REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorization to Accept a Metropolitan Transportation Commission Priority Development Area Planning Grant and Approval of Budget Modification No. 23 to Appropriate Funds for the Comprehensive Update of the Precise Plan for El Camino Real
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
Staff requests Council authorization to accept a Priority Development Area (PDA) Planning Grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and approve Budget Modification No. 23 to complete a comprehensive update of the Precise Plan for El Camino Real.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The City Council combined and highly ranked two study issues (CDD 14-09 and CDD 14-14) in January 2014 to update and clarify policies in the Precise Plan for El Camino Real (Attachment 1). The original Precise Plan for El Camino Real (Plan) was completed in 1993 and updated in 2007. Since that time, development interest in the El Camino Real corridor has greatly increased. Although the 2007 Plan enhanced the vision of El Camino Real as a vibrant, mixed-use corridor with pedestrian-oriented environments and improved streetscapes, it does not provide enough specificity to effectively guide development.
Council approved $80,000 as part of Budget Supplement #2 in the FY 2014/15 Adopted Budget for limited consultant services to prepare a market demand/land use alternatives analysis for the corridor and to conduct the environmental review necessary to support the Plan amendments. Staff applied for the PDA Planning Grant from MTC to allow for a broader scope of work for the Precise Plan update and preparation of a programmatic EIR to facilitate its implementation. The project has been awarded $587,000 with a local match requirement of $80,000. To secure the grant funding, Council authorization is required to sign the funding agreement provided by MTC (Attachment 2), which includes the project scope, budget and schedule prepared by staff.
Staff will prepare a Request for Proposals (RFP) to obtain consultant services for the Plan update. Staff estimates the project will take approximately 18 months to complete after a consultant contract is awarded. The grant requires the formation of a community advisory group to guide the preparation of the plan. A more detailed work schedule and public outreach strategy will be presented to the City Council at a later date following MTC approval of the agreement and selection of the consultant team.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 7.1.5 Donations, Contributions and Sponsorships:
The City Manager may apply for grants of any dollar amount, but shall notify the Council when grants are being pursued. Council approval of a budget modification to appropriate grant monies is required before funds can be expended by staff. Such a budget modification shall include the use to which the grant would be placed; the objectives or goals of the City which will be achieved through use of the grant; the local match required, if any, plus the source of the local match; any increased cost to be locally funded upon termination of the grant; and the ability of the City to administer the grant.
Grant funds from MTC have external reporting requirements and fall under the federal single audit guidelines.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Appropriation of grant funds does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Comprehensive Update of the Precise Plan for El Camino Real project is funded in the General Fund. With acceptance of this grant, the total cost for the project is estimated to be $667,000.
Acceptance of the grant would require a local match of 12% of the total project budget ($80,000). Funding of $80,000 was appropriated to the project in the FY 2014/15 Adopted Budget which is available to use as the local match for this project.
Budget Modification No. 23 has been prepared to appropriate $587,000 in grant funds in the General Fund to project 830980, the Comprehensive Update of the Precise Plan for El Camino Real.
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
General Fund |
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
|
|
MTC Grant |
$0 |
$587,000 |
$587,000 |
Expenditures |
|
|
|
830980 - Comprehensive Update of the Precise Plan for El Camino Real |
$80,000 |
$587,000 |
$667,000 |
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize acceptance of the MTC PDA Planning Grant in the amount of $587,000 and authorize the City Manager to execute the Funding Agreement (Attachment 2); and approve Budget Modification No. 23 to appropriate grant funding received for the Comprehensive Update of the Precise Plan for El Camino Real.
Staff
Prepared by: Rosemarie Zulueta, Associate Planner
Reviewed by: Hanson Hom, Director, Community Development Department
Reviewed by Grace K. Leung, Director, Finance Department
Reviewed by: Robert A. Walker, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Study Issue Papers
2. MTC Grant Funding Agreement