsible for the 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 regulations prior to the City advertising the project for bid. The City of Mendota will be responsible for maintaining the improvements after the project is completed.
Initial Study/Environmental Assessment No. 7244 was completed for the Mendota 7th & Derrick Reconstruction 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)(1).
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
The Agreement has been reviewed and approved by the City of Mendota.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #23, May 5, 2015
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Map
On file with Clerk - Agreement with City of Mendota
CAO ANALYST:
John Hays