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RESOLUTION NO. 2016-011 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING A GRANT APPLICATION FROM THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR “BEYOND TRAFFIC: THE SMART CITY CHALLENGE”
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
The City of Chula Vista’s Department of Public Works, Engineering Division, would like to submit grant applications for the “Beyond Traffic: The Smart City Challenge” from the U.S. Department of Transportation where up to $40 million in federal funding will be awarded to a mid-sized city to conduct a smart city demonstration.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Environmental Notice
Environmental Notice
The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
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Environmental Determination
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines because the proposal consists of an administrative funding solicitation without the assurance that these funds will be procured for future projects. Once the funding is obtained and the projects clearly defined, then, additional environmental review will be conducted and the appropriate determination will be made. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is required.
BOARDS/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
The USDOT is encouraging cities to put forward their best and most creative ideas for innovatively addressing the challenges they are facing. The vision of the Smart City Challenge is to demonstrate and evaluate a holistic, integrated approach to improving surface transportation performance within a city and integrating this approach with other Smart City domains such as public safety, public services, and energy. The USDOT intends for this challenge to address how emerging transportation data, technologies, and applications can be integrated with existing systems in a city to address transportation challenges. The USDOT seeks bold and innovative ideas for proposed demonstrations to effectively test, evaluate, and demonstrate the significant benefits of Smart City concepts.
The USDOT will make an award of up to $40 Million award for one mid-sized city that can demonstrate how advanced data and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies and applications can be used to reduce congestion, keep travelers safe, protect the environment, respond to climate change, connect underserved communities, and support economic vitality. The purpose of this solicitation is to request applications from cities interested in conducting a Federally-funded Smart City Challenge in their jurisdiction. This solicitation describes the USDOT’s high-level vision and goals for such a demonstration, and invites applicants to submit their own high-level vision and goals for their proposed demonstrations.
The grant application process will require two submittals. The first submittal will result in selection of five Smart City Challenge Finalists who will receive Federal funding of $100,000 to support further concept development, planning activities and preparation of the final submittal. Finalists will participate in a number of planning, outreach and educational opportunities to further develop their plans. One finalist will be selected to receive the entire Smart City Challenge grant.
The USDOT intends for the concept development $100,000 awards to support, prepare, and enable Finalists to submit detailed applications for demonstration implementation under the separately issued the USDOT solicitation. The USDOT intends for the concept development $100,000 awards to allow each recipient to further their own Smart City plans even if they do not receive the Smart City Challenge award.
The estimated timeline follows:
Estimated Date Action
February 2016 Applications Due: February 4, 2016, at 3:00 P.M. EST
March 2016 Selected Smart City Challenge Finalists Announced
March 2016 Awards Issued to Smart City Challenge Finalists
March 2016 The USDOT Solicits Applications from Finalists for Smart City
Challenge Implementation
May 2016 Applications Due from Finalists
June 2016 Selected Smart City Challenge Implementation Awardee Announced
With approval of the resolution, Council will support the submittal of the City of Chula Vista’s application for the initial solicitation which could provide up to a $100,000 award for concept development to enable Finalists to submit detailed applications for demonstration implementation under the separately issued the USDOT solicitation. In addition, should the City of Chula Vista be selected as one of five Finalists for the Smart City Challenge, the resolution will also allow for a second grant submittal to the USDOT for the $40 Million implementation phase that will demonstrate how advanced data and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies and applications can be used to reduce congestion, keep travelers safe, protect the environment, respond to climate change, connect underserved communities, and support economic vitality.
DECISION MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(11), is not applicable to this decision for purposes of determining a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City’s Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. The grant application supports the Economic Vitality goal as it helps foster opportunities for investing in Chula Vista’s existing infrastructure by obtaining funds for improving technologies in the transportation system, which is vital for economic growth, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring that our roadways are safer and more efficient.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Staff has contracted to pay STC Consulting $25,000 from CIP project TF354 (TransNet) to prepare the initial grant application. If the City is chosen as one of the five Smart City Challenge Finalists, the City will receive $100,000 in Federal funds to support concept development and planning activities. This will not impact the TransNet Fund, since no matching funds are required.
If the second grant of $40 million is awarded, staff will return to Council with a recommendation to accept the grant funds and appropriate the grant funds into a new Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project(s). Matching funds are not required.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
If funds are awarded, upon completion of the project(s), the improvements will require only routine City maintenance.
ATTACHMENTS: None
Staff Contact: Frank Rivera, Principal Civil Engineer