REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Budget Modification No. 8 to Appropriate $100,000 of Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) Engagement Track Funds for Electrification Engagement and Ratify the Executed Grant Agreement
Report
GRANT SUMMARY
The City Manager applied for, and on April 25, 2025, the City was awarded grant funds of $100,000 to the Department of Environmental Services and Department of Library and Recreation Services for electrification engagement. SVCE has executed the grant agreement as the granting agency and the City as the grant recipient. Under Council Policy 7.1.5, however, any grant that totals $100,000 or more requires Council approval, and because this grant is at that threshold amount, staff is requesting Council ratification of the executed agreement (Attachment 2). The grant will fund: a casual staff person to serve as an electrification liaison; electrification-related items for the Library of Things; and an electric generator for recreation events.
The goal of the electrification engagement work supported by this grant is to connect community members with resources for transitioning to electric vehicles, in alignment with the Sunnyvale Climate Action Playbook (CAP). Commercial and multi-family properties represent a significant share of building emissions and are prime locations for electric vehicle charging. The electrification project member hired through the grant will focus solely on engaging commercial and multi-family property owners and connecting them with electrification resources. This work supports CAP Move 2.D (electrification of existing buildings), Move 3.N (installation of electric vehicle infrastructure), and Move 5.E (build relationships with large employers in the City).
Expanding the Library of Things to include all-electric or solar and battery-powered items will help educate our community about the alternatives available to fossil-fuel-powered items. In purchasing an electric generator for the Recreation Division, the City can host events utilizing a pollution-free power source. This exemplifies the change the City is striving for in the community and saves the City money on renting equipment. This work also supports CAP Moves 2.D, 2.E (electrification of City facilities and equipment), and 5.F (creating demonstration projects within City operations).
The Sustainability team in the Department of Environmental Services will be responsible for managing the grant in coordination with the Department of Library and Recreation Services.
Granting Agency
Silicon Valley Clean Energy, the City’s Community Choice Aggregator that provides carbon-free electricity to Sunnyvale, administers funds to support electrification work.
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 pursuant to Council Policy 7.1.5 (Grants, Donations, Contributions and Sponsorships). Any grants of $100,000 or more, or that require a local match or obligate the City to ongoing expenses, shall require Council approval of a budget modification before funds can be expended by staff. The budget modification shall include the use to which the grant will be placed; the objectives or goals of the City that 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.
This grant does not meet all of the criteria to be administratively appropriated by the City Manager so a budget modification is required. Grant funds from Silicon Valley Clean Energy have external reporting requirements and are subject to the federal single audit guidelines.
Pursuant to Sunnyvale Charter Section 1305, at any meeting after the adoption of the budget, the City Council may amend or supplement the budget by motion adopted by affirmative votes of at least four members so as to authorize the transfer of unused balances appropriated for one purpose to another, or to appropriate available revenue not included in the budget.
Climate Action Playbook
Strategy 2: Decarbonize Buildings
Strategy 3: Decarbonize Transportation and Sustainable Land Use
Strategy 5: Empowering our Community
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity does not require environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that it may have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3).
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding Source
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Competitive Member Agency Grant: Engagement Track
Required Local Match
None
Increased Cost To City Upon Grant Termination
None
Budget Modification No. 8 has been prepared to appropriate Silicon Valley Clean Energy Competitive Member Agency Grant: Engagement Track funds of $100,000 for electrification engagement to a new project - Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) Competitive Member Agency Grant: Engagement Track.
Budget Modification No. 8
FY 2025/26
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
General Fund |
|
|
|
|
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Competitive Member Agency Grant |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
New Project - Silicon Valley Clean Energy Competitive Member Agency Grant: Engagement Track |
$0 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
New Project - Silicon Valley Clean Energy Competitive Member Agency Grant: Engagement Track |
$0 |
$100,000 |
$100,000 |
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve Budget Modification No. 8 to appropriate $100,000 of Silicon Valley Clean Energy Engagement Track funds for electrification engagement and ratify the executed grant agreement in Attachment 2 to the report.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html <http://www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html>
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
_X_ Contract between public agencies
___ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: Madeline Khair, Environmental Programs Manager
Reviewed by: Ramana Chinnakotla, Director, Environmental Services
Reviewed by: Matthew Paulin, Director of Finance
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Grant Award Email
2. Electrification Engagement Grant Agreement