02-05-2008 - Solicitation of Federal Funding for City Projects0
City of West Covina
Memorandum
AGENDA
TO:
FROM:
Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager
and City Council
Artie A. Fields, Assistant City Manager
ITEM NO. D — 6f
DATE February 5, 2008
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 (Earmarks) 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 over $2.6 million in federal funding, including $500,000 for the new Public Safety
Interoperable Communication System.
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. Congresswoman Solis' Office has indicated that her office is looking to assist
projects that have a regional benefit and not individual communities alone. 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.
In is important to note that on January 28, 2008, Congress and the President both discussed
earmark reform as a priority in 2008. This may have a significant impact on future funding for
projects for all communities including West Covina this year and in future years.
City staff is requesting the City Council to approve submittal of the following projects for
Congresswoman Solis' consideration:
• Heritage Park LearningCenter - 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 "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.
• Green Linkage Trails & Galster Park Wilderness Center - 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.
City staff will also be seeking funds to increase the programming and expand the Glaster
Park Nature Center to have more animal specimens and other items to re-create a wilderness
experience for visitors.
• Regional Public Safety Computerized Mapping: West Covina supplies Computer Aided
Dispatch and Mobile Data Computer technology to about 25 police agencies in Southern
California, delivering computerized communications between dispatchers and public safety
field vehicles. Acquiring dedicated hardware and software (a server, a web I based mapping
engine, centerline base maps for several counties, etc.), would provide a computerized
mapping solution connecting those agencies, delivering visual overviews displaying Police
and Fire vehicles from all of the agencies onscreen to incident commanders. The maps
i
would incorporate overlays of parcels, fire hydrants, etc., and would be especially useful in
pursuits, mutual aid incidents, or any terrorism related event.
Infrastructure — First proposed infrastructure project is ;repaving San Bernardino Road as a
joint project with the County of Los Angeles and Baldwin Park. This is a highly traveled
stretch of road in multiple jurisdictions. In addition, the City will also seek funding to install
left -turn signals and pockets citywide. This is a public safety measure to reduce the number
of accidents throughout West Covina and neighboring communities.
• Senior Center Modernization— City staff is completing an evaluation of the current condition
of the Senior Center. City staff would like to include 61 request to have this regional award
winning facility modernized and possibly expanded to include additional opportunities and
spacing for programming and daily use by seniors.
Should the City receive any federal funding, City staff will baring 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. City staff will also forward this list of
projects to Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer for their consideration.
It is important to remember that any funding received through the federal spending bills will not
be acknowledged until October 2008, at the earliest, with funding beginning in 2009.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
Prepared by:
a12-
Chris Freeland
Assistant to the City Manager
Approved by:
Artie A. Fie ds
Assistant City Manager