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Adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Resource Management, with concurrence from the County Administrator and County Counsel, to submit for funding proposals, grant applications, and cooperative agreements through 2027 that support policies, initiatives, programs, and projects in the Planning Division Annual Work Plan
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution authorizing the Director of Resource Management, with concurrence from the County Administrator and County Counsel, to submit for funding proposals, grant applications, and cooperative agreements through 2027 for planning projects identified in the Planning Division Annual Work Plan.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Resource Management has identified a multitude of State and federal grants to develop, support, or implement projects identified in the Planning Division Annual Work Plan and the County’s Legislative Platform. These grant opportunities can be leveraged to improve housing, economic development, agriculture, and agritourism throughout the county. The various grant opportunities allow the Department to apply on behalf of the County as the individual applicant, as lead agency on behalf of the cities, or as a regional participant with neighboring counties and/or local agencies. Staff will ensure grant proposals support projects that align with the Board’s priorities, efforts directed by the County Administrator’s Office, and legislative mandates.
Grant opportunities typically have short application timelines, requiring the Department to quickly prepare various reports, plans, and potentially execute collaborative grant application agreements to meet deadlines for submission. The Department recommends that the Board adopt a resolution (Attachment A) that authorizes the Director of Resource Management to submit for funding proposals, applications, and cooperative agreements for planning projects to broaden grant application opportunities and enhance grant award success. The Department will apply for grants which support work plan project goals and will bring any awards received to the Board for approval. This resolution will meet the requirement of some grant opportunities to provide Board support for an application.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Department’s effort to seek revenue opportunities through local, regional, State, federal, and other collaborative opportunities are ongoing. The Department plans to work with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, CalTrans Sustainable Communities, Association of Bay Area Governments, and other agencies as grant revenue opportunities arise.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2023/24 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Department of Resource Management actively seeks out various funding opportunities to assist staff with providing resources to implement ongoing and new priorities identified by this Board. Formula based funding has been in decline for the last decade, while competitive grant opportunities have been increasing during the same time period. These competitive grant opportunities require significant effort, technical expertise, and project development to complete applications within a relatively short time frame. Competitive grant opportunities include, but are not limited to, the following:
1) Federal:
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Energy
• Environmental Protection Agency
2) State:
• California Energy Commission
• California Public Utilities Commission
• California Volunteers
• Department of Food and Agriculture
• Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
• Department of Transportation (CalTrans Sustainable Communities)
3) Regional Collaboration:
• Association of Bay Area Governments
• Bay Area Air Quality Management District
• MCE Community Choice Energy
• Small Business
• Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District
Many of these grant opportunities reward collaboration between agencies and communities to enhance funding reach and effectiveness. The Department will prioritize joint project opportunities and leverage local funds to provide any required match for larger competitive grants. The Planning Division Annual Work Plan will guide the Department’s efforts in seeking out grants including efforts to address General Plan implementation measures and other initiatives that have arisen while carrying out the Division’s responsibilities for administering the County’s land use program. This includes tasks related to the General Plan Update, Housing Element revisions, development and revision of ordinances, processing of Middle Green Valley Small Lot final maps, evaluating the Home Acres Fund to determine ways it could be better leveraged along with other planning related opportunities to improve housing and economic development in that area, and continuing to evaluate zoning text amendments that could be recommended to better support agriculture and agritourism in some portions of the county.
The typical Notice of Grant Opportunity provides 30 to 60 days from initial notice to application deadline, and the conditions vary from year to year and grant to grant. Given the variation in funding opportunities and the tight timelines associated with grant applications, it would improve the Department’s ability to respond in a timely manner if the Director of Resource Management is delegated authority to apply for those grants which support the Department’s work plan and defined Board priorities. Project authorizations for bidding, awarding, and contracting would go through the normal Board process.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose to not approve the resolution. This is not recommended as it will provide the Department greater ability to obtain new revenues for planning projects identified as Board priorities and defined in the Planning Division Annual Work Plan and County’s Legislative Platform.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Further discussion and interaction among the Department of Resource Management, the local cities, and regional agencies will be required to apply for various grants that require collaboration.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION