CC SR 20230117 01 - CDBG FY23-24 Funding Allocation
PUBLIC HEARING
Date: January 17, 2023
Subject:
Consideration and possible action to approve the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Community Development Block
Grant (CDBG) project.
Recommendation:
(1) Approve the proposed FY 2023-24 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project;
and
(2) Authorize the Director of Public Works to execute an agreement for the FY 2023 -24 CDBG
project with the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), subject to approval
as to form by the City Attorney.
1. Report of Notice Given: City Clerk
2. Declare Public Hearing Open: Mayor Ferraro
3. Request for Staff Report: Mayor Ferraro
4. Staff Report & Recommendation: Ramzi Awwad, Director of Public Works
5. Council Questions of Staff (factual and without bias):
6. Testimony from members of the public:
The normal time limit for each speaker is three (3) minutes. The Presiding Officer may grant additional time to a representative speaking
for an entire group. The Mayor also may adjust the time limit for individual speakers depending upon the number of spea kers who
intend to speak.
7. Declare Hearing Closed/or Continue the Public Hearing to a later date: Mayor Ferraro
8. Council Deliberation:
The Council may ask staff to address questions raised by the testimony, or to clarify matters. Staff and/or Council may also answer
questions posed by speakers during their testimony. The Council will then debate and/or make motions on the matter.
9. Council Action:
The Council may: vote on the item; offer amendments or substitute motions to decide the matter; reopen the hearing for additional
testimony; continue the matter to a later date for a decision.
CITYOF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 01/17/2023
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Public Hearing
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to approve the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) project.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Approve the proposed FY 2023-24 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
project; and
(2) Authorize the Director of Public Works to execute an agreement for the FY 2023-
24 CDBG project with the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA),
subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
FISCAL IMPACT: The recommended action will result in an expenditure of $145,466 in
grant funds in FY 2023-24 and will be budgeted accordingly.
Amount Budgeted: $0
Additional Appropriation: $0
Account Number(s) N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Ramzi Awwad, Public Works Director
REVIEWED BY: Same as Above
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Site Map for Proposed FY 2023-24 CDBG Project (page A-1)
B. Public Meeting Notice (page B-1)
C. Affidavit of Posting (page C-1)
D. CDBG Eligible activities (page D-1)
E. CDBG Ineligible activities (page E-1)
Additionally, click on the links below for information presented at the December 20, 2022,
and September 1, 2020, City Council meetings:
December 20, 2022 City Council staff report
September 1, 2020 City Council staff report
September 1, 2020 Staff PowerPoint presentation
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BACKGROUND:
Through the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program, the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides grant funds for
community development projects to principally benefit persons of low and moderate-
income levels and/or aid in the prevention of blighted conditions in disadvantaged
communities. The CDBG program funds projects with the goal of providing housing,
economic, and community development opportunities. The Los Angeles County
Development Authority (LACDA) administers the program, and the City has participated
since 1986.
The City’s annual grant allocation is determined by a formula which considers poverty,
population, housing overcrowding, age of housing stock, population growth, and the
number of cities participating in the countywide program. The formula results in a typical
grant allocation to the City of approximately $150,000 because of the City’s
demographics.
On December 17, 2019, City Council directed Staff to present options that provide social
programs for future use of the CDBG grant funds. During the September 1, 2020 meeting,
Staff presented the City Council with potential social program options including
developing an aging and persons with disabilities program, funding a meals-on-wheels
program, funding a Peninsula Seniors Zoom program, and/or funding Palos Verdes
Peninsula Village Zoom programs. Additional details are available in the September 1,
2020 staff report and PowerPoint presentation (see links under Attachments).
Staff also informed the City Council that a new program, Community Development Block
Grants - COVID-19 (CDBG-CV) made additional grant funds available with restricted
uses. These funds, in the amount of $86,499, are restricted to social programs for
disabled, income-eligible, or senior residents affected by COVID-19. Considering that
CDBG-CV funds were available for use toward the options provided on September 1,
2020, the City Council directed Staff to use CDBG-CV funds toward those social
programs and CDBG funds toward eligible infrastructure projects, such as construction
of accessible curb ramps until the CDBG-CV funds are expended.
Proposed project modifications to CDBG-CV uses were presented for City Council
consideration on December 20, 2022. Due to a lack of partner organizations for social
programs, Staff recommended, and the City Council approved, redirecting the CDBG-CV
funds toward installation of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant
wheelchair lift in the City shuttle bus for use by REACH program participants.
For the FY 2023-24 funding cycle, Staff proposes using CDBG funds toward constructing
ADA-compliant curb ramps for the same reason that it was not practical to use CDBG-CV
toward social programs. For future CDBG funding cycles, Staff will continue to explore
social programs from the eligible list (Attachment D).
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DISCUSSION:
LACDA informed the City that its preliminary FY 2023-24 CDBG funding allocation is
approximately $145,000. Of this total, $116,000 (or 80%) is available for direct project
costs (including design, construction management, inspection, and construction) and
$29,000 (or 20%) is available for administrative costs (grant required reporting and labor
compliance). In the event that the actual amount of CDBG funding available is greater or
less than the preliminary LACDA estimate, the scope of work can be adjusted accordingly
by the Director of Public Works.
Upon approval of the proposed CDBG project by LACDA, the City’s FY 2023-24 CDBG
allocation will be programmed into the City’s FY 2023-24 budget. Staff budgets the CDBG
project costs (including administration) to be fully grant funded with zero net impact on
the City’s General Fund or Capital Improvement Program Fund.
Because of the relatively small annual allocation and limits on fund accruals over time,
and the City’s ongoing need to make curb ramps ADA compliant, the most suitable use
of the grant funds has been for the installation of ADA -compliant curb ramps at various
intersections throughout the City. These ramps provide access for older adults and
members of the community that have disabilities.
Public Works recently completed an inventory of all intersections and identified locations
where curb ramps do not exist or where they are not ADA-compliant by today’s standards.
The inventory identified 185 locations where no ADA-compliant curb ramp exists and 442
locations where a curb ramp exists that does not meet today’s ADA standards.
Because the CDBG funding amount is less than the amount needed to address all
intersections needing curb ramp improvements, Public Works developed a priority system
to work through the needs. The priority system is to build new ramps first where they
currently do not exist and then improve existing ramps in the following order:
1) Proximity to known residents with ADA needs (typically known through residents
communicating with the Public Works Department).
2) Within typical walking distance (one-quarter mile radius) of:
a. Public schools because schools are generally attractors of a large number of
walking trips
b. Private schools because schools are generally attractors of a large number of
walking trips
c. Medical facilities because medical facilities are most likely to be attractors of
trips from residents with disabilities
d. City facilities, including parks and playgrounds
e. Bus stops so that greater access to mass transit is provided to residents with
disabilities
f. Commercial areas
g. Other areas where a curb ramp improvement is needed
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Staff analyzed the number of new curb ramps needed at public schools where students
and/or staff walk from Rancho Palos Verdes to the school and found the following ramp
needs within City limits:
A) Dodson Middle School = 21, all of which are proposed to be constructed as part
of the FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23 project
B) Vista Grande Elementary School = 38
C) Crestwood Elementary School = 9
D) Silver Spur Elementary School = 6
E) Palos Verdes Peninsula High School = 4
F) Mira Catalina Elementary School = 4
G) Miraleste Intermediate School = 2
H) Point Vicente Elementary School = 3
I) Ridgecrest Intermediate School = 2
J) Soleado Elementary School = 1
Staff estimates the approximate cost of constructing one curb ramp as part of an overall
project (when considering mobilization, traffic control, management, inspection, and
administration) is approximately $10,000 per ramp. Therefore, approximately 1 2 curb
ramps can be constructed with the typical annual CDBG funding amount. Accordingly,
Staff proposes constructing the missing curb ramps for Crestwood Elementary School,
Miraleste Intermediate School, and Soleado Elementary School for the FY 2023-24
project. This would result in the installation of all missing curb ramps in the east part of
the City when considering the FY 2023-24 project, except for area near Mira Catalina
Elementary School, which can be added in FY 2024-25.
In subsequent years, Staff will propose additional projects to install the remaining missing
curb ramps at public schools and then continue through the remainder of the priority
system.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Public Noticing
Pursuant to federal regulatory requirements, a notice of this public meeting (Attachments
B and C) was posted at Ken Dyda Civic Center on January 3, 2023 (two weeks prior to
the January 17, 2023, public meeting).
Federal requirements also mandate that, as part of the public meeting, the City Council
and the public be informed of the range of eligible and ineligible activities that may be
funded under the CDBG program. Lists of these eligible and ineligible activities are
included in this report (Attachments D and E).
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council approve the FY 2023-24 CDBG Curb Ramp ADA
Improvements Project to install missing curb ramps within a quarter -mile radius of
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Crestwood Elementary School, Miraleste Intermediate School, and Soleado Elementary
School at an estimated cost of $145,466 in CDBG funds.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative actions are available
for the City Council’s consideration:
1. Approve a different project than that proposed by Staff.
2. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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Proposed ADA Ramp
Exhibit A-1 : Proposed ADA Ramp near Soleado Elementary School
N
A-1
Proposed ADA Ramp
Exhibit A-2 : Proposed ADA Ramps near Crestwoost Street Elementary School
N
A-2
Proposed ADA Ramp
Exhibit A-3: Proposed ADA Ramps near Miraleste Elementary and Intermediate School
A-3
30940 HAWTHORNE BLVD. / RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA 90275-5391 / (310) 544-5207 / FAX (310) 544-5291 / WWW.RPVCA.GOV
January 3, 2023
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is proposing to approve
its Fiscal Year 2023-24 Community Block Grant Development (CDBG) project.
CDBG Project Title: Curb Ramp Access Improvements
CDBG Project Description: This project will consist of the removal of curb barriers at
certain intersections within close proximity of schools. This project will remove material
barriers that impede access for the mobility impaired by replacing these non-existent
curb ramps, which do not provide an accessible path of travel for persons with disabilities,
and replace them with accessible curb ramps.
CDBG funds will provide for the design, construction, construction management,
inspection, and administrative costs associated with the removal of physical barriers for
persons with disabilities at these locations.
CDBG Project Budget: FY 23-24 = $145,466
On January 17, 2023 the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council will conduct a public meeting at 7:00
p.m., to consider, among other agenda items, a proposed Fiscal year 2023-24 CDBG ADA curb
ramps improvement project to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) for funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Program. The project has been determined to be eligible under the federal guidelines and, if
approved by the City Council, will be considered by the Los Angeles County Development
Authority (LACDA) for inclusion in the City's FY 2023-24 CDBG Program, as part of the LACDA's
Annual Activity Planning process. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.
The meeting will take place remotely in accordance with Government Code Section 54953(e) et
seq. (AB 361), and Resolution 2022-62 adopted by the City Council on November 15, 2022, and
will be conducted through a hybrid combination of in-person and/or virtual attendance of the five
members of the City Council and invited staff at Hesse Park, McTaggart Hall, 29301 Hawthorne
Boulevard and via teleconference using the Zoom platform and broadcast live on the City’s
website at rpvca.gov/agendas and on RPVtv channels Cox 35 and Frontier 39.
The public is invited to provide testimony in writing or participate via the options available.
Persons attending the meeting shall be furnished with the following information: (1) The amount
of CDBG funds expected to be available to the City for the upcoming fiscal year; (2) The range of
housing and community development activities that may be undertaken with CDBG funds; and
(3) The specific activities that are currently funded under the CDBG Program.
Written comments on the proposed CDBG project will be received until 4:00 p.m. on January
17, 2023. Please note that written materials, including emails, submitted to the City are public
records and may be posted on the City’s website. Accordingly, you may wish to omit personal
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information from your written materials as it may become part of the public record. Written
materials provided after 4:00 p.m. will be provided to the City Council as late correspondence.
The January 17, 2023, City Council staff report will be available on the City’s website,
rpvca.gov/agendas, on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, under “City Council meeting.”
Comments and questions may be submitted in advance of the meeting by email to Administrative
Assistant Tiffany Titus at ttitus@rpvca.gov, by phone: 310-544-5253, or in writing to Rancho
Palos Verdes City Hall at 30940 Hawthorne Boulevard, Rancho Palos Verdes. Comments may
also be provided in person or virtually during the City Council meeting.
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CITYOF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES)
The undersigned, being first duly sworn, deposes and says:
That at all times herein mentioned, she was and now is the City Clerk of
the City of Rancho Palos Verdes;
That on January 3, 2023, she caused to be posted the following document
entitled: City of Rancho Palos Verdes, Public Notice for a public meeting
to be held on January 17, 2023, regarding the FY 2023 -24 Community
Development Block Grant project, a copy of which is attached hereto, in the
following location:
City Hall
30940 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes
I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is a true and correct affidavit of
posting.
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ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds may only be used for projects and
activities that meet one of the following national objectives of the program:
• Benefiting low and moderate income persons; or
• Preventing or eliminating slums or blights; or
• Meeting a particularly urgent community development need.
IF ANY OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS ARE MET, under current guidelines, the City of Rancho
Palos Verdes may use CDBG funds for a variety of activities including:
1. Acquisition of Real Property
Example: Acquisition of land, air rights, easements, water rights, rights-of-ways,
building and other real property improvements.
2. Disposition of Real Property
Example: Disposition of real property acquired with CDBG funds through sale,
lease or donation including fees and costs associated with the transfer of
ownership of real property.
3. Public Facilities and Improvements
Example: Parking, streets, curbs, gutters and sidewalks, parks and playgrounds,
shelters for the homeless, water and sewer facilities, flood and drainage
improvements, community, senior and health centers.
4. Acquisition, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation or Installation of Privately-Owned Utilities
Example: Pay the costs of placing underground new or existing power lines owned
by private utilities.
5. Clearance, Demolition, Removal or Building and Improvements, or Movement of
Structure to Other Sites
Example: Demolition of vacant structure and removal of the debris to make a
neighborhood park and playground available to residents in a low/moderate income
neighborhood.
6. Public Services
Example: Child care, health care, job training, recreation programs, education programs,
public safety services, fair housing activities, services for senior citizens, services
for homeless persons, drug abuse counseling and treatment, and energy conservation
counseling and testing.
7. Interim Assistance
Example: Improvements to a deteriorating area as a prelude to permanent improvements
ꞏ or alleviation of harmful conditions where immediate public action is necessary.
8. Relocation Payments and Assistance
Example: Relocation and payments to displaced individuals, families, businesses,
or nonprofit organizations that result from the acquisition of property for CDBG-assisted
purposes.
9. Loss of Rental Income
Example: Loss of rental income incurred in holding housing units used for the
relocation of individuals and families displaced by CDBG-assisted activities.
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10. Removal of Architectural Barriers
Example: Installation of ramps, curb cuts, wider doors, elevators, and physical
modification to buildings, facilities and improvements to make them accessible.
11. Housing Rehabilitation
Example: Financial assistance such as grants and deferred loans for the rehabilitation
of any publicly or privately-owned residential property.
12. New Housing Construction
Example: Funding for housing construction project that has received funding
through a Housing Development Grant (HODAG), or housing to be constructed
by a local development corporation, small business investment company, or
neighborhood-based nonprofit organization.
13. Code Enforcement
Example: Inspections in a low/moderate income neighborhood targeted for
rehabilitation assistance, a neighborhood facility and street reconstruction.
14. Historic Preservation
Example: Rehabilitation, preservation and restoration of historic properties.
15. Commercial or Industrial Rehabilitation
Example: Improvements to the exterior of the building and the correction of
code violations.
16. Special Economic Development
Example: Loans to pay for the expansion of a commercial business which will
create jobs for low/moderate income persons, or technical assistance to a
business facing bankruptcy.
17. Special Activities by Neighborhood-Based Nonprofit Organizations, Small
Business Investment Companies, or Local Development Corporations
Example: Provide grants or loans to carry out a neighborhood revitalization,
community economic development or energy conservation program.
18. Planning and Capacity Building
Example: Comprehensive plans, individual project plans, community development
plans, studies, analysis and data gathering.
19. Program Administration Costs
Example: Payment of costs for overall program management.
INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
Activities and projects that are ineligible for CDBG funding include:
1. Buildings or portions thereof, used for the general conduct of government.
2. General government expenses.
3. Political activities.
4. Purchase of equipment, unless otherwise required for program.
5. Operating and maintenance expenses.
6. New housing construction, except housing of last resort for persons displaced
due to a CDBG project, housing to be funded through a Housing Development
Grant (HODAG), or housing to be constructed by a local development corporation,
small business investment company, or neighborhood-based nonprofit organization.
7. Income payments to an individual or family for items such as food, clothing, housing
or utilities.
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