REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve Budget Modification No. 4 to Appropriate $1,750,000 in Caltrans Priority Legislative Budget Project Funding for the Lakewood Safe Route to School Project
Report
BACKGROUND
In the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Chapter of the 2020 Active Transportation Plan, SRTS improvements have been identified at the intersection of Lakechime Drive and Meadowlake Drive near Lakewood Elementary School. The improvements include curb radius reductions, curb extensions to reduce crossing distances, ADA curb ramps, high visibility crosswalks, and pedestrian safety signs and striping. In addition, the City will be implementing green stormwater infrastructure when the opportunity arises to better facilitate stormwater runoff in the area. Streetlights will be strategically relocated to enhance lighting conditions and improve visibility for travelers near this intersection. These improvements will improve the overall health, safety, and connectivity for students when walking or biking to school.
GRANT SUMMARY
The California Legislature has authorized funding for Priority Legislative Budget Projects (PLBP), and Caltrans is the authorizing agency for the proper distribution of the PLBP funding. These are projects that the legislature identifies as priorities and directly appropriates funding. On July 10, 2023, Governor Newsom approved Assembly Bill 102, Budget Act of 2023, which added Section 19.569 to the Budget Act of 2023. Specifically, Section 19.569, subdivision (b)(9), appropriated $1,750,000 from the State General Fund to Caltrans, and specifically allocated the funding to the City of Sunnyvale for the Lakewood Safe Route to School Project (Attachment 1).
To appropriate the funding, the City must execute a Funds Transfer Agreement with Caltrans. The City has an existing Funds Transfer Agreement with Caltrans in place which was executed on September 19, 2024, and is in effect until City’s completion of obligations under the agreement (Attachment 2). The Funds Transfer Agreement provides that the funds must be encumbered by June 30, 2025 and expended by June 30, 2027, or the funds will revert to the State’s General Fund.
The allocated funding will be used to complete the design and construction of the SRTS improvements at the intersection of Lakechime Drive and Meadowlake Drive as described above. City staff is prepared to begin working on the project as soon as funds are appropriated to meet the June 30, 2027 deadline.
EXISTING POLICY
General Plan, Chapter 3, Land Use and Transportation Element:
Policy LT-3.18 Facilitate safe and orderly traffic flow and promote school pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Council Policy 7.1.5 Grants, 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 7.1.1 (Fiscal - Long Range Goals and Financial Policies), B.4. (Grants and Intergovernmental Assistance). The city manager may accept and appropriate grant funds up to $100,000 that do not require a local match or obligate the City to any ongoing expenses, through an administrative budget modification. 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.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The budget modification is not a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4) in that it is a government fiscal activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. The appropriate CEQA analysis will be performed during the project design process and brought to Council for approval with the award of construction contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budget Modification No. 4 has been prepared to appropriate PLBP funds via Caltrans in the amount of $1,750,000 to a new project - Lakewood Safe Route to School. No local match is required.
Budget Modification No. 4
FY 2024/25
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Capital Projects Fund - General Assets Sub-Fund |
|
|
|
|
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
State Grant - Priority Legislative Budget Projects |
$0 |
$1,750,000 |
$1,750,000 |
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|
|
|
|
|
Capital Projects Fund - General Assets Sub-Fund |
|
|
|
|
New Project - Lakewood Safe Route to School |
$0 |
$1,750,000 |
$1,750,000 |
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 NOVA Workforce Services 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.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve Budget Modification No. 4 to appropriate $1,750,000 in Caltrans Priority Legislative Budget Project funding for the Lakewood Safe Route to School Project.
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 $250 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
A check 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
_x_ General policy and legislative actions
Staff
Prepared by: Angela Wong, Transportation Engineer
Reviewed by: Dennis Jaw, Interim Director of Finance
Reviewed by: Chip Taylor, Director, Department of Public Works
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Priority Legislative Budget Projects (PLBP) 2023 AB 102
2. Funds Transfer Agreement Dated September 19, 2024