HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02022010 - C.23RECOMMENDATION(S):
ACCEPT the following status report on American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA), federal stimulus funds in
Contra Costa County.
AUTHORIZE the Chair of the Board, John Gioia, to sign a letter to the County’s congressional delegation regarding
any additional federal stimulus programs and suggestions for including and expediting local projects in any
programs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This status report provides information about the fiscal impact of the ARRA on Contra Costa County. The impacts
of any additional stimulus program is unknowable.
BACKGROUND:
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of
2009, P.L. 111-5. Section 1512 of the Recovery Act requires each organization to report on the use of Recovery Act
funding. The Recovery
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD
COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 02/02/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYES 5 NOES ____
ABSENT ____ ABSTAIN ____
RECUSE ____
Contact: L. DeLaney, 5-1097
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of
the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 2, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: EMY L. SHARP, Deputy
cc:
C.23
To:Board of Supervisors
From:David Twa, County Administrator
Date:February 2, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Status Report on Contra Costa County's Federal Stimulus Funds (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act--ARRA)
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
Accountability and Transparency Board ("Recovery Board") has identified and deployed a nationwide data collection
system at the website FederalReporting.gov that serves to collect data required by Section 1512.
The CY 2009 4th quarter reporting period was from January 1 to January 15th, 2010. This reporting period covers
work completed through December 31, 2009. Contra Costa County was in compliance with the 4th quarter reporting
period.
Status of ARRA Funds for Contra Costa County
Staff has prepared this status report on the ARRA funds that Contra Costa County is either expecting to receive
through formula grants or is applying for through competitive grants. Staff of the CAO and the Auditor-Controller
are collaborating to ensure that all reporting requirements are met and all relevant information is captured. Supervisor
Bonilla requested that the status report identifies the impact of all ARRA funds in terms of job creation, economic
impact, social impact, and cost avoidance. The chart identifying the County's participation in ARRA funding
opportunities is attached; it is being continuously updated as information from Departments is provided. Staff
anticipates returning to the Board on a regular basis with updates on Contra Costa County's experience with ARRA
funding.
A couple of noteworthy observations:
1. On December 12, 2009, Contra Costa Health Services was awarded an unprecedented $12 million to relocate and
rebuild the Richmond Health Center. Funds were awarded through a competitive grant process for a one-time facility
improvement opportunity to address significant and pressing capital improvement needs in health centers, including
construction and renovation.
2. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-R): Six of the 13 projects have been completed; one project is
under construction and will be completed by end of January; two are in the bidding process and construction is
expected to begin by the end of January; one is expected to go to bid in February; and the remaining three projects
are in the plan development stage. It is expected that all CDBG-R projects will be completed and funds drawn down
by the end of this fiscal year --well before the September 30, 2011 deadline required by the legislation.
3. Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program: Services have started and families are being served. To date,
a total of 16 households (47 persons) have received homeless prevention assistance and 3 households (7 persons)
have received rapid re-housing assistance.
4. Community Orientated Policing Services (COPS): The Sheriff's Office was not awarded this grant in 2009,
however, the application is in "pending" status subject to the release of future funding.
5. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG): Staff met representatives from the Department of
Energy before Christmas and found out that we have NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) and SHPO (State
Historic Preservation Office) approvals for our projects. Staff will be submitting them this month, but it takes at least
30 days for approval. In the meantime, we cannot perform actual construction or project work. The draw-down of
funds on the 4th Quarter report is comprised of consultant and in-house labor.
6. The current amount of ARRA funds for the Vasco Road Safety Improvement Project is $11,279,083. This is up
from the $10 million originally received. The additional amount of ARRA funds came from savings from the Vasco
Road Overlay project, below, and from other cost savings realized from other jurisdictions in Contra Costa County.
The project is advertised and is planned to go to construction in Spring 2010.
7. The amount of ARRA funds received for the Vasco Road Overlay Project was $2,762,000. However, given the
low bids received and additional savings to this project during construction, we have applied some of those savings to
the Vasco Road Safety Improvement project as stated above. The remaining portion of ARRA funds applied to the
Vasco Road Overlay project is $1,945,770.
8. ARRA funds were applied for, for the Upper Sand Creek Detention Basin Project. However, no ARRA funds
were received for this project. Paul Detjens of the Flood Control District has indicated that they have submitted
another application for funds should there be another stimulus package in the future.
9. Health Care for the Homeless has received an ARRA award for "Increased Demand for Services" for $22,841
over a two year period, which has allowed an increase in 0.5 FTE for a family physician to see an additional 800
patients over the two year period. We will exceed this goal, having already reported to the federal government an
additional 756 new patients seen. Contra Costa Health Services also has received a Capital Improvement Project
grant for $683,020 for construction of a new modular unit for the Martinez family practice site. Funds have not yet
been drawn down or expended. The Department is still meeting conditions of the award before construction can
begin.
Implementation Issues
In January, the National Association of Counties (NACo) commissioned an online survey of implementation issues
surrounding ARRA funds. NACo inquired about whether requirements of the Recovery Act were affecting the
selection or start of Recovery Act programs in our county. These requirements included: Davis-Bacon Act, Buy
American, Local Matching Funds, and Administrative requirements. County departments reported the following:
"The Davis-Bacon Act requirements have prevented potential partners or subcontractors from participating in
the project."
"Local matching requirements, usually 20% cash match, affect our ability to implement the ARRA programs.
Our agency does not have sufficient funds to cover the matching requirement. Hence, we have to collaborate
with partners to provide the cash match. Collaboration with other entities is very challenging because it entails a
lot of work within short period of time."
"Some ARRA programs do not provide adequate funding to cover the administration and reporting
requirements imposed by the funders."
"State requirements of competitive bidding in the areas of procurement and contracts have created a big
challenge in the implementation of the ARRA projects. There is an insufficient time to plan, prepare, and
implement the program in order to comply with competitive bidding requirement, develop and design program
services, and hire new staff."
"The Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements will increase program costs of our Department of Energy
ARRA Weatherization Assistance program contract. Any contracts awarded by the County must include the
Davis-Bacon Act labor clauses and applicable wage determinations for weatherization workers. We require
contractors covered by the Act to submit certified payroll report. This additional work will increase program
cost for our sub-contractors."
Jobs for Main Street Act
Although the stimulative effects of the ARRA are not yet fully realized in the economy, there has been much
discussion in Congress of a second stimulus bill. On December 16, 2009, by a vote of 217-212, the House of
Representatives passed a $154 billion jobs bill (HR 2847). The Senate, however, will likely craft its own version after
health care reform is settled. The House's "Jobs for Main Street Act" redirects $75 billion from recovered Troubled
Asset Relief Program (TARP) funds to transportation and education programs, and extends several other programs
aimed at creating jobs and helping those hit hardest by the recession.
At this time, Senate Democrats have released only an outline of what they are contemplating. The draft shows a sharp
turn, though, from the type of stimulus package Congress passed a year ago. At $80 billion instead of $787 billion,
the new package is much smaller. It also puts greater emphasis on tax cuts to encourage businesses to hire more
workers to bring the unemployment rate below 10 percent. One of the largest components will likely be a job hiring
tax credit, which a draft summary of the bill pegged at $20 billion. The tax credit discussion has spurred a lengthy
debate about how to design it so that employers do not abuse the system. The push comes on the heels of President
Barack Obama’s stated goal of a three-year freeze in domestic spending to reduce the federal debt. Such an effort is
likely to make competition for federal dollars even fiercer and is driving some of the push to have projects added to
the jobs package now under consideration.
A draft of a letter to our federal congressional delegation in support of second stimulus bill is attached.
The provisions of the "Jobs fo Main Street Act" bill are as follows:
Highways, Transit and Other Infrastructure ($48 Billion)
Highways & Transit –$35 billion is provided for highways and mass transit.
School Renovation – provides $4.1 billion to allow State, local, or tribal governments to receive a federal grant
equal to the cost of tax credits that would otherwise be payable on bonds issued to finance school construction,
rehabilitation or repair.
Clean Water – Provides $2 billion to build facilities for clean and safe water, including $1 billion for the Clean
Water State Revolving Fund and $1 billion for the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Half of the
funds will include additional subsidies, such as principal forgiveness and grants, to make it easier for more
communities to access the programs.
Bureau of Reclamation – $100 million to provide clean, reliable drinking water to rural areas and to ensure
adequate water supply to areas impacted by drought.
Housing – provides $2 billion to build, preserve, and rehabilitate affordable rental homes for very low-income
households and for repairs and rehabilitation of public housing.
Hiring of Teachers, Police, Firefighters & Job Training ($27 Billion)
Education – Includes $23 billion for an Education Jobs Fund focused on paying salaries. It is estimated that this
will save or create an estimated 250,000 education jobs over the next two years. Funds can also be used to
modernize, renovate, and repair public education facilities.
Police & Firefighters – Provides $1.8 billion to put over 5,000 law enforcement officers on the beat and invest
in hiring and retaining firefighters, and $500 million to retain, rehire, and hire firefighters.
Training – Provides about $2 billion for other hiring and training programs, to support 25,000 more
Americorps volunteers and 250,000 youth summer jobs; to expand college work study jobs for 250,000
students; and to support job training for 150,000 people in high growth industries, such as health care and
clean energy jobs, at community colleges.
Small Business
The package extends several Recovery Act initiatives aimed at helping America’s small businesses create jobs:
Eliminates fees on Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to make them more affordable for small
businesses, and
Encourages banks to lend to small businesses by raising to 90 percent (from 85 percent) the portion of a loan
that the Small Business Administration will guarantee.
Emergency Relief to Families Hit by the Recession ($79 billion)
Unemployment Benefits -- Extends emergency unemployment benefits through June of 2010. The program
expires at the end of the year and without an extension, roughly one million Americans will lose their
emergency benefits in January 2010.
Help with Health Insurance for Unemployed Workers (COBRA) -- Extends through June 30, 2010 the 65
percent subsidy to help the unemployed continue COBRA health coverage. (It makes these benefits available
for people who were involuntarily separated from their jobs through June 30, 2010 and extends the months of
help from 9 months to 15 months.)
Medicaid (FMAP) -- Extends the provisions in the Recovery Act that provide the states with additional federal
matching funds for Medicaid for six months – from December 31, 2010 to June 30, 2011.
Child Tax Credit – Makes the Child Tax Credit available to all low-income working families with children in
2010. (Under the Recovery Act, families must earn at least $3,000 in order to begin to take advantage of the
$1,000 Child Tax Credit.)
Other Provisions
Energy Innovation Loans – provides $2 billion for the Department of Energy Innovative Technology Loan
Guarantee Program, to promote the rapid deployment of renewable energy and electric transmission projects.
Surface Transportation Authorization Extension – Extends the authorization for the highway, transit, highway
safety and motor carrier safety programs of the Department of Transportation until September 30, 2010. In
addition, the bill includes language that provides 100% federal share for the transportation programs authorized
in the bill, repeals the provision that prohibits Highway Trust Fund balances from earning interest, and restores
$20 billion to the Highway Trust Fund.
(Note: Neither this bill nor the Department of Defense appropriations bill contain a provision to prevent the estate
tax from expiring for a one year period beginning January 1, 2010. The House has passed a bill, HR 4154, that would
prevent the expiration and set the estate tax exemption at $3.5 million and the top tax rate on larger estates at 45
percent. But the Senate has not taken action and attempts in December 2009 to negotiate a deal failed.)
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009Contra Costa County ParticipationDepartment Expected Amount Amount Applied/Applying For Amount Received Use of Funds Program How Allocated Jobs Impact Economic Impact Social ImpactConsolidated Fireunknown Awaiting development of Guidelines. May apply for Station 86. $15,000,000 maximum grant available for Firehouse Construction AFG Department of Homeland Security has $210 M (nationwide) for firefighter AFG grants for firehouse construction. Competitive grants.Department of Child Support ServicesunknownTo Local Support Agencies to hire additional child support specialists $18.7 statewide.Department of Conservation and Development/ Redevelopment Division929,719$ 929,719$ $ 909,554 Infrastructure projects that provide basic services to residents or activities that promote energy efficiency and conservation through the rehabilitation/retrofitting of existing buildings. Activities are required to create or retain jobs or promote economic opportunity for lower income persons/households; or promote energy conservation, smarth growth, green buidling technology, or reduce pollution emissions.CDBG (Community Development Block Grant)Formula grant to County. County funds will be allocated through an RFP process. Unknown at this time Will finance at least $900,000 in constructon activityPrevailing wage jobs will be created; small business/microenterprse assistance; envergy efficiency or conservationunknown N/A. Developers will apply directly to a Credit Allocation Committee in State Treasurer's office. Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program. May support current projects in County seeking tax credits.HOMETax Credit Assistance Program (TCAP)$2.25 B nationwide, 100% to States. Funding to state housing credit agencies per formula based on percentage of HOME funds apportioned to the state. State agencies then distribute competitively to project owners per a qualified allocation plan to owners who receive low income tax credits.Unknown at this time1,421,551$ $1,421,551 (application due to HUD by May 18, 2009) $ 1,405,921 Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing activities. To rapidly re-house families who fall into homelessness, or prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place. The funding is provided to help persons and families facing a sudden financial crisis that could lead to homelessness. ESG (Emergency Shelter Grants) County funds will be allocated through an RFP process that is expected to begin in August 2009 with services beginning by September 30, 2009. None Program will help reduce the incidence of homelessness and the impact that has on the social service network, and help homeless families move to permanent housing Individuals and families who are at risk of becoming homeless will be provided assistance so they can stay in their homes, and individuals and families who are homeless will be able to access permanent housing in a more timely manner $ 6,019,051 $ 6,019,051 Purchase and rehabilitate vacant foreclosed homes. Sell rehabilitated homes to owner occupants or special needs housing.Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP I)(HERA funds)Formula grants based on foreclosure impact in community. Reimbursed on basis of completion of purchase.20 per year Will finance at least $5 million in construction related activity.Prevailing wage jobs will be created. Energy efficiency and green building will be incorporated Unknown, potential minimum of $5 million Application just released. Funds not yet received. Application submitted in July 2009. Purchase and rehabilitate vacant foreclosed homes. Sell rehabilitated homes to owner occupants or special needs housing.Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP II)ARRA funds)$2 B nationwide. Allocated competitively. Threshold criteria includes need, as determined by HUD, and organizational capacity100 per year Will finance at least $5 million in construction related activity.Prevailing wage jobs will be created. Energy efficiency and green building will be incorporatedDepartment of Conservation & Development3,574,300$ 3,574,300$ 50% expected by Fall 09, remainder likely to be received in 2010-11. Awarded 11/03/09. The County has proposed to fund the following activities under this grant program:1. Lighting Improvements for County Buildings2. Streetlight Upgrades3. County Building Retrofits4. Renewable Power for County Buildings5. Employee Commute Program6. Employee Energy Conservation Campaign7. Grants to Retrofit Non-Profit Facilities8. Revolving Loan Program for Low Income Household Retrofits9. Supplemental Retrofit Program for Weatherization Assistance Households10. Energy Efficiency Assessments & Recommendations for Private Sector Buildings11. Permit Fee Rebates for Residential/Commercial Solar Projects12. Voluntary Rating Program for New & Existing Homes13. Energy Efficiency & Conservation Toolkit14. Update Zoning Code & Standards to Reduce Vehicle Miles TraveledEnergy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants$3.2 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program as authorized under Subtitle E of Title V of the Energy Independence and Security Act . Contra Costa County and other large population cities/counties are eligible for direct formula grants from the DOE. This $3.2 billion will fund these direct formula grants through the DOE, as well as funding for smaller cities/counties which are to be allocated through the State and the remaining $455 million will be made available through competitive grants to be solicited through the DOE.36 Jobs Retained/ Created (estimated based upon established methodology of $92K = 1 job)TBD TBDEmployment and Human ServicesSee second Worksheet tabGeneral Services198,000$ $0. Did not get approved. Subsidy toward alternative fuel vehicle purchases. BAAQMD (CEC - DOE) $2,000 per alternative fuel vehicle purchased over two years. Unknown at this time Saves the County $198,000.Less emissions.Health Services Net increase of approximately $4.6 million. While we have not been provided a formal State estimate of the increase, we believe our projection will be close to the final amount. Directly related to the provision of existing health care and mental health services. This amount is related to the increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage for Medi-Cal services and an increase in the hospital disproportionate funding cap.8/7/201413684_ARRA Funding for CCC 1-15-10-1
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009Contra Costa County ParticipationDepartment Expected Amount Amount Applied/Applying For Amount Received Use of Funds Program How Allocated Jobs Impact Economic Impact Social Impact Approximately $2 M Healthcare Information TechnologyThis is a targeted amount and cannot be used for other purposes. 12,000,000$ To relocate and rebuild Richmond Health Center.683,020$ Capital Improvement Program for Health Care for Homeless programAdministered through HRSA223,841$ Increased Demand for Services grant for the Health Care for Homeless programAdministered through HRSA Potential $700,000 Capital renovation for ambulatory care clinicsHousing Authority1,200,000$ Public Housing Capital Fund $3.0 billion to public housing authorities per formula for the Public Housing Capital Fund for capital improvements related to public housing. Money will become available to public housing agencies within 30 days of signing the bill. In addition, there is another $1 billion for public housing authorities in competitive grants to public housing authorities for priority capital improvements and rehabilitation.Funding remains available until September 30, 2009.Public Works10,000,000$ 11,279,083$ Vasco Road Safety Improvements Project Local Streets and Roads (LS&R) System Preservation (Surface Transportation Program (STP))Metropolitan Transportation Commission ARRA provides funding that would otherwise not be available to construct this improvement. The development and construction of this project will allow the employment of local administrative staff, engineers, technicians, inspectors, construction contractors, carpenters, material providers, equipment providers, equipment operators, etc. as expected of a typical capital improvement project. These jobs would not otherwise have benefited if not for this additional funding.ARRA funding provides the creation or security of jobs that would otherwise not have been available. The influx of funding has a positive impact on the economy through the employment of workers.This project will provide improvements to address safety concerns due to cross median collisions. The connection of a southbound passing lane aims to reduce the number of merges that drivers need to consider. The motoring public will benefit from these improvements on this heavily traveled commute corridor. The project hopes to reduce travel delays caused by accidents, allowing reduced travel times for the daily commuter. Less time on the road can translate to a positive social impact as well as a positive environmental impact, such as the reduction of greenhouse emissions.2,762,000$ 1,945,770$ Vasco Road Overlay Local Streets and Roads (LS&R) System Preservation (Surface Transportation Program (STP))Metropolitan Transportation Commission ARRA provides funding that would otherwise not be available to construct this improvement. The development and construction of this project will allow the employment of local administrative staff, engineers, technicians, inspectors, construction contractors, carpenters, material providers, equipment providers, equipment operators, etc. as expected of a typical capital improvement project. These jobs would not otherwise have benefited if not for this additional funding.ARRA funding provides the creation or security of jobs that would otherwise not have been available. The influx of funding has a positive impact on the economy through the employment of workers.This project will provide improvements to address safety concerns due to cross median collisions. The connection of a southbound passing lane aims to reduce the number of merges that drivers need to consider. The motoring public will benefit from these improvements on this heavily traveled commute corridor. The project hopes to reduce travel delays caused by accidents, allowing reduced travel times for the daily commuter. Less time on the road can translate to a positive social impact as well as a positive environmental impact, such as the reduction of greenhouse emissions.5,030,000$ 5,030,000$ No funds received. To construct the Upper Sand Creek Detention Basin. The project will restore several hundred feet of Sand Creek, create several acres of wetlands, and provide critical flood protection to the communities in southern Antioch, northern Brentwood, and Oakley. US EPA Expanded Use CWSRF LoanState Water Resource Control Board ARRA provides funding that would otherwise not be available to construct this improvement. The development and construction of this project will allow the employment of local administrative staff, engineers, technicians, inspectors, construction contracttors, carpenters, material providers, equipment providers, equipment operators, etc. as expected of a typical capital improvement project. These jobs would not otherwise have benefited if not for this additional funding.ARRA funding provides the creation or security of jobs that would otherwise not have been available. The influx of funding has a positive impact on the economy through the employment of workers.The Upper Sand Creek Detention Basin project will restore approximately 2000' of Sand Creek in eastern Contra Costa County which, is devoid of riparian vegetation, has unstable banks, sedimentation and algae problems indicative of a cattle impacted creek. The restored creek will support a willow/valley oak community. The section of restored creek will be part of a regional detention basin, which will reduce peak flows downstream, providing regional flood protection for the communities of Antioch, Brentwood, and Oakley. It will also capture sediment from the upper half of the watershed. Most of the upstream watershed is Sheriff's Office If fully funded,would provide approximately $24 million over 3 years, requiring a local match of about $4 million and requiring the County to sustain the funding in the fourth year. $0. Application in "pending" status subject to the release of future funds. To fund 56 Deputy Sheriff positions COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services)$1 B nationwide. Allocated competitively. Two kinds of grants: Sponsored/Targeted Grants consist ofMethamphetamine, Safe Schools Initiative and Technology programs. Discretionary/Non-Targeted Grants consist of Cops In Schools, Homeland Security Overtime Program, MORE, Interoperability, Secure Our Schools, Tribal and Universal Hiring programs. Apply directly to DOJ, COPS Office for grants.8/7/201423684_ARRA Funding for CCC 1-15-10-1
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009Contra Costa County ParticipationDepartment Expected Amount Amount Applied/Applying For Amount Received Use of Funds Program How Allocated Jobs Impact Economic Impact Social Impact299,535$ 299,535$ Grantees may utilize Recovery JAG funds for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice, as well as research and evaluation activities. To be split with the District Attorney.Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant ProgramOnce the state funding is calculated, 60 percent of the allocation is awarded to the state and 40 percent to eligible units of local government. States also have a variable percentage of the allocation that is required to “pass through” to units of local government. This amount, also calculated by BJS, is based on each state’s crime expenditures. Additionally, the formula calculates direct allocations for local governments within each state, based on their share of the total violent crime reported within the state.Partial funding of 1 deputy sheriff for 1 year, and partial funding of 1 deputy DA for 2 years.Other2,000,000$ Army Corps funding for San Pablo Bay, Mare Island Strait, O&M8/7/201433684_ARRA Funding for CCC 1-15-10-1
The Board of Supervisors
County Administration Building
651 Pine Street, Room 106
Martinez, California 94553
John Gioia, 1st District
Gayle B. Uilkema, 2nd District
Mary N. Piepho, 3rd District
Susan A. Bonilla, 4th District
Federal D. Glover, 5th District
John Cullen
Clerk of the Board
and
County Administrator
(925) 335-1900
Contra
Costa
County
March 17, 2017
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Barbara Boxer
United States Senate
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable George Miller
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable John Garamendi
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Gerald McNerney
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510
RE: Support for Second Stimulus Package
Dear Senators Feinstein and Boxer and Representatives Miller, Garamendi, and
McNerney:
We understand that discussions are underway in Congress to develop a second stimulus
package with an emphasis on infrastructure. Contra Costa County has evaluated our
capacity to deliver projects suitable for such a package, and we have developed a list of
projects totaling over $50 million. Many of these projects could be under contract within 3
to 6 months and all within a year.
Given the variety of project types, it is important to acknowledge that it will be difficult to
meet the accelerated schedule of project delivery if we are required to follow current
federal funding oversight processes. Contra Costa County is hopeful that formulation of
this legislation will include some relief to the federal processes or provide additional
resources to expedite necessary approvals.
Some suggestions that would assist in delivery are:
Distribute funds directly to the jurisdictions with audits to be conducted after the
contract award so that funds can be accessed quickly while holding agencies
accountable to the processes we have been trained to execute.
2
Many of our projects already have CEQA clearance; however, the federal funding
would require we also comply with NEPA. Accepting CEQA clearance to satisfy
NEPA or processing Categorical Exclusions under NEPA quickly for projects that
have CEQA clearance would help to expedite project delivery.
Capital replacement projects are generally found to be exempt from CEQA and/or
excluded from NEPA requirements as the work is conducted within the existing
infrastructure footprint. Expediting this approval process for capital replacement
projects would be critical to successful project delivery.
In addition, the delivery of projects at the County level is dependent upon clear
authorization of funds and should require no local match.
We are very much interested in participating in a second stimulus package and believe
that local agencies in California are in a good position to deliver projects quickly if the
right processes are in place.
We welcome the opportunity to invest in infrastructure that would not only benefit the
public but would provide much needed economic stimulus.
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
JOHN GIOIA
Chair, Board of Supervisors
cc: Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors
David Twa, County Administrative Officer
Julia Bueren, Public Works Director
Paul Schlesinger, Alcalde & Fay