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SR 08-22-2023 5E City Council Report City Council Meeting: August 22, 2023 Agenda Item: 5.E 1 of 4 To: Mayor and City Council From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Office of Sustainability & the Environment Subject: Adoption of Resolution Authorizing Application for the California Strategic Growth Council Community Resilience Centers Grant Recommended Action Staff recommends that the City Council: 1. Adopt a finding pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines 2. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the application for grant funds from the California Strategic Growth Council Community Resilience Centers Program for the Virginia Avenue Park Community Resilience Center for the Public Works Department. 3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to apply for the grant, accept the grant, if awarded, and accept all grant renewals, if awarded. Executive Summary The City’s Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP), adopted by Council in 2019, identifies the need to develop a “climate ready community” that is resilient to the impacts of climate change. To achieve this, the CAAP highlights the importance of improving local energy infrastructure. The Strategic Growth Council Community Resilience Centers program (CRC) will fund new construction and upgrades of neighborhood-level resilience centers to provide shelter and resources during climate and other emergencies. The program will also fund year-round services and ongoing programming that build overall community resilience. Virginia Avenue Park is in a Senate Bill (SB) 535 Disadvantaged Community and has already served as a Family Assistance Center, vaccination clinic, and food pantry site during emergencies. Staff recommends that the City apply for $5 million in CRC funding to upgrade the facilities at 5.E Packet Pg. 156 2 of 4 Virginia Avenue Park to serve as a Community Resilience Center year-round and during disruption events. Background The City’s Climate Action & Adaptation Plan (CAAP) was developed over a three -year period using extensive analysis, modeling, stakeholder input, and community engagement to ensure buy-in and feasibility. Presentations were given at 19 community and business meetings reaching approximately 300 people. These included various meetings of neighborhood associations, community organizations, church groups, business improvement districts and business events. The resulting CAAP outlines the importance of energy resilience and protecting vulnerable groups in achieving a climate ready community. Past Council Actions Meeting Date Description 05/28/19 (Attachment A) Adoption of the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan 03/14/23 (Attachment B) Adoption of the Sustainable City Plan update 04/11/23 (Attachment C) Adoption of resolution authorizing the application for approved grant funds for the Santa Monica City Yards Modernization Microgrid Project Discussion A Community Resilience Center at Virginia Avenue Park would both increase energy resilience and the safety and wellbeing of the population in Santa Monica's Pico Neighborhood and beyond. Virginia Avenue Park is located in Santa Monica’s most ethnically and culturally diverse neighborhood. The site serves as a critical hub for community-based programs that promote wellbeing through community engagement, healthy living, arts, and academics. Virginia Avenue Park offers amenities that strengthen social cohesion and community trust, including outdoor recreation and picnic areas, a Teen Center, a Fitness Center, a weekly Farmers Market, and the Pico Branch Library. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Virginia Avenue Park served as a community vaccination clinic and site of a food pantry to support Santa Monica families 5.E Packet Pg. 157 3 of 4 experiencing food insecurity. It also provided safe assistance to support applicants of the City’s Emergency COVID-19 Rental Assistance Program. Virginia Avenue Park has been identified as a potential Family Assistance Center that may serve as a community information hub where first responders provide information during emergencies. An all - electric commercial kitchen is currently being developed at Virginia Avenue Park which will promote community connectedness, partnership, and entrepreneurship, and introduce participants to the health, safety, and environmental benefits of cooking without natural gas. The kitchen will drive economic development in the Pico Neighborhood through small business incubation, space for job-training activities, and space for local residents to prepare food for wholesale and retail sales. A key climate threat facing Southern California and many other regions is extreme temperatures leading to power outages. Through CRC funding, the upgraded Virginia Avenue Park Community Resilience Center would combine solar photovoltaics and battery storage to bolster energy resilience at this critical facility. The proposed project would utilize a combination of carports and roof mounted solar photovoltaic systems which are connected to a battery energy storage system and tied into the main electrical system. These upgrades would allow for an islanded microgrid that would make the site , and the surrounding communities, more resilient to threats of extreme heat and other shocks. A microgrid would ensure that existing Virginia Avenue Park facilities and programs remain operational year-round, including during disruption events. It would also support new community programs to be run out of Virginia Avenue Park. Staff and community partners will develop robust, culturally appropriate community engagement activities to ensure that the resulting Virginia Avenue Park Community Resilience Center is co-designed with the communities it will serve. Environmental Review The grant is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 and Section 15302 of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15301 exempts Class 1 (Existing Facilities) projects from CEQA, which include the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, 5.E Packet Pg. 158 4 of 4 mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The CRC grant funding would be used to upgrade the facilities at Virginia Avenue Park to serve as a Community Resilience Center, and therefore, it has been determined that the project would fall within the Class 1 categorical exemption. Furthermore, staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, section 15300.2 apply to this project. Financial Impacts and Budget Actions There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of recommended action. The grant is reimbursement-based and has no matching funds requirement. Staff would return to Council with budget changes if the grant is awarded. Prepared By: Elias Platte-Bermeo, Sustainability Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council Attachments: A. May 28, 2019 Staff Report (web link) B. March 14, 2023 Staff Report (web link) C. April 11, 2023 Staff Report (web link) D. Resolution to Apply for SGC CRC Grant FORMATTED 5.E Packet Pg. 159 City Council Meeting August 22, 2023 Santa Monica, California RESOLUTION NUMBER _________ (CCS) (City Council Series) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR THE STRATEGIC GROWTH COUNCIL COMMUNITY RESILIENCE CENTERS GRANT WHEREAS, the California Strategic Growth Council has authorized $98.6 million in first round funding for the Community Resilience Centers program to support the planning and construction of neighborhood-serving ‘community resilience centers’ that can protect people from extreme heat and other climate-driven extreme weather and build community preparedness (CRC Implementation Grant); and WHEREAS, hazards like wildfire smoke, extreme heat, and power outages are increasingly longer lasting and more frequent in California; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica (City) shall provide an adopted resolution that includes an authorization to apply for and accept a CRC Implementation Grant and authority to execute all related documents if awarded. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council authorizes City staff to submit an application for the CRC Implementation Grant for the City’s Virginia Avenue Park Microgrid Project (Project). SECTION 2. The City has reviewed, understands, and, if awarded a CRC Implementation Grant, agrees to the provisions in the CRC Round 1 Final Guidelines. SECTION 3. The City agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and guidelines for the Project. 5.E.d Packet Pg. 160 Attachment: Resolution to Apply for SGC CRC Grant FORMATTED (5848 : SGC CRC Microgrid Grant Authorization) SECTION 4. The City appoints the City Manager, or designee, as the City’s agent to conduct all negotiations and execute and submit all documents, including, but not limited to, applications, contracts, amendments, payment requests, and compliance with all applicable current state and federal laws which may be necessary for acceptance and administration of the CRC Implementation Grant. SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect. APPROVED AS TO FORM: _________________________ Douglas Sloan, City Attorney 5.E.d Packet Pg. 161 Attachment: Resolution to Apply for SGC CRC Grant FORMATTED (5848 : SGC CRC Microgrid Grant Authorization)