Title
Staff Report for City Council Review of Legislative Priorities for the 2016 Federal Fiscal Year
Staffreport
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council review and authorize the attached list of recommended local projects and advocacy efforts as part of the City of San Leandro’s 2016 federal legislative work plan.
BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS
Each year, the Mayor and several members of the City Council travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter meeting or the National League of Cities - Congressional Cities Conference. While in the Capitol, they also may have the opportunity to attend meetings with San Leandro’s elected representatives/staff in Congress or with federal agency staff in order to learn more about various grant opportunities, as well as to share information about San Leandro’s needs and interests at the federal level. This process, which is coordinated by the City’s federal advocacy representative Len Simon, may include the presentation of written material in support of city projects or advocacy efforts related to various policy areas that are of direct relevance to the City. These efforts have proven successful in recent years, as demonstrated by various federal grant awards. Examples include two grants from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office (a $250,000 award for two school resource officers, and an approximately $75,000 award for engagement efforts with Chinese-speaking community residents), as well as a $2.1 million grant from the US Department of Commerce - Economic Development Administration for the expansion of the Lit San Leandro fiber optic loop.
It is important to identify projects or policy areas that are of importance to the City of San Leandro so that members of the City Council, City staff, or the City’s federal advocates may take action as opportunities may arise to advance the City’s interests. To this end, staff has identified a number of projects and issue areas for incorporation into our federal work plan, which are further outlined in the following attachments:
Smart San Leandro: A Connected City. This project outlines various opportunities to leverage public-private partnerships and emerging technology resources to transform traditional industrial districts into modern manufacturing workplaces.
Urban Greenway. This project would lead to the development of a regional bicycle and pedestrian pathway connecting neighborhoods across Oakland, San Leandro, unincorporated Alameda County, and Hayward.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Programs. This attachment summarizes the important role that the Community Development Block Grant program plays in funding various capital improvement, affordable housing and ADA compliance projects, and memorializes the City Council’s desire to see federal appropriations for this program restored to historic levels.
Other Federal Advocacy Efforts. This document summarizes various other federal policy issues for advocacy or monitoring, such as:
• FEMA National Flood Insurance Program
• Railroad Safety
• HUD Housing Programs
• EPA Urban Waters Small Grants
• Affordable Care Act Implementation
• US Army Corps programs, including dredging of residential marinas
• Shoreline Project implementation
• COPS Office grant programs
Next Steps
If authorized by Council, staff will include these summaries in the packet of materials that is delivered to Len Simon, the City’s federal advocate, who will attend the City Council Work Session on January 11, 2016 to provide an update of what has occurred at the federal level over the past year as well as what he expects to see in the coming year. These materials also will assist in any advocacy efforts carried out on behalf of the City of San Leandro by the Mayor, members of the City Council, Mr. Simon, or City staff over the course of the year ahead.
Fiscal Impacts
The fiscal impact of these requests is unknown at this time. Should any of the projects identified in the attached documents ultimately receive federal grant assistance, some local matching funds could be required, which would be further evaluated and presented for the City Council’s consideration prior to acceptance of any grant awards. The costs of attending the US Conference of Mayors and National League of Cities events are already appropriated in the adopted City budget.
ATTACHMENTS
• Urban Greenway
• Smart San Leandro: A Connected City
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Programs
• Other Federal Advocacy Efforts
PREPARED BY: Eric Engelbart, Assistant to the City Manager, City Manager’s Office