Title
a. Support accepting grant funds from the Transformative Climate Communities Grant Program grant award in the amount of $299,113.97 to fund a community-based assessment of potential climate action projects designed to lead to implementation of those projects; and
b. Support approval of a resolution authorizing the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2022-23 County Administrative Office Adopted Budget 001-1050-CAO004-8054 to increase appropriations and estimated revenue by $299,113.97 funded by grant revenues from the State of California, Strategic Growth Council.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Budget Committee of the County Board of Supervisors:
a. Support accepting grant funds from the Transformative Climate Communities Grant Program grant award in the amount of $299,113.97 to fund a community-based assessment of potential climate action projects designed to lead to implementation of those projects; and
b. Support approval a resolution authorizing the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2022-23 County Administrative Office Adopted Budget 001-1050-CAO004-8054 to increase appropriations and estimated revenue by $299,113.97 funded by grant revenues from the State of California, Strategic Growth Council.
SUMMARY:
The Board of Supervisors authorized staff to apply for the Strategic Growth Council Transformative Climate Communities Grant on June 21, 2022. Staff submitted an application focusing on the Pajaro Valley Community and was notified of a successful award on November 29, 2022. Staff is requesting the Board of Supervisors amend the County Administrative Office Budget by increasing appropriations by $299,113.97 to implement grant activities throughout the 2-year grant period.
DISCUSSION:
The Board of Supervisors authorized staff to apply for the Strategic Growth Council Transformative Climate Communities Grant on June 21, 2022. Staff applied and was notified of a successful award on November 29, 2022. Staff is requesting the Board of Supervisors amend the County Administrative Office Budget by increasing appropriations by $299,113.97 to implement grant activities throughout the 2-year grant period.
The State of California, Strategic Growth Council issued a Grant Application Guide on April 28,
2022, under the Transformative Climate Communities program. These funds are intended for local
jurisdictions to fund ambitious measures to build climate adaptation and resilience through planning,
research, capacity building, restoration, and sustainable infrastructure.
The successful application was centered on the Pajaro Valley community, which is considered low-income by AB 1550 and marked as a disadvantaged community by CalEnviroScreen. The preliminary area of focus for grant activities can be seen in the Pajaro Valley Planning Map attached to this report. This map is subject to change to include relevant project sites based on the community engagement and planning activities of the grant. Recognizing that the Pajaro Valley is part of a multi-jurisdictional community that includes the jurisdiction of the City of Watsonville, staff have included City of Watsonville staff in the development of the grant application and the City has agreed to facilitate grant activities in their jurisdiction as needed. This agreement can be seen in the City of Watsonville Letter of Support attached to this report.
The goal of the community engagement effort is to build upon the efforts of the Climate Action Plan to further develop concrete projects based on the strategies in the plan and thoroughly vet those projects with the community. For example, a concept in the Climate Action Plan could be to reduce emissions from transportation through enhanced last mile connectivity to public transit. Through this planning effort, specific needs of community members would be identified, such as best locations for bike paths, preferred modes and methods of getting to public transit and additional shared vehicle services. In this way, the County and its partners will be able to identify the specific projects that could be funded with a Transformative Climate Communities Implementation grant in the future.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
This application was prepared in coordination with the Ecology Action and Regeneración.
FINANCING:
The requested authorization will modify the FY 2022-23 budget and will allow the County to accept an award up to $299,113.97 under the Transformative Climate Communities grant program by the Strategic Growth Council. There is no matching funds requirement for this grant program. Should additional revenues and appropriations be required to complete the work funded by this grant opportunity, the County Administrative Office will present a Budget Augmentation to the Board through their Budget Committee for consideration and approval.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Climate action planning is essential to the health and safety of the County’s future.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
_X_Economic Development
__Administration
X Health & Human Services
X_Infrastructure
X_Public Safety
Report prepared by: Cora Panturad, Sustainable Infrastructure Analyst
Report approved by Nicholas E. Chiulos, Assistant County Administrative Officer x5145
Attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board
Attachments:
Transformative Climate Communities Monterey County Award Letter
Board of Supervisors Resolution 22-233
Pajaro Valley Planning Area Map
City of Watsonville Letter of Support