Honorable Mayor and Members of the Hermosa Beach City Council
Regular Meeting of January 11, 2022
Title
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ALLOCATION OF APPROXIMATELY $62,938 OF FEDERAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) FUNDS FOR SIDEWALK RECONSTRUCTION ALONG LONGFELLOW AVENUE AND MONTEREY BOULEVARD, 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)
Body
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Staff recommends City Council:
1. Adopt the attached Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 budget resolution which:
a. Approves the FY 2022-23 CDBG allocation of approximately $62,938;
b. Approves the allocation of approximately $62,938 of Federal CDBG funds in FY 2022-23 for the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) sidewalk improvements project;
c. Authorizes the use of CDBG funds in FY 2022-23 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
2. Grant 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 FY 2022-23 CDBG budget would allow the City to receive an allocation of approximately $62,938, which would be appropriated to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) sidewalk improvements. This project is part of the City’s overall effort to make its sidewalks more accessible.
Background:
The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) administers CDBG funding, on behalf of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, for the County and 48 participating cities.
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.
LACDA works closely with diverse communities and elected representatives to assess local needs and identify funding priorities. LACDA then contracts with local agencies and organizations to provide funding for the needed services.
|
Funds Available |
Description |
|
$87,950 |
Reserve Fund accumulated from previous years allocation |
|
$62,938 |
Anticipated FY 2022-23 Allocation |
|
$150,888 |
TOTAL AVAILABLE FUNDING |
Discussion:
LACDA’s administrative deadlines require City Council approval of the next FY 2022-23 CDBG allocation amount and adoption of the FY 2022-23 budget in January, before the start of the applicable fiscal year. LACDA estimated the City’s FY 2022-23 allocation as approximately $62,938. Staff recommends Council approve the use of this proposed allocation for a construction contractor and a Contract/Labor Compliance Officer for the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) sidewalk improvements project to provide direct project related services including, but not limited to, construction management and inspections.
The ADA sidewalk improvement project would be a part of the City’s Capital Improvement Program for FY 2022-23. The project would provide improvements to approximately 1,500 feet of sidewalk portions on Longfellow Avenue and Monterey Boulevard and serval curb ramps. Improvements include reconstruction of sidewalk to address barriers to accessibility such as areas that are too steep, deteriorated, or narrow. This project would further the goal of providing a safer and accessible path of travel for pedestrians within the right-of-way 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 disabled adults on various City sidewalks. The project is also part of the City’s Safe Routes to School program and would benefit disabled youth as well.
In addition to approving the use of CDBG funds granted to the City, staff recommends 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 City with the Office of the County Recorder within 15 calendar days of the actual date of completion of the project.
General Plan Consistency: This report and associated recommendation have been evaluated for their consistency with the City’s General Plan. Relevant Policies are listed below:
Mobility Element
Goal 2. 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.
Policy:
• 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.
Goal 3. Public right-of-ways supporting a multimodal and people-oriented transportation system that provides diversity and flexibility on how users choose to be mobile.
Policies:
• 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:
Approving the allocation of CDBG funds would allow the City to fund ADA Sidewalk Improvements with CDBG funds. The City currently has two CDBG funded ADA curb ramp projects, CIP 601 Prospect Avenue Curb Ramps for $63,710 and CIP 698 ADA Improvements for $71,298, in which construction is estimated to begin early Spring 2022. The 2022-23 CDBG allocation of approximately $62,938 and reserve fund accumulated from previous year’s allocation of $87,950 would be appropriated to the future CIP 109 ADA Sidewalk Improvements with the 2022-23 Budget. Staff would bring specific project details back to the City Council when the Council considers awarding the construction contract to the lowest bidding contractor to construct CIP 109.
Attachments:
1. Draft Resolution Approving FY 2022-23 Budget
2. CDBG Proposed Project Locations along Longfellow Avenue and Monterey Boulevard
Respectfully Submitted by: Melanie Emas Hall, Interim Associate Planner
Concur: Ken Robertson, Community Development Director
Concur: Joe SanClemente, Director of Public Works
Noted for Fiscal Impact: Viki Copeland, Finance Director
Legal Review: Mike Jenkins, City Attorney
Approved: Suja Lowenthal, City Manager