SR 08-22-2023 5E
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: August 22, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.E
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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)