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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 08a - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) AmendmentDATE: January 21, 2025 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director Jeramie Brogan, Management Analyst SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7610 AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES AND PROJECTS FOR USE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (“CDBG”) FUNDS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 TO ADD AN AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (“ADA”) CURB RAMP PROJECT; AND EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (“LACDA)” CEQA: Not a Project Recommendation: Adopt SUMMARY The overall goal of the Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) program is to provide assistance to low- and moderate-income families and individuals by enabling them to participate in various community activities, improve facilities for disabled residents, and eliminate blighted or substandard housing conditions. The Development Services Department is proposing to allot $160,000 in unallocated, carry-over CDBG funds for Fiscal Year 2024-25 to an ADA Curb Ramp Project (“Curb Ramp Project”). The Curb Ramp Project itself will be brought forward at a later date for City Council consideration as a separate action; this action is merely an amendment to the spending plan for the CDBG program. It is expected that approximately 18 curb ramps will be installed/upgraded with these funds. It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7610, authorizing an amendment to the Statement of Objectives and Projects for use of Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) Funds for Fiscal Year 2024-25 to add an Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) Curb Ramp Project; authorize and direct the City Manager to modify the project allocations should amendments become necessary; and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Los Angeles County Development Authority (“LACDA”). Resolution No. 7610 - Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) Amendment January 21, 2025 Page 2 of 3 BACKGROUND Since 1974, the City has been a participant in the Los Angeles Urban County’s Community Development Block Grant Program. CDBG funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) and are administered by the Los Angeles County Development Authority (“LACDA”) for participating cities in the County, including Arcadia. The City’s use of these funds is restricted to meeting the objectives of assisting low- and moderate-income families and individuals or improving disability access. Over the years, the City has completed several ADA sidewalk and curb ramp projects with CDBG funds, providing accessibility to bus stops, parks, and other public facilities. On January 16, 2024, the City Council approved the annual Statement of Objectives and Projects for use of Community Development Block Grant ("CDBG") Funds for Fiscal Year 2024-25. This action approved the allocation of Fiscal Year 2024-25 CDBG funds for the City’s three ongoing CDBG-funded programs: the Home Improvement Program, Congregate Meals for Seniors program, and the Information and Referral Services for Seniors program. On October 16, 2024, Arcadia was notified that it had an unallocated balance of $160,491, which is available to be assigned to local programs and projects. Unallocated funds are carryover funds from previous allocations that were not expended. Each year, the City is notified of any unspent funds from previous fiscal years that are available to be programmed toward other eligible activities. A Curb Ramp Project has been proposed for the use of $160,000 in unallocated funds, as it helps provide safe and accessible pathways to public facilities, consistent with both CDBG objectives and the City’s approved ADA Sidewalk Transition Plan. From past experience using CDBG funds on ADA-related projects, such as the previous ADA Bus Stop Improvements Project, the City has found that these types of projects have a wide community benefit. Further, the proposed Curb Ramp Project will utilize $160,000 of unallocated CDBG funds and enable the City to remain in compliance with CDBG expenditure requirements. DISCUSSION The ADA Curb Ramp Project will construct up to eighteen (18) accessible curb ramps throughout the City. Locations for the new ramps are chosen based on a number of factors, which include engineering analysis, resident requests, the absense of existing ramps, and the proximity of the proposed locations to schools. Selected locations for the ramps are as follows: •Ten (10) ramps are located on Sierra Madre Boulevard between Claridge Street and Perkins Drive. •Two (2) ramps are located at Sunset Boulevard and Okoboji Drive. •Two (2) ramps are located at Lovell Avenue and Winnie Way. •Four (4) ramps are located on Hugo Reid Drive at Magellan Drive and Old Ranch Road. Resolution No. 7610 - Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) Amendment January 21, 2025 Page 3 of 3 Most of the projected locations have sidewalks, but no access ramps. The proposed Curb Ramp Project will provide important progress towards completing the City’s ADA Sidewalk Transition Plan, providing accesssibility in multiple areas throughout the City. This item was noticed to the public on December 16, 2024, and no public comments have been received. If approved, the project will be put out to bid and a contract with the successful bidder will be returned to the City Council for review and approval. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA per Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. A subsequent CEQA determination will be made when the contract for the construction work is returned to the City Council for review. FISCAL IMPACT CDBG funds come from HUD and are administered by LACDA as part of the Los Angeles Urban County’s CDBG Program. A total of $160,000 of the City’s existing unallocated CDBG funds is proposed to be expended on the ADA Curb Ramp Project. While this funding has already been accepted by the City, CDBG project appropriations are subject to City Council approval. Should this allocation be approved, a contract for the ADA Curb Ramp project will be brought back to the City Council for consideration on a future agenda. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); adopt Resolution No. 7610 authorizing an amendment to the Statement of Objectives and Projects for use of Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) funds for Fiscal Year 2024-25 to add an Americans With Disabilities Act (“ADA”) Curb Ramp Project; authorize and direct the City Manager to modify the project allocations should amendments become necessary; and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Los Angeles County Development Authority (“LACDA)”. Attachment: Resolution No. 7610