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AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 5(8) Date: December 5, 2011 To: El Cerrito City Council From: Melanie Mintz, Environmental Services Division Manager Karen Pinkos, Assistant City Manager Subject: Substitute Resolution for Urban Greening Plan Grant Application ACTIONS REQUESTED Adopt a substitute resolution approving an application for grant funds from the Urban Greening Planning for Sustainable Communities Grant Program (Proposition 84) for preparation of an Urban Greening Plan. BACKGROUND On June 6, 2011 the City Council adopted Resolution 2011-38 "Approving Submission of an Application for Grant Funds for the Development of an Urban Greening Plan." While the action to approve submission of the application was correct, the language in the resolution did not match the State Strategic Growth Council's resolution template. The State has requested that a substitute resolution be submitted. The attached resolution matches the State's template and will be submitted to the State upon adoption. The resolution approves the filing of the application to prepare an Urban Greening Plan: known as "El Cerrito Green Vision 2035"; certifies that the City understands the assurances and certification in the application; certifies that the City will have sufficient funds to prepare the Urban Greening Plan if awarded the grant; certifies that the City will work towards the Governor's State planning priorties, which are intended to promote eq'-:lity, strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and promote public health and safety; and appoints the City Manager, or his designee, to conduct all activities associated with completion of the Urban Greening Plan. Please refer to Resolution 2011-38 and the June 6, 2011 Agenda Bill for additional background on the Urban Greening Plan grant application. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS None. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS None. ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5{8) Review~~- ~ Scott Hanin, City Manager Attachments: 1. Proposed Resolution 2. Resolution 2011-38 3. June 6, 2011 Agenda Bill Page 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(B) Attachment 1 RESOLUTION 2011–XX RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF EL CERRITO APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE URBAN GREENING PLANNNG GRANT PROGRAM UNDER THE SAFE DRINKING WATER, WATER QUALITY AND SUPPLY, FLOOD CONTROL, RIVER AND COASTAL PROTECTION BOND ACT OF 2006 (PROPOSITION 84) WHEREAS, the Legislature and Governor of the State of California have provided funds for the program shown above; and WHEREAS, the California Strategic Growth Council has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of this grant program, establishing necessary procedures; and WHEREAS, said procedures established by the Strategic Growth Council require a resolution certifying the approval of application(s) by the Applicants governing board before submission of said application(s) to the State; and WHEREAS, the Applicant, if selected, will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out development of the Urban Greening Plan; and WHEREAS, the City of El Cerrito adopted Resolution 2011–38 on June 6, 2011 in support of the application; and WHEREAS, the California Strategic Growth Council has asked for this resolution instead to conform to their guidelines NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of El Cerrito that the City of El Cerrito: 1. Approves the filing of an application for the development of El Cerrito: Green Vision 2035. 2. Certifies that the City understands the assurances and certification in the application. 3. Certifies that the City if awarded the grant will have sufficient funds to develop the plan; or will secure the resources to do so. 4. Certifies that the City will work towards the Governor’s State planning priorities which are intended to promote equity, strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and promote public health and safety, stated in Government Code Section 65041.1. 5. Appoints the City Manager, or designee, as agent to conduct all negotiations and execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to, applications, agreements, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for development of ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(B) Attachment 1 the aforementioned plan. I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on December 5, 2011, the City Council passed this resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City of El Cerrito on December X, 2011. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk Approved: Ann Cheng, Mayor ---PAGE BREAK--- RESOLUTION 2011-38 Agenda Item No. 5(8) Attachment 2 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF tHE CITY OF EL CERRITO· APPROVING SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN URBAN GREENING PLAN WHEREAS, California voters passed the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, Rivers and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84) which resulted in the appropriation of funds for the purpose of creating Urban Greening Plans; and . WHEREAS,' Proposition 84 grant funds are administered by the Strategic Growth Council that shares the goal of improving California's urban areas by supporting development of greening public spaces; and WHEREAS, Urban Greening Plans serve as master documents guiding and coordinating greening projects in local jurisdictions; and WhlEREAS, Urban Greening Plans funded by Proposition 84 must be consistent with the State's pla_nni!lg policies including promoting infill and equity, protecting environmental and agricultural resources; and encouraging efficient dev~lopment patterns; and WHE~AS, development of an El Cerrito Urban Greening Plan would guide El Cerrito's efforts towards" achieving an increasingly sustainable and livable City and would support and build upon other planning efforts underway and upcoming; and WHEREAS, an El Cerrito Urban Greening Plan would help Council, staff and residents better understand and plan for demands that will be placed upon existing parks and green spaces, help the City's parks and green spaces be maintained and programmed in a more environmentally sustainable manner, and identify if additional or different types of green spaces are needed to support and accommodate future population growth and characteristics·; and WHEREAS, development of al). Urban Greening Plan would include extensive community engagement and be prepared in consultation. with the Environmental Quality Committee and the Parks and Recreation Commission; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Quality Committee at its April 12, 2011 meeting and the Parks and Recreation Commission at its April 26, 2011 meeting took action recommending that Council approve the City's submission of an application for grant funds for an Urban Greening Plan. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of El Cerrito that it hereby approves the submission of an application for grant funds from the Urban Greening ---PAGE BREAK--- Planning for Sustainable Communities Grant Program (Proposition 84) for preparation of an Urban Greening Plan. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage and adoption I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on June 6, 2011 the City Council of the City of El Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Councilmembers Abelson, Benassini, Jones, Lyman and Mayor Cheng None None IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal ·~(!h~·Cit-y of El Cerrito on June 7, 2011. , . . Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: v .r Ann Cheng, May · ' 1 ·J ---PAGE BREAK--- Date: June 6, 2011 To: · El Cerrito City Council 11/21/11Agenda Item No. 5(B) Attachment 3 AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 5(C) From: ·Melanie Mintz, Environmental Services Division Manager K~ren Pinkos, Assistant City Manager Subject: Urban Greening Plan Grant Application ACTIONS REQUESTED Adopt a resolution approving an application for grant funds from the Urban Greening Planning for Sustainable Communities Grant Program (Proposition 84) for preparation of an Urban Greening Plan. BACKGROUND California voters ·-passed the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, Rivers and Coastal Protections Bond Act of 2006 (Proposition 84) which resulted in the appropriation of up to $17.5 million for the purpose of creating urban greening plans that serve as master documents guiding and coordinating greening projects in the applicant's jurisdiction. The legislation resulted in the establishment of the Strategic Growth Council (SOC) which is composed of agency secretaries from the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, the California Health and Human Services Agency, California Enviromnental Protection Agency, the California Natural Resources Agency, the director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Research and others. One of the many goals of the SGC is to improve California's urban areas by advocating for and supporting development of greener public spaces. Because of the built out nature of the State's urban areas, the Urban Greening Plans are intended to result in projects that help the State meet its environmental goals and the creation of healthy communities. The plan must outline or layout projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide multiple benefits, including but not limited to, decreasing air and water pollution, reducing the consumption of natural resources and energy, increasing the reliability of local water supplies, or increasing adaptability to climate change. According to the State's Urban Greening Program guidelines, the Plans must be consistent with the State's planning policies, as they pertain to the following priorities: • Promoting infill development and equity • Protecting environmental and agricultural resources • Encouraging efficient development patterns ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(C) The State's Urban Greening Program awards up to a maximum of $250,000 to develop Urban Greening Plans. There will be three rounds of funding and applications for Round 2 are due July 1, 2011. Submittal of an application requires a City Council Resolution supporting an application for grant funds. DISCUSSION Development of an El Cerrito Urban Greening Plan would guide El Cerrito's efforts toward achieving an increasingly sustainable and livable City and would support and build upon other platming efforts underway, such as the Climate Action Plan and San Pablo Specific Plan as well as help guide and inform development of the upcoming General Plan update. El Cerrito prides itself upon having an excellent park system. An Urban Greening Plan would help Council, staff, and residents better understand and plan for the demands that . will be placed upon existing parks and green spaces in future years, help the City's parks and green spaces be programmed and maintained in a more environmentally and economically sustainable manner, and identify if additional or different types of green spaces are needed to support and accommodate future population growth and demographic changes. An Urban Greening Plan would ultimately contribute towards making the City's·park system more resilient, more useful, and more sustainable. Although the work plan would still be developed as a part of developing the grant application, it is anticipated that it would contain the following: • EXISTING GREEN SPACE ASSESSMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION Size, Type, Distribution Condition; Level, Character and Type of Use • GREEN SPACE NEEDS ASSESSMENT Type of Use: Active Recreation, Passive Recreation, Nature Observation, Community Agriculture/Community Gardens, Paths & Trails, Community Gathering Access, Equity & Connectivity Conservation, Ecology & Biodiversity Support of Other City Goals (e.g. new residential and commercial development) • RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES Water, Energy and Maintenance Savings Opportunities Ecological Service opportunities (i.e. biodiversity; stormwater treatment; climate resilience/adaptation) Waste Reduction Climate Actions (i.e. improvements that would help the City meet its Climate Action Goals, such as reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT); food production etc.) Page 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(C) • ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY & INSTITUTIONAL/COMMUNITY CAPACITY • INTEGRATION WITH OTHER CITY PROJECTS, PROGRAMS & GOALS • PRIORITIZATION Development of the Urban Greening Plan would include an extensive community engagement process such that the Plan would be informed by community preferences and· the outcomes would have popular and political support. Environmental Services Division staff ~as and will continue to work with Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Planning and other staff to implement this project. The Environmental Quality Committee (EQC) at its April 12, 2011 meeting and the Parks and Recreation Commission at its April 26, 2011 meeting have both took action recommending that Council support development of the Urban Greening Plan and members from eac.h body will be involved in each stage of the process, i.e. developing the grant application, selecting a consultant to complete the Plan, and as a Task Force involved in the development of the Plan. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS The maximum request for funding is $250,000. Direct costs necessary for the development of the Urban Greening plan are eligible for reimbursement. Matching funds are not required for this program, however, the Strategic Growth Council encourages leveraging of all resources, including other sources of funds. In completing the grant request, staff will develop a complete budget which will likely· include some in-kind staff time. If grant funds are received, a project will be opened through the City accounting system and the funds will be appropriated and reimbursed. Reviewed by: ug_. Scott Hanin, City Manager Attachments: 1. Resolution Page 3