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CC - 1) Acceptance of Prop 1 Grant Funds in the Amount of $1,952,500 Awarded by the Baldwin Hills Conservancy for the Greening the Greenway: Ballona Creek Bike/Ped Path Sustainability, Safety and Accessibility Enhancements Project; and 2) FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT: Approval a Budget Amendment Appropriating a Local Cash Match of $200,000 of Measure R Funds in FY 20-21 and $647,660 of SB1 Funds in FY 21-22
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Meeting Date: November 9, 2020
Contact Person/Dept: Heba El-Guindy/Public Works Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5628
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (11/04/2020)
Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson, PW Director/City Engineer (11/01/2020)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) accept Prop 1 grant funds in the amount of $1,952,500 awarded by the Baldwin Hills Conservancy for the Greening the Greenway: Ballona Creek Bike/Ped Path Sustainability, Safety and Accessibility Enhancements Project; and (2) approve a budget amendment appropriating a local cash match of $200,000 of Measure R funds in FY 20-21 and $647,660 of SB1 funds in FY 21-22 (requires a four-fifths vote).
BACKGROUND
California voters passed the California Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014. The State Legislature has appropriated funds to the Baldwin Hills Conservancy (Conservancy) for capital outlay and local assistance projects, which funds are to be awarded for reduction of pollution or contamination of rivers, lakes, streams, or coastal waters, and protection or restoration of natural system functions that contribute to water supply, water quality, or flood management, consistent with the statute creating the Conservancy.
DISCUSSION
The City applied for the Baldwin Hills Conservancy Prop 1 grant funds for the Greening the Greenway: Ballona Creek Bike/Ped Path Sustainability, Safety and Accessibility Enhancements Project. The grant application resolution was approved by City Council on September 14, 2020. On September 25, 2020, the Conservancy Governing Board awarded the City the requested Prop 1 grant funds in the amount of $1,952,500.
The Greening the Greenway Project is located on the easternmost 1.1 miles of the Ballona Creek Bike Path, between National Boulevard and Duquesne Avenue. The City’s Project will improve wayfinding signs and accessibility at the National Boulevard/Jefferson Boulevard Gateway and at the Duquesne Avenue Gateway. The Project will also plant over 100 trees and replace the 1.1 miles of concrete surface with an eco-friendly permeable pavement along the Path segment between National Boulevard and Duquesne Avenue. The Project will also install solar powered lighting along this Path segment, add lighting under the overcrossings, replace damaged fencing, and enhance signage and markings for improved public safety and security, in order to promote greater usage among women and children and to increase utilization in the evenings and during the shorter days of winter. A concept plan of the Project alignment and improvements is attached. Initiating bids for detailed design of the project is expected to be considered by Council in January 2021 with the Project construction is planned to take place in fiscal year 2021-2022. It should be noted that construction of the Ballona Creek Bike Path improvements will be coordinated with the upcoming reconstruction of the Higuera Street bridge overcrossing the Creek.
The Path upgrades will improve utilization, mobility and access for persons with disabilities or mobility impairments, will provide for wildlife habitat and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contamination of water runoff into the Ballona Creek watershed. In addition to delivering habitat and sustainability benefits, the proposed enhancements will allow more bicyclists and walkers to enjoy the extensive connections afforded by this major Regional Greenway multi-use path, which links to a wide array of important destinations and mobility hubs.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Culver City was eligible to receive up to $2,000,000. The local match can be direct and third-party cash, staff time, and in-kind contributions. The awarded Prop 1 grant is in the amount of $1,952,500 with a local cash match of $847,660, in addition to staff time of approximately $130,000. To meet the local cash match requirements, staff recommends a budget amendment reallocating $200,000 of the Metro local return Measure R funds in FY 20-21 from other projects, and approving a future allocation of $647,660 of SB1 funds for the project in FY 21-22 (requires four-fifths vote).
ATTACHMENT
1. 2020-11-09 - Concept Plan of Project Alignment and Improvements
MOTION
1) Accept the Prop 1 grant funds in the amount of $1,952,500 awarded by the Baldwin Hills Conservancy for the Greening the Greenway: Ballona Creek Bike/Ped Path Sustainability, Safety and Accessibility Enhancements Project; and
2) Approve a Budget Amendment appropriating a Local Match of $200,000 of Measure R Funds in FY 20-21 and $647,660 of SB1 Funds in FY 21-22 as matching funds for the project (requires four-fifths vote).