DATE: July 10, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Retroactive Strategic Partnership Grant Application
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS:
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the Department of Public Works and Planning’s participation as co-applicant with the Fresno Council of Governments and the City of Fresno, for the preparation and submittal of a grant application to receive Federal Highway Administration funds administered by the California Department of Transportation in the amount of $239,040, for a planning project which will develop implementation measures, provide cost-benefit analyses for priority investments, identify potential funding sources for priority infrastructure and prioritize recommendations for investment in the “Industrial Triangle” area of Fresno County.
2. Approve Resolution authorizing the Director of the Department of Public Works and Planning, or designee, to enter into a multiple agency agreement to develop a plan for the “Industrial Triangle” area of Fresno County that will address the potential impacts from new development and respond to multimodal travel needs in the area.
REPORT
Approval of recommended actions will authorize Department of Public Works and Planning staff to assist the Fresno Council of Governments (COG) efforts, with COG as the lead agency, to obtain funds to develop The Infrastructure for Prosperity in the Central Valley’s Industrial Triangle Plan (Plan). This application was submitted on February 23, 2018, contingent on your Board’s approval. This item pertains to locations in District 3.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS:
If your Board does not retroactively authorize the grant submittal, then any further assistance to COG by Department staff will cease, and staff will notify COG that it will not participate in the project.
If your Board does not approve the resolution granting signature authority to the Department Director, or his designee, then any actions by the County related to the plan development will be required to be brought before your Board for approval and execution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Department costs incurred by participating with COG will be for in-kind staff time estimated at $5,384. The Department will also contribute a local cash match in the amount of $12,331. The costs will be paid from the Interest and Miscellaneous Org 2540 and will be included in the FY 2018-19 Recommended Budget request. COG will contribute $20,000 from the Overall Work Plan funds allocated to County for expanding the scope of the project.
DISCUSSION:
On January 5, 2018, the Department of Transportation released a call for Strategic Partnership Grant applications. The grant is intended to identify and address statewide, interregional, or regional transportation deficiencies on the State highway system in partnership with California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
COG sought support from the County and the City of Fresno to submit an application to Caltrans for its Infrastructure for Prosperity in the Central Valley’s Industrial Triangle Plan (Plan). The Fresno industrial triangle area is experiencing growth that will have a regional impact on the economy and travel patterns for years to come.
The Plan responds to this growth by convening regional partners from multiple jurisdictions to determine the local and regional impacts of developments to the current transportation system in the industrial triangle. The industrial triangle is bounded by State Route (SR) - 41 to the east, SR-99 to the west, Church Avenue to the north and American Avenue to the south, see Exhibit A. The Plan scope will extend to Cedar Avenue from SR-99 to Clayton Avenue to the south. After further analysis, the County requested that the scope of the study area be expanded from American Avenue to Adams Avenue.
Based on anticipated travel needs, strategies will be identified to: 1) mitigate the impact of the growing industrial triangle area on SR-99, SR-41, and regional roadways, and 2) establish a connected and coordinated transportation system to move people and goods efficiently along SR-99, SR-41 and local and regional roadways. Community residents will be engaged in the planning process, with efforts focused on addressing environmental justice concerns.
The Plan will develop implementation measures, prioritize recommendations for investment in the industrial triangle area, provide cost-benefit analyses for priority investments, and identify potential funding sources for priority infrastructure.
The County, City, and COG routinely engage in cooperative planning and execution of all manner of public infrastructure projects. The Plan’s components and outcomes align with the Federal Highway Administration/Caltrans Strategic Partnership Grant program's mission and overarching objectives, and will result in long-term economic benefit for the businesses and communities of Fresno County.
The retroactive authorization request is being presented because Department staff was not notified of the grant opportunity until February 20, 2018. The application was completed and submitted by the COG on February 23, 2018, the final application filing deadline. The recommended grant submittal was originally intended to come before your Board in April 2018. However, the Department was awaiting confirmation of the concurrence from COG and City of Fresno to expand the scope of the Plan study area. As of June 8, 2018, the request was approved by COG and the City of Fresno and is currently pending final approval from Caltrans.
On May 16, 2018, the County received notification that the Strategic Partnership Grant application submitted by COG was successful, see attachment. The following components to proceed with the development of the Plan include project initiation and coordination, data collection, public outreach and community engagement, preparation of a draft Plan and it’s finalization, COG Board adoption, and fiscal management and reporting.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
A copy of this Agenda Item was provided to COG and the City of Fresno.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Exhibit A
Grant Award Notification Letter
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Sonia M. De La Rosa