12-19-2006 - Solicitation of Federal Funding for City ProjectsCity of West Covina
Memorandum
AGENDA
TO: Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager
and City Council
FROM: Artie A. Fields, Assistant City Manager
ITEM NO. D — 4g
DATE December 19, 2006
SUBJECT: SOLICITATION OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CITY PROJECTS
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council authorize City staff to submit the projects mentioned in
this staff report to Congresswoman Hilda Solis for possible funding consideration.
DISCUSSION:
Congresswoman Hilda Solis has contacted communities within the 32"d Congressional District,
including West Covina, to give cities the opportunity to request noncompetitive and
discretionary grant money for local projects through annual federal spending bills. Based on the
City Council's recommendation to submit projects over the last few years, the City has received
$200,000 for public safety upgrades at City Hall, $75,000 for the Cameron Gymnasium,
$100,000 for the Fire Department's CERT Program, and $1,750,000 in transportation funding
for improvements at the intersections of Azusa/Amar and Vincent/Lakes Drive.
While the City may have its priorities, Congresswoman Solis will review the list of projects
submitted by the City and identify those projects that she determines to have a better chance to
secure funding for. City staff has worked with our federal lobbyist to identify the most
competitive projects for funding based on the type of projects that -Congress has funded in the
past. The actual dollar amount requested will be discussed further with the City's federal
lobbyist and Congresswoman Solis' Office.
City staff is requesting the City Council to approve submittal of the following projects for
Congresswoman Solis' consideration:
• Public Safety Radio System - The current Police and Fire Radio system is obsolete and
needs to be replaced. This includes the radio control gear in the Public Safety
Communications (911.) Center used to control and communicate with the field units. This
same system is used for Emergency Management operations during natural or terrorist
created disasters. Current radio control gear is twenty years old and replacement parts are not
available.
• Heritage Park Leamin Center enter - The Learning Center is identified in the "Heritage Gardens"
Historical Park Master Plan and will provide the community with a place to learn about West
Covina's native and current environment. Planned to be built with a with a "barn -like"
theme, the Center will provide educational information and displays ranging from the native
plants, animals, and peoples that first inhabited the area to current environmental threats the
area faces. The Center will also feature conservation measures the public can take to help
preserve, protect the environment, and provide after school tutoring facilities.
• Infrastructure - Proposed infrastructure projects are Azusa intersection improvements and
paving as well as landscape improvements along I-10 though West Covina. Azusa Avenue is
a major arterial and bus route serving the San Gabriel Valley. The project would crease
traffic flow through traffic signal improvements, bits turnouts, widening to accommodate
right turn pockets, and median narrowing to accommodate turn lanes. The landscaping and
irrigation along the I-10 corridor is 30 to 40 years old and deteriorated. This project would
replace irrigation with new water saving systems and replace vegetation with drought
resistant plants and trees at major on and off ramp locations.
• Community Services - Community service projects include the Orangewood Park renovation
and the modernization of the Senior Citizen Community Center to include a Senior Health &
Wellness Center, the Orangewood Park renovation will cover the conversion of the existing
baseball field to sorely needed soccer fields. The Senior Center modernization will
incorporate the results of the survey completed by users of the center to address health and
wellness concerns.
Green Linkage Trails - Initial funds would be used for a multi -use recreational trail to
connect the West Covina Sportsplex to Galster Park Wildnerness trail and open space in the
City of Walnut and the County that are part of the still developing regional trail system. Any
additional funds received would then be used for pedestrian, biking, and/or equestrian trails
to link together the City's existing park system.
Should the City receive any federal funding, City staff will bring back the award of funds and the
details of the improvements to be made with those funds. City staff is seeking these non-
competitive funds in an attempt to locate and identify funding opportunities to complete projects
and reduce the burden on the City's financial resources.
It is important to remember that any funding received through the federal spending bills will not
be acknowledged until October 2007, at the earliest, with funding provided in 2008.
FISCAL IMPACT:.
None.
Prepared by:
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Chris Freeland
Assistant to the City Manager
Approved by:
e A. Fie
Assistant City Manager
f
Tina Clark
Management Analyst