Title
Budget Workshop for Fiscal Years 2021-22 and 2022-23 to Provide Direction on Capital Improvement Program Budget. (Public Works 4205)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council is scheduled to hold Budget Workshops on May 11, 2021 and May 20, 2021. The budget workshops are intended to give the City Council and community an opportunity to look more closely into the factors that make up the overall City Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget. Exhibit 1 contains the proposed capital budget for Fiscal Years (FY) 2021-22 and 2022-23. Capital investments are shown by project type and fund source for each year. The proposed CIP totals approximately $31.8 million and $35.2 million for FYs 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively. The proposed General Fund allocations to capital projects total $800,000 each year. In preparing the proposed CIP, staff consider capital investment needs, fund balances, City Council priorities, and staffing resources to manage and execute projects. Staff seeks input on the proposed CIP budget that can be incorporated into the budget brought back for City Council consideration and adoption in June.
BACKGROUND
Alameda’s Capital Improvement Program aims to maintain and improve the City of Alameda’s (City) aged public infrastructure as best it can with the resources available. Public Infrastructure includes City streets, sewers, stormwater drainage, flood/sea level rise protection, transportation facilities, street lighting, trees, public buildings, and parks.
The first step in developing a capital budget is to determine available funds. Finance produces fund balance statements including revenue and expense projections for each fund. The CIP is funded almost exclusively with revenues from restricted funds. For example, the Sewer Fund is restricted to maintenance and replacement of City sewers. Transportation funds include Measure B/BB, Gas Tax and Vehicle Registration Fee. Transportation projects also are supplemented by the Development Impact Fee funds, which are paid for by new residential and commercial development, and an assortment of grant funding. The Urban Runoff and Water Quality and Flood Protection fees are for the maintenance and enhancement of the City’s stormwater infrastructure and various efforts to make stormwater pollution-free before it enters the Bay. The General Fund, though a small contributor to the overall capital budget historically, is one of the only funding sources that is not restricted and can support any public infrastructure expense.
Once fund balances were confirmed, Public Works staff consulted with City departments, reviewed master plans and other policy documents, and performed necessary condition assessment to understand capital needs. The capital needs were then used to identify projects and costs. The proposed expenditures for each project are allocated within each funding source so that funds are budgeted to retain a positive fund balance. In addition, City Council priorities and the availability of staffing resources to manage and execute projects are major considerations in developing the capital budget.
On March 24, 2021, the Transportation Commission endorsed the transportation capital projects to be included in the proposed budget for FYs 2021-22 and 2022-23. Transportation projects represent more than half of the capital budget. Due to the long timeframe needed to plan, design and construct major projects, and the limitations in funding and staff capacity, these projects need to be prioritized. Public Works staff collaborated with a subcommittee of the Transportation Commission to develop prioritization criteria for transportation projects, which were endorsed by the full Transportation Commission.
In addition, before the City Council approves the capital budget, the Planning Board must determine its consistency with the General Plan. On May 24, 2021, Public Works staff will present the proposed capital budget to the Planning Board and seek approval of a finding that the proposed Capital Budget for FYs 2021-22 and 2022-23 is consistent with the General Plan.
These May 11 and May 20 budget workshops provide the City Council and the community an opportunity to discuss the capital budget and consider proposals for capital improvements and priorities.
DISCUSSION
Exhibit 1 contains the proposed capital budget for FYs 2021-22 and 2022-23. Capital investments are shown by project type and funding source for each year. The proposed Capital Improvement Program totals approximately $31.8 million and $35.2 million for FYs 2021-22 and 2022-23, respectively.
Capital Budget Allocations from the General Fund
The City Manager reviews the proposed capital project allocations, including projects that require allocations from the General Fund. Due to limited General Fund resources, the City Manager’s proposed budget either fully or partially funds certain projects. The selection was based on the critical needs, cost-efficiency efforts, and City Council-set priorities. Projects listed below are recommended for receiving General Fund allocations over the two-year period.
|
Department |
Project |
Funding Source |
FY 2021-22 |
FY 2022-23 |
|
Public Works |
Urban Forest Master Plan Update |
General Fund |
$125,000 |
$125,000 |
|
Public Works |
Street, Park and Parking Lot Lighting |
General Fund |
$300,000 |
$300,000 |
|
Recreation & Parks |
Park Maintenance |
General Fund |
$250,000 |
$75,000 |
|
Recreation & Parks |
Playground Replacement |
General Fund |
|
$250,000 |
|
Recreation & Parks |
Park Pathway Repair & Replacement |
General Fund |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Recreation & Parks |
East End/Harbor Bay Dog Park |
General Fund |
$75,000 |
|
|
|
|
Total |
$800,000 |
$800,000 |
The proposed General Fund allocations to capital projects total $800,000 in FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23.
It should be noted that staff proposed/requested additional general funds to support Urban Forest - Trees and Landscape Maintenance and further capital improvements for parks. Although not shown in the above table, Urban Forest - Trees and Landscape Maintenance has required General Fund contribution in the past to maintain existing service levels. To reduce General Fund exposure during this budget cycle, the Urban Forest - Trees and Landscape Maintenance Funding is supported with $1,178,000 in one-time surplus funds from the Construction Improvement Tax (Fund 302) and $600,000 of Gas Tax (Fund 211). This supports current service levels (trim one of five zones/year and 200 tree plantings) with some additional species specific trimming. Funds from these sources are not able to support the entire staff recommended species-specific tree trimming work, which is an additional $665,000 over the two year period. It also does not support an increase in tree plantings, per the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. Staff is looking to first complete the Urban Forest Master Plan and then seek funding per the recommendations in that plan. Requested funding for this planning effort was reduced by $250,000 over the two year period to minimize General Funding. General Fund support for the Urban Forest - Trees and Landscape Maintenance will need to be revisited in the next two year budget. Lastly, the amounts shown in the table for park maintenance and playground improvements were reduced by $475,000 in FY 2021-22 and $375,000 in FY 2022-23 from that originally proposed by staff.
Capital Budget Allocations from other Fund Sources
The full list of the projects proposed in the current budget are included in the Capital Improvement Program Budget (Exhibit 1). Capital investments are shown by project type and fund source for each year. Highlights include the following:
• Pavement Management: Resurface and repair local streets and roads; incorporate new signage and traffic striping to improve safety for all users.
• Sidewalks: Remove trip hazards and replace sidewalks damaged by city-owned trees.
• Traffic Signals and Systems: Replace obsolete equipment and improve safety and multimodal operations at key intersections.
• Urban Forest - Trees and Landscape Maintenance: Trim, maintain and replace existing city-owned trees and maintain landscaped areas in medians, bioswales and along pathways.
• Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation: Replace sewer lines and laterals according to the City’s Sewer Master Plan.
• Stormwater Management: Provide improved performance at city-owned pump stations; replace critical storm water infrastructure; prevent trash and pollutants from entering the Bay.
• Buildings and Facilities: Maintain and improve city-owned buildings, replace methane piping and flare at the Doolittle Landfill.
• Transportation: Construct the Clement Avenue and Central Avenue Safety Improvement projects; design and install infrastructure for active transportation, traffic calming and safe routes to school; continue planning for West End Bicycle/Pedestrian Crossing.
• Sea Level Rise Adaptation: Advance projects that prevent flooding and address sea level rise at Veteran’s Court on Bay Farm Island and along the northern waterfront area adjacent to the Webster and Posey Tubes.
Ongoing Capital Improvements with no new funding
Public Works and other City departments are currently managing a portfolio of ongoing capital projects, funded through previous City Council appropriations. Following are major ongoing projects with no new funding proposed for the proposed capital budget for FYs 2021-22 and 2022-23.
• Alameda Point Adaptive Reuse Backbone Infrastructure: City Council appropriated $28,427,000 in Base Reuse Funds in the FY 2019-20 budget. This project is completing the design phase and is expected begin construction in the fall of 2021.
• Clement Avenue and Tilden Way Complete Street: City Council appropriated $5,216,000 in previous budgets for planning, design and property acquisition for this project from various sources, including $4,039,000 in grants. The remaining $7,226,000 for constructing the project, including $6,400,000 in grants, is expected to be appropriated in future budgets.
• Appezzato Parkway Bus Lanes: City Council appropriated $1,350,000 in previous budgets for planning and design for this project from Measure BB funding. The remaining $7,650,000 in Measure BB funding for constructing the project is expected to be appropriated in future budgets.
ALTERNATIVES
• Provide direction on the proposed Capital Improvement Program Budget for staff to incorporate into the budget proposed for City Council’s adoption in June 2021.
• Do not provide direction on the current proposal. Staff will bring a recommended Capital Improvement Program Budget for City Council consideration in June 2021.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund or other funds as a result of this informational item.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is in conformance with the Alameda Municipal Code and all policy documents.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity is not a project and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to section 15378 (b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines, because it involves governmental fiscal activities, which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no climate impacts associated with this action. City Council may provide direction to staff on funding priorities for implementation of the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan as part of the budget workshops.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide direction to staff on the FYs 2021-22 and 2022-23 proposed capital improvement program budget.
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
This report represents the proposed capital improvement program budget. Due to budget constraints difficult decisions were required to be made as presented. The City Manager seeks City Council direction on any amendments prior to final consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
By,
Robert Vance, Supervising Civil Engineer
Exhibit:
1. Proposed Capital Improvement Program Budget Summary
cc: Eric Levitt, City Manager