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Title:
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Consideration and Approval of Submission of Federal Appropriations Requests for FY 2009-2010.
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City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the submission of Federal
Appropriations Requests for FY 2009-2010 and set the priority ranking of these
projects.
BACKGROUND:
In recent years, with the assistance of Culver City’s federal advocacy team, CJ
Strategies, the City has been successful in obtaining federal appropriations in the
amounts of $2.192 million to widen Sepulveda and Culver Boulevards; $2 million for
preliminary engineering design of the on/off ramp system at the intersection of the I-
10 and Robertson/National Boulevards; $656,000 for the Exposition Light Rail Aerial
Station; $235,000 for the Interagency Interoperable Communications System (ICIS);
and $84,600 for Police Department Computer/Data Equipment.
Each year, the City submits appropriations requests through the City’s Senators and
Representative for consideration during the Federal budgeting process. Once the
appropriations requests are filed, the City continues to work closely with CJ
Strategies. The City Council also provides critical support through direct contacts
with federal elected officials and their staff. While the Federal budget process does
not always result in appropriations requests being approved, the City can be proud
of its recent successes, especially given the very difficult fiscal situation in
Washington.
Meeting Date: 01/12/09 Item Number: A-4
AGENDA ITEM: Consideration and Approval of Submission of Federal
Appropriations Requests for FY 2009-2010.
Contact Person/Dept.: Shelly Wolfberg Phone Number: (310) 253-6008
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Public Notification:
Master E-Mail Notification List (01/07/09).
Department Approval:
Martin R. Cole (01/05/09)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (01/05/08)
Fiscal Impact Review:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (01/06/09)
City Manager Approval:
Jerry B. Fulwood (01/07/09) City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
DISCUSSION:
The City’s FY 2010 Federal appropriations requests are due to Senators Barbara
Boxer’s and Dianne Feinstein’s offices on February 5, 2009. Congresswoman
Watson’s office deadline will follow that date.
Executive Management has proposed various projects for the City Council’s
consideration. These projects were prepared in coordination with our lobbyist in
recent weeks. Based on discussions with staff and the advocacy firm, the following
suggested prioritization of projects will provide the optimal opportunity for success in
the appropriations process:
Staff recommends the following priority ranking of the City’s Appropriations
Requests:
1. ICIS microwave links for network enhancement and bolstered reliability.
A series of microwave links will be placed in the region to harden the network
and make it less vulnerable to failure. One microwave antenna (including
associated transmission equipment) will be placed in the west side to specifically
benefit Culver City and increase our network assurance. Each ICIS Joint Powers
Authority member city is being requested to identify the City’s ICIS request as the
top priority. The total amount requested is $250,000.
2. Culver CityBus Replacement.
Culver City will need to replace twenty (20) 40-foot CNG fueled buses that will
have reached the end of their useful lives in 2010. Culver City would also like to
replace two of the 40’ buses with 60’ articulated buses for use on a new Bus
Rapid Transit program along Sepulveda Boulevard. Culver City would also like
to be able to replace the remainder of the buses with CNG-Electrical hybrid
buses to achieve even greater energy efficiency. The total amount requested is
$3 Million.
3. SR-90 and I-405 Interchange Feasibility Study.
When State Route 90 (SR-90) was constructed, only three interchange
connections were created, connecting it with Interstate 405 (I-405). The
connection from Westbound SR-90 to Southbound I-405 was never constructed.
This project would provide funding for a feasibility study for the westbound 90-
southbound 405 interchange. The total amount requested is $650,000.
City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
4. Storm Water Improvement - Trash Removal Devices on Catch Basins.
This project proposes the installation of trash removal devices in 834 catch
basins citywide to comply with Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) regulations.
The devices will consist of automatic retractable screens along the curb face to
keep larger solids out of catch basins and connector pipe screens inside catch
basins to retain all debris larger than 5mm. The devices would be installed by
the City, and the County has committed to maintaining devices installed in the
597 County-owned catch basins. The total amount requested is $1,300,000.
5. Solar Street lighting demonstration project.
The City of Culver City will be embarking on a redevelopment project to revitalize
a portion of Washington Boulevard. The redevelopment project will enhance the
neighborhood with new commercial, office and housing units. To complement
the LEED certified buildings that will be developed in this area, and to help
sustain “green” technologies, the City will pursue the installation of solar powered
street lights in the area. These street lights will be comprised of Light Emitting
Diode (LED) bulbs, which are brighter than traditional incandescent and
fluorescent bulbs and have a longer life. The solar street light project will involve
the replacement of 47 existing 6.6 amps high voltage streets lights with solar
lighting. The utilization of LED bulbs will result in energy savings since they will
operate on solar and battery power rather than electricity. The total amount
requested is $500,000.
6. Hayden Track/Ballona Creek Bike Trail that promotes pedestrian, transit
and bike connectivity.
This proposed project would result in the design and construction of a new
connection from the Higuera Street bridge area to the existing Ballona Creek
Bike Path. Higuera Street is the western extension of Rodeo Road, just west of
Jefferson Boulevard. Culver City is currently proposing to reconstruct and widen
the roadway of the existing Higuera Street Bridge over the creek and would like
to install a new bike path connection. The Higuera Street-Ballona Creek Bike
Path connector would fill a gap in the regional bikeway network, facilitating use of
the creek path, which connects bicyclists from Culver City/Los Angeles to the
Marvin Braude Bike Path system which provides access to most of the cities
along the Santa Monica Bay. The total amount requested is $400,000.
City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
7. Traffic Monitoring Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Infill Gap Closure.
This project would result in the purchase and installation of fourteen (14) CCTV
cameras at fourteen (14) locations where traffic monitoring voids presently exist
in the City’s current sixteen (16) CCTV camera fiber optic interconnect system.
The City has invested over $2 million in the CCTV program thus far. This
technology enables the City to meet surface street traffic demands and
circulation needs in a real time mode. The CCTV technology also allows for
greater functionality for national security and local security monitoring efforts.
As mentioned above, staff has worked closely with our federal advocacy team in
crafting these proposals to provide the greatest probability of a successful outcome.
While the Federal Budget is in the trillions of dollars, given the current multi-billion
dollar federal deficit, it is particularly important to target appropriations requests to
areas where dollars are most likely to be available. Further, it is possible that the
actual dollar amounts for the appropriations requests may change, depending on
final figures from the departments.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no direct fiscal impact, since funds will not be proposed in the City’s budget
for Federal Appropriations. Funding is recognized if and when the funds are
eventually received, or when signed documentation by both parties state the
absolute receipt of these funds will take place. The latter occurs when the grant is a
“reimbursement” type grant. The pursuit of federal appropriations is a part of the
annual work program adopted as part of the 2008-2009 City Budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1. Approve and authorize staff to submit the proposed projects for consideration for
Federal Appropriation for FY 2009-2010 and set the priority ranking of these
projects as #1 through #7; or
2. Provide other direction to staff as deemed appropriate.