Honorable Mayor and Members of the Hermosa Beach City Council Regular Meeting of January 8, 2019
Title
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION APPROVING
THE ALLOCATION OF APPROXIMATELY $71,298 OF
FEDERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG)
FUNDS FOR SIDEWALK CURB RAMPS, AUTHORIZING USE
OF CDBG FUNDS FOR CONTRACTORS, AND GRANTING
THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AUTHORITY TO
SUBMIT A NOTICE OF COMPLETION
(Community Development Director Ken Robertson)
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the FY 2019-20 budget resolution which:
1. Approves the FY 2019-2020 CDBG allocation of approximately $71,298;
2. Approves the allocation of approximately $71,298 of Federal CDBG funds in FY 2019-20 for the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) sidewalk ramp project;
3. Authorizes the use of CDBG funds in FY 2019-20 for a construction contractor and a Contract/Labor Compliance Officer to provide direct project related services, including, but not limited to, construction management and inspections; and
4. Grants the Public Works Director authority to submit a notice of completion once work is complete.
Body
Executive Summary:
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is authorized under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The primary objective of Title I is to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. The CDBG program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), offers communities opportunities to compete nationally for funds to implement program activities that best meet the needs of their communities, in accordance with the national objectives and requirements of the CDBG program.
Approval of the Fiscal Year 2019-20 CDBG budget would allow the City to receive an allocation of approximately $71,298 and authorize staff to proceed with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) sidewalk ramp project in the FY 2019-20. This project is part of the City’s overall effort to make its sidewalks more ADA accessible.
Background
The Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles (CDC) administers CDBG funding on behalf of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which oversees the CDC, and 47 small participating cities throughout the County.
The CDBG Program has three primary objectives:
1. Benefit those with low- and moderate-income;
2. Aid in preventing neighborhood deterioration; and
3. Meet other urgent community development needs due to natural disasters or other emergencies.
The CDC works closely with diverse communities and elected representatives to assess local needs and identify funding priorities. The CDC then contracts with local agencies and organizations to provide funding for the needed services.
Discussion:
The CDC’s administrative deadlines require City Council approval of the next FY 2019-20 CDBG allocation amount and adoption of the FY 2019-20 budget the January before the start of the applicable Fiscal Year. The County Community Development Commission (CDC) has estimated that the City’s FY 2019-20 allocation will be approximately $71,298. Staff recommends that the Council approve the use of these funds for a construction contractor and a Contract/Labor Compliance Officer for the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) sidewalk ramp project to provide direct project related services, including but not limited to construction management and inspections. Use of CDBG funds currently included in the 2018-19 budget under CIP 17-687 and CIP 18-691 would also cover design, materials and labor.
The ADA sidewalk ramp project is part of the City’s Capital Improvement Project No. 18-691 to provide improvements and relocation of sidewalks, curb ramps and obstructions in highly traversed areas within the City in order to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the latest federal standards. The project would remove architectural and material barriers and provide unobstructed paths of travel for elderly and severely disabled adults on various City sidewalks. The project would provide for the construction of curb ramps where no curb ramps currently exist and the reconstruction of curb ramps that are too steep, deteriorated, not wide enough or create other accessibility barriers for severely disabled adults and/or elderly that use wheelchairs, canes, walkers or crutches. Requisite striping and signage would also be provided.
In addition to the approval of the use of the CDBG funds granted to the City, staff recommends that the City Council grant the Public Works Director authority to submit a notice of completion (NOC) once the work is complete. An NOC is a legal document which, when recorded and served, shortens the time for contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and equipment lessors to record a mechanics lien, serve a stop payment notice and make a payment bond claim. The NOC must be recorded by the property owner with the Office of the County Recorder within 15 calendar days of the actual date of completion of the project.
General Plan Consistency:
The proposed project supports the City’s General Plan Mobility Element goals to provide a public realm that is safe, comfortable, and convenient for travel via foot, bicycle, public transit, and automobile and creates vibrant, people oriented public spaces that encourage active living and to provide public right-of-ways supporting a multimodal and people-oriented transportation system that provides diversity and flexibility on how users choose to be mobile (General Plan Mobility Element Goals 2 and 3).
The proposed project is consistent with the following General Plan policies:
• 2.1 Prioritize public right-of-ways. Prioritize improvements of public right-of-ways that provide heightened levels of safe, comfortable and attractive public spaces for all non-motorized travelers while balancing the needs of efficient vehicular circulation.
• 3.1 Enhance public right-of-ways. Where right-of-way clearance allows, enhance public right-of ways to improve connectivity for pedestrians, bicyclists, disabled persons, and public transit stops.
• 3.2 Complete pedestrian network. Prioritize investment in designated priority sidewalks to ensure a complete network of sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly amenities that enhances pedestrian safety, access opportunities and connectivity to destinations.
• 3.10 Require ADA standards. Require that all public right-of-ways be designed per Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards by incorporating crosswalks, curb ramps, pedestrian signals, and other components to provide ease of access for disabled persons.
Fiscal Impact:
There will be no impact to the City’s General Fund. The City currently has two ADA sidewalk curb ramp projects, CIP 17-687 for $150,000 and CIP 18-691 for $120,000. The 2019-20 CDBG allocation of approximately $71,298 and any unexpended prior year allocations will be appropriated to CIP 18-691 with the 2019-20 Budget. Staff will bring specific project locations back to the City Council with the 2019-20 Capital Improvement Project budget.
Attachments:
1. Resolution Approving FY 2019-20 Budget
2. CIP-33 - 18-691 ADA Improvements - Various Locations.pdf
Respectfully Submitted by: Nicole Ellis, Associate Planner
Concur: Ken Robertson, Community Development Director
Concur: Glen W.C. Kau, P.E., Director of Public Works/City Engineer
Noted for Fiscal Impact: Viki Copeland, Finance Director
Approved: Suja Lowenthal, City Manager