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Home My WebLink About2007/07/10 Item 18 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT JULY 10, 2007 Item /9. SUBMITTED BY: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF A GRANT APPLICATION AND, IF AWARDED, ACCEPTANCE OF A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES GRANT FOR FUNDS TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY-BASED LAND USE PLANNING IN SOUTHWEST CHULA VISTA; AND CERTIFYING THE COMMITMENT OF MATCHING FUNDS THEREFOR if: DIRECTOR OF PLANNING & BUILDING, ACTING DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DE LOPMENTi} ITEM TITLE: REVIEWED BY: CITY MANAGER ACTING ASSIST --- T CITY MANAGER =;;) 4/STHS VOTE: YES D NO [!] BACKGROUND In December 2005, the City of Chula Vista adopted a new General Plan Update (GPU) and in the same year the Redevelopment Agency approved a Five-Year Strategic and Implementation Plan. Both policy documents envision targeting Southwest Chula Vista for sustainable land uses, positive improvements, and public and private investment. To help flesh out those directives in advance of specific planning, the City intends to gain a full understanding of the priorities of Southwest Chula Vista residents, businesses, property owners, and other key stakeholders. Potential grant funding for the project is available through the California Pollution Control Financing Authority. The competitive grant assists local agencies in planning sustainable community projects. The deadline for submission is July 16,2007. Criteria for awarding grants is in five areas: . Meeting one or more of nine Sustainable Development objectives. . Promoting econornic development in economically distressed communities. 18-1 /y JULY 10, 2007, Item~ Page 2 of 4 . Incorporating creative approaches. . The likelihood of actual implementation. . The transferability and applicability of the program to other communities. Staff believes the proposed "Southwest Chula Vista Sustainable Communities Project" would meet grant program criteria. RECOMMENDATION That Council adopt the resolution: . Authorizing the filing of a grant application and, if awarded, acceptance of a Sustainable Communities grant for funds to conduct community-based land use planning in Southwest Chula Vista; and . Certifying the commitment of matching funds therefor BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION N/A DISCUSSION The proposed "Southwest Chula Vista Sustainable Communities Project" is a comprehensive effort to begin implementing the City's General Plan and the Redevelopment Agency's Five- Year Implementation Plan for the Southwest by bringing together residents, businesses, property owners, and other Southwest Chula Vista stakeholders to: . Establish community and neighborhood priorities for change . Identify assets and successful enterprises to build upon · Develop partnerships and leverage resources for promoting sustainable infill redevelopment and strengthening neighborhoods . Promote economic development and jobs creation in economically distressed areas · Identify needed infrastructure and public amenities in neighborhoods and business districts . Promote land uses that support alternative transportation and walkable communities · Ensure a healthy mix of business, housing and affordable housing . Protect and improve the environment, and . Improve the public health through such efforts as creating walkable communities · Develop and implement a legislative agenda to implement priorities Southwest Chula Vista is a portion of the City with great potential for becoming a sustainable community model. It includes enterprise zones, CDBG-eligible areas and Redevelopment 18-2 If; JULY 10, 2007, Item~ Page 3 of 4 Project Areas. Areas of the Southwest exhibit social, economic and political disparity when compared to other parts of the City and region. Staff therefore recommends that the initial group of community stakeholders include many segments of the community that are not represented by any existing community-based organization as well as those now represented. The City and Agency intend to initiate an ambitious public outreach effort requiring numerous community meetings, focus group sessions, citizen academies, a "visioning process" and priority setting by geographic subarea. Initial steps will include asset mapping and identifying efforts and programs that are already working well in the Southwest. Working in partnership with institutions, organizations, entities and individuals that are currently making progress and achieving success in the Southwest will allow the community to establish sustainable priorities for the future. Concurrent with or subsequent to the community outreach project, the City will update the Zoning Code Ordinance, launch one or more Specific Plans, review the Capital Improvement Program and identify additional sources of funding in preparation for private development and Redevelopment Agency investment. Input from the community and neighborhoods of Southwest Chula Vista will be included in the project prioritization process. The total project cost is estimated to be $750,000 for staffing and direct costs, including consultant costs; visioning toolkits; translation and interpretation costs; facilitation, process and project management; noticing, advertisement, workshop and other materials; volunteer stipends; training and education; meeting facilities, event costs, and the zoning ordinance update. While matching funds are not a requirement of this grant, they do enhance our competitiveness in the application process. The City has identified funding sources including $50,000 in Redevelopment Agency funds from the Southwest Planning and Civic Engagement Activities CIP, and City in-kind contribution of$350,000 for staff time and costs over the next two years for Planning Department and Community Development Department staff time devoted to project development and implementation. A $350,000 grant from the Sustainable Communities Grant & Loan Program would complete the funding package for this project and would cover the costs of the needed consultants, outreach materials and activities. Council adoption of this resolution would support the "Southwest Chula Vista Sustainable Communities Project" concept as proposed, and the City's grant application to the Sustainable Communities Grant and Loan Program, and certify the commitment of $400,000 for the project, $350,000 of which is in-kind and $50,000 of which is consultant services funded by the Redevelopment Agency's Southwest Planning and Civic Engagement Activities CIP in the Agency's Merged Project Fund. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The Environmental Review Coordinator has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary. 18-3 JULY 10,2007, Item'! Page 4 of 4 DECISION MAKER CONFLICT Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently the 500 foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section l8704.2(a)(I) is not applicable to this decision. FISCAL IMPACT There will be no impact to the General Fund as a result of this action. If a Sustainable Communities grant is awarded to the City, staff will return to Council with a detailed work plan and cost estimates, and request appropriation of the $350,000 grant award. The City's match, $350,000 in-kind services and $50,000 consultant services contract, will be expended as part of the GPU implementation project. The staff resources are within the Planning & Building and Community Development Departments' FY2007-08 and FY2008-09 adopted budgets and the contract services are allocated from the Southwest Planning and Civic Engagement Activities CIP from the Redevelopment Agency Merged Project Fund. ATTACHMENTS Exhibit A: Southwest Sustainable Development Program Vicinity Map, Citywide View Exhibit B: Southwest Sustainable Development Program Vicinity Map, Project Area View 18-4 ~ ~I'~ ~ 15~ III OD.. <C ti~ III~ :1:_ :l:Z !-- :IV Sl> o g> is ~ . <fJ "0 ~ " o o <.) o '" . is ~ . <fJ "0 '" ~ o o <.) o g> is ~ . <fJ "0 '" U o '" . is ~ . <fJ "0 '" U .. Z.. Wel :Ew .... oel ':1:; ~!!l ..0 w.. .... .. W Z 0" N:il W.. !!lel .... ..u .... w~ "0 Z.. W.. ~zt~ W .. el .. u W ~ o .. .. CI .. .. u --- --- ~ o . . '" -~ 0" . ~o. G-S ~ W .. el 1: .... 00 J.. .... IElmD 8 .:...:.... '.,".;'.:": '.' ,..', .:.::::.:::.:.:::.:.::. o o . is o . "' 15 z. 6 ~ 0 . . OJ w -]1 0" . Z+~ z.~ .- E .., ,,- -0. :tl \ Uc:c '" .. Iii:e .. .. .. \ z", ~:tl <l: '" UI~ ":3 t; :3 \ :1- ::E.. N.. .. .. \ ::tZ ~<l: .... ~ <l: 1-- ~<l: 0 ~ it' \ ~ ~.. g:t; .. III ::IU ..u .. .. 0- >.. .... l!l "'; 0 \ ;; ..~ ..~ 00 ~j' ..,> 00 "0 .. \ :l .... z.. 0 ~; .,,, .... .... u "'.. \ :> :I: ~ \ " ~1'> I ~ [] 0 .. ~ ~~ \ 0 :.... ~ .'.'.'. \ ~ 18-6 \ u RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION AND, IF AWARDED, ACCEPTANCE OF A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES GRANT FOR FUNDS TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY BASED LAND USE PLANNING IN SOUTHWEST CHULA VISTA; AND CERTIFYING THE COMMITMENT OF MATCHING FUNDS THEREFOR WHEREAS, the State of California Pollution Control Financing Authority funds a program titled "Sustainable Communities Grant and Loan Program" ("Grant Program") to assist cities and counties in their community planning and development efforts; and WHEREAS, the State of California Pollution Control Financing Authority provides funding to those cities and programs that reduce pollution hazards and degradation of the environment, promote infill development, promote economic development in economically distressed areas, promote land uses that support alternative transportation options, ensure a proper mix of business and housing including affordable housing, balance job growth with new housing, encourage communities centered around civic space, ensure well-planned higher density land use and protect the environment; and WHEREAS, the City's "Southwest Chula Vista Sustainable Communities Project" ("Project") proposal ("Proposal") meets the objectives of the California Pollution Control Financing Authority ;and WHEREAS, Southwest Chula Vista community groups have expressed an interest and willingness to enter into partnership in seeing significant improvements to the neighborhoods and business districts of Southwest Chula Vista; and WHEREAS, though the Grant Program does not require matching funds, a proposal that includes a commitment to match or to provide additional funding for a project will be considered more favorably than a similar proposal without such commitment; and WHEREAS, the City and Redevelopment Agency propose a partnership to contribute resources, three hundred fifty thousand dollars of which will be in the form of in kind services and dedicated staff time and fifty thousand dollars from the Southwest Planning and Civic Engagement Activities Capital Improvement Program fund, to the Project in order to increase the chances of the City obtaining the grant; and 18-7 WHEREAS, the applicant will enter into an agreement with the State of California Pollution Control Financing Authority to complete the Project; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby approve the filing of an application and, if awarded, acceptance of a Sustainable Communities Grant; and BE IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby authorize the commitment to contribute four hundred thousand dollars in resources, three hundred and fifty thousand of which shall be in the form of in kind services and dedicated staff time and the balance shall be from the Southwest Planning and Civic Engagement Activities Capital Improvement Program from the Redevelopment Agency's Merged Project Fund, to the Project; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby certify that the City has or will have available prior to commencement of any work on the Project included in this application, sufficient funds to operate and maintain the Project; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby certify that the City has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the General Provisions contained in the Contract shown in the Procedural Guide; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby appoint the City Manager or his designee as agent to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents, including but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the Project; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Chula Vista does hereby agree to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and guidelines. Presented by Nancy Lytle Southwest Chula Vista Project Lead 18-8