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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/18/2010 21A "A" Street Improvements Phase 4 - CDBG Obligation to DYFI Z( • MEMORANDUM May 14, 2010 TO: Honorable Micah Cawley, Mayor Members of City Council FR: Michael A. Morales, Director Community & Economic Develo t ty me p RE: Request for Reconsideration of CDBG Obligation to DYFI Phase 4 — "A" Street Improvements The City Council has been asked to discuss and reconsider the prior obligation of federal CDBG funds for the "A" Street section of the DYFI Phase 4 project, in order to provide supplemental funding that could support the goals and objectives of the Gang Free Initiative that was approved on May 11, 2009. This memorandum serves to provide an overview of the history of obligations made to the project over the past year, and to advise the council of the financial status and options for CDBG infrastructure investments. BACKGROUND In 2009, Senator King and Representatives Ross and Johnson were able to secure a $1,000,000 appropriation from the state capital budget for Phase 4 of the Downtown Futures Initiative. The original request was for over $4 million, and included improvements to 8 Street, the "A" Street corridor and other connector streets. The appropriation was not sufficient to complete the project, and the city researched local funding options to fill the shortfall. We went through a similar exercise for Phases 1 and 2 of the project, when the city utilized utility and REET funding to to finance the shortfall. In our review of potential resources for Phase 4, the residential character of the "A" Street section from 3 to 6 Streets created eligibility for the use of CDBG infrastructure funds, which had not been budgeted for a specific project. In addition, the city was also in line to receive an additional $318,000 of CDBG -R (ARRA "Stimulus" funds) that needed to allocated in 2009 and spent in 2010. Staff prepared a proposal for the council that utilized both CDBG accounts for a total contribution of $500,000 to the project. The CDBG proposal was presented to and received unanimous recommendations for approval from both the Neighborhood Development and Downtown Futures Oversight Committees. On August 18, 2009, the City Council unanimously approved $500,000 of. federal CDBG funds for the "A" Street corridor between. 3 and 6 Streets. That council action also appropriated $50,000 of REST funds to pay for the design of the entire "A" Street corridor from 1 Street to 6 Street, as well as the 8 Street improvements that are funded by a $1,000,000 state capital budget grant. Neither the capital budget grant nor the CDBG funds could be used for design of the project. CURRENT STATUS OF PROJECT The CED Engineering Division was assigned to design and bid the DYFI project within the budget parameters established by city council. Design for 8 Street is complete, and the advertisement for bid has been placed in the Yakima Herald to run on May 17. Design for the "A" Street portion is 90% complete, and is expected to be out for bid on May 29, 2010, following the appeal period for the SEPA decision. The projects are bid separately because of the federal funding involved in "A" Street. The SEPA for the "A" Street project is in relation to a land swap with JEM Development that provided sufficient right of way to build the project on the North side of "A" Street, in exchange for the elimination of some parking spots and control of a similar sized section of public property on the south side of "A" Street between 3r and Naches. The city has been given deeds for the property, in anticipation of the project construction. The CDBG funding for the project has satisfied the federal requirements and is eligible for release upon award of the contract. The approximate division of CDBG funding for the project is as follows: 2010 CDBG $262,000 2009 CDBG —R: $238,000 The CDBG budget includes $549,000 in Public Facilities /Infrastructure for 2010. In addition to "A" Street, the city spends approximately $25,000 on the Southeast Community Center building, leaving approximately $262,000 for other Public Facilities /Infrastructure projects that have not been identified. IMPACT OF PROPOSED DEOBLIGATION In relation to the funding for the "A" Street section of the project, if the council votes to rescind CDBG funds for the project, then, under the current status of our CDBG program, the funds would be reassigned to either another Public Facilities /Infrastructure project, or another eligible activity, provided that it falls under the spending caps for certain activities established by HUD. This could pose a problem with the CDBG -R funds as they must be spent more quickly, and there may not be enough time to design and build another project. The design costs for a new project would also have to be provided from another allocation of REET funds, costing the local taxpayers money that could be used on other projects such as grind and overlay and other street repairs. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Considering that $262,000 of CDBG Infrastructure funds remain unallocated for a project, and that other mechanisms exist for targeting CDBG funds into specific neighborhoods, we do not recommend withdrawing CDBG funds from the "A ": Street project. If the council would like to review the overall CDBG budget and consider other alternative actions that can improve our flexibility in using CDBG funds, staff would recommend that these options, including allocation of the remaining $262,000 of infrastructure funds, be presented to the Council Neighborhood Development Committee at its next meeting. AUGUST 18, 2009 , '41, Connie Little and Lynn Kittelson spoke in support of the ballot measure. • Assistant Mayor Cawley closed the public hearing RODRIGUEZ MOVED AND ADKISON SECONDED TO ENDORSE THE 0.3% TAX BALLOT MEASURE. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote; Edler absent. • CITY MANAGER'S REPORTS *8. Consideration of the 2008 Annual Report of the Yakima Police Department The 2008 Police Department Annual Report was approved. • 9. Consideration of Joint Council Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative and Neighborhood Development Committees' recommendations regarding Phase 4 state grant allocation, project elements and supplemental Block Grant funding Following discussion, COFFEY MOVED AND ADKISON SECONDED TO ACCEPT THE COUNCIL DOWNTOWN YAKIMA FUTURES INITIATIVE AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES' RECOMMENDATION FOR BOTH. The motion carried by unanimous roll call vote; Edler absent. Council Member Rodriguez asked • staff to look for funding to install street lights in the north side of Yakima on an emergency crime prevention basis. She also asked for a Tong -term strategy to work with law enforcement on lighting in that area. *10. Consideration of a Resolution authorizing a Southeast Yakima Community Center Operating Agreement with Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington (OIC) RESOLUTION NO. R- 2009 -110, A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Manager of the City of Yakima to execute the City of Yakima and Southeast Yakima Community Center Operating Agreement with Opportunities Industrialization Center of Washington (0IC). *11. Consideration of a Resolution authorizing execution of agreements with Roy Farms, Inc. and WS Inc. for biosolids application to their agricultural lands RESOLUTION NO. R- 2009 -111, A RESOLUTION authorizing and directing the City Manager of the City of Yakima to execute agreements with Roy Farms, Inc. and WS Farms, Inc. for biosolids application to their agricultural lands. *12. Consideration of a Report related to the processing of Parade and Special Event Street Closure Permits (YMC9.70) . The report was accepted. IP 4 411 BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 9 For Meeting of August 18, 2009 ITEM TITLE: Joint Downtown Yakima Future Initiative (DYFI) and Neighborhood Development Committee's recommendations to the full City Council regarding Phase 4 state grant allocation, project elements and supplemental Block Grant funding. SUBMITTED BY: Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works Michael Morales, Deputy Director CED Doug Mayo, City Engineer CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Michael Morales, Deputy Director CED (575 -3533) SUMMARY EXPLANATION: On July 22, 2009, the Council DYFI Committee (Chairperson Kathy Coffey and Council Members Rick Ensey and Maureen Adkison) were presented options for the allocation of Phase 4 Pedestrian Way Improvements funded by 2009 State Legislative grant of $1.0 million. After overview from City staff, Convention Center Executive Director John Cooper and downtown business interests, the Council Committee voted to forward the staff recommendation to the full City Council with their approval. This recommendation specifies $650,000 for N. 8 Street realignment and the addition of streetscape amenities along the Convention Center, $250,000 for streetscape amenities only on both sides of S. 8"' Street adjacent to the new Holiday Inn; $100,000 for Convention Center Campus improvements and amenities; and finally, $50,000 (from REET 1) for survey, design, and pre- construction preparation costs for the remaining pedestrian way connectors planned under the DYFI umbrella. (Continued on next page) Resolution _ Ordinance _Other 7/22/09 DYFI Minutes, 8/5/09 Neighborhood Development Minutes Contract Mail to (name and address): Funding Source: State Grant Block Grant ' D- o • • riatio• s REET 1 e a APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: j/ .- r�' - ,_ City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: The allocations of the $1.0 million Phase 4 and ONDS Block Grant ($500,000) funds are a Council policy matter. BOARD /COMMISSION /COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The DYFI Committee recommends that the Phase 4 DYFI $1.0 million grant be allocated to Convention Center street frontage improvements, and as described above; the Neighborhood Development Committee recommends the allocation of $500,000 Block Grant appropriations to the "A" Street element, between 3 `ti Street and Naches Avenue. COUNCIL ACTION: Joint Recommendation Phase 4 DYFI August 18, 2009' • Page 2 The Convention Center improvements have been part of the planning process since DYFI conception. Staff understands the importance of proceeding with the "A" streetscape and pedestrian way improvements beyond this $1.0 million and have provided a recommendation for $500,000 Block Grant funding to continue this important work. Our state senators at the federal level have advised us of an additional possible'$2.3 million grant working its way through the federal budget process: The Neighborhood Development Committee (Chairperson Bill Lover and Council Members Kathy Coffey and Sonia Rodriguez) met on August 5, 2009 to discuss the option of using $500,000 in appropriated, yet not expended or dedicated, Block Grant resources to improve the north side of "A" Street between 3 Street and Naches Avenue. These improvements will be to current DYFI theme standards: The Committee voted to recommend this proposal to the full Council. Block Grant A Street Element Agenda Item /ms • Meeting Minutes • For Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative (DYFI) ` Committee of the City Council Wednesday, July 22, 2009 Meeting Council Committee Members present: Kathy Coffey, Chair Rick Ensey Maureen Adkison Sonia Rodriguez (Alternate) City Staff Members present: Dick Zais, City Manager • Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works • Doug Mayo, City Engineer Michael Morales, Deputy Director CED • . • ' • Bill Cook, Director CED • Randy Tabert, Design Engineer Invited Guests: Dan Kelleher, CDY John Cooper, Convention Center . Joe Morrier, JEM • Committee Chair Kathy Coffey opened the meeting with the first topic being the allocation of the state Phase 4 $1.0 million grant. Chris Waarvick provided a brief overview of the DYFI improvement project recognizing that the convention center has long been an element on the � `unding list. While it was recognized that other pedestrian connections had not yet been ompleted, staff proposes that the convention center element, specifically the North 8 Street realignment and streetscape amenities be considered by the committee for 2009 design and 2010 construction. The remaining recommendations were as follows: 2 South 8 Street "amenities only" adjacent to the new Holiday Inn at $250,000. ® An additional $100,000 for Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Campus improvements and amenities, and • • $50,000 for survey, design and pre - construction costs for the remaining DYFI pedestrian connector improvements. John Cooper, Executive Director of the Convention Center, spoke to the improvements related to the Convention Center and provided more detail to that discussion. Visitors to the meeting expressed some concern over this allocation and proposed that the remaining pedestrian connectors 'be funded first. Joe Morrier was prominent among those with that view. Chair • . Kathy Coffey further described the nature of the funding limitation. All these projects are worthy and it is unfortunate that insufficient funds are available to perform all of the work described in the request letter this last Legislative session. The DYFI Committee ultimately voted 3 -0 to accept the staff proposal and forward to the full Council for general deliberation and action. Dick Zais mentioned the possibility of. grant dollars through our Federal Legislative contingent and that the City's capital funds would be examined for any further assistance that may be found. Chris Waarvick briefly discussed downtown public parking lot management and where the . contract process was for the public lots. an Kelleher, CDY, provided an activities report. These items included landscaping, irrigation, � planters, and other maintenance activities. Dan report that CDY will be party to the agreement • • with the County for the downtown performance park at 2nd and "A_" This county vacant lot was created with the recent demolition of the older buildings. Dan commented that the next CDY breakfast business meeting would be July 29 at 8 a_m_ at the 2" Street Grill. Finally, under other business, Dick Zais provided a short summary of relevant history surrounding the separate sidewalk element of the 2` street performance park. Doug Mayo provided a technical discussion of what options were available for sidewalk improvements and streetscape amenities around the park and up to Martin Luther King Boulevard. The DYFI committee voted to endorse to the full Council Option 3 for final deliberation and action. This option provides new sidewalks and streetscape amenities around the 2" street park and up to Martin Luther King Boulevard in front of the Courthouse on 2 "d Street The County will construct the base sidewalk elements, including disabled and handicapped parking for the east entrance. The City will provide streetscape amenities along that County Courthouse frontage and full improvements to the two sidewalk frontages to the park. This option is estimated to cost $242,000. The City Manager has secured a thrc: - year payback of construction costs from the County for some City elements of this project_ • Approved: 4'. 4 Chairpe?son ath DYFI Committee of Council • • • M-:dng .Ninutes DYFI iuly 22 2709 . III City of Yakima Council Neighborhood Development Committee Wednesday, August 5, 2009 Councilmembers Present: Bill Lover, Kathy Coffey, Sonia Rodriguez Staff: Dave Zabell, Michael Morales, Archie Matthews, Florence Waters, Ken Wilkinson, Greg Harpel . Guest Present: Luz Gutierrez 1. Draft OIC /SECC Agreement Recommendation was made to send the OIC /SECC Agreement to City Council at last years budget of $75,000, and not the increased amount. The recommendation was approved. • 2. Consider funding options for Fair Avenue pocket park Bids to place sod for the Fair Avenue pocket park came back at $5,100. The bid for top soil • and underground sprinkler system is $20,000. The funding for this project will come from the Public Facility fund and will not affect any other projects in the Public Facility program. Recommendation to request City Council to fund this project was approved. 3. Consideration of supplemental funding for DYFI A recommendation was made to invest $500,000 of the available infrastructure funding into the section of A Street from Third Street to Sixth Street, on the north side of the street only, for the Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative. The recommendation was approved to go to City 410 Council. 4. Continued discussion of various program limits a. Energy Assistance Program • Year to date information on all ONDS programs was discussed. The Energy Assistance Program would entail repair work for heating and cooling systems, doors and windows, insulation, and lighting through the Senior and/or Disabled Home Repair Program for qualified applicants. No new funding is being requested. The new program would alleviate the cap in the Regular Program. Recommendation to develop the Energy Assistance Program was approved. Other Business Betty Gaudette, an active member in our community, recently passed away. Ms. Gutierrez requested that Betty Gaudette be recognized at the next City Council meeting. The request was approved. Two meetings have been held to engage with Northeast Yakima community members in regard to educating the community about neighborhood issues, services that are available, and to improve the relationship between the City and the Northeast Yakima community. A recommendation was made to advertise public input meetings in smaller community newspapers, such as Viva and La Voz. li 0 /„._., v, ____, /77 ( r (, r i ,4 4 ,, (77 . ill Lover, Chairman •