To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Vin Smith, Community Development Director
Prepared By: Brendan Hurley, Economic Development Program Coordinator
TITLE:
Title
Economic Development Administration Grant
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
1) Authorize the Community Development Director to execute all documents necessary to accept a grant from the Economic Development Administration in the amount of $250,000 for preparation of a Napa River Economic Resilience Strategic Plan with local matching funds in the amount of $77,725.00; and
2) Approve an increase in both revenue and expenditure budgets in the Non-Recurring General Fund by $250,000 as documented in Budget Adjustment No. 5P10; and
3) Authorize the Community Development Director to negotiate and execute a services agreement with a consultant selected through a competitive process to prepare a Napa River Economic Resilience Strategic Plan in an amount not to exceed $250,000.
Body
DISCUSSION:
Grant Award, Budget, and Timeline
The City of Napa was awarded a federal grant from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the development of a Napa River Economic Resilience Strategic Plan. The grant is categorized as NON-CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: Economic Development and Recovery, FY 2023 Disaster Supplemental.
The total project budget is $327,725.00. The EDA investment is $250,000.00, or 76% of the total budget. The remaining $77,725.00, or 24% of the total budget, is the City of Napa’s in-kind contribution in the form of staff time and effort.
The authorized award end date for the EDA federal grant is September 30, 2025, with project close out and submission of all final project and financial progress reports within 120 days after award end date.
Project Scope of Work
The EDA funds will be used to hire a consultant to develop a Napa River Economic Resilience Strategic Plan. This strategic plan and analysis will highlight upcoming opportunities for economic development and provide recommendations for economic resiliency to be leveraged by the Napa River as a business and ecological asset, strengthening the City’s economy and infrastructure as a result.
As the City prepares for an increase in available land for commercial, residential, and industrial development as the result of the new flood walls, the plan will assist in ensuring equitable consideration of access to economic opportunity for sustainable growth. The city-wide plan will outline important considerations of access to economic opportunity for new and expanding businesses, and include a conceptual design for a world-class riverwalk to activate the river and attract locals and visitors to the river amenities.
Contractor Selection
The City of Napa Economic Development Division will issue a Request for Proposal for Qualified Consultants to submit proposals for the Napa River Economic Resilience Strategic Plan. Following the proposal deadline, the City will review and negotiate with the highest rated vendor based on a review committee recommendation. As part of this action, Staff is seeking authorization for the Community Development Director to negotiate and execute a services agreement with the selected consultant to prepare the Plan in an amount not to exceed $250,000. The expectation is that the selected consultant will commence work on the Plan by the end of May 2024.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
The grant requires an increase in both revenue and expenditure budgets in the Non-Recurring General Fund by $250,000 over the project period. Staff will submit quarterly documentation to the EDA for reimbursement of project expenses, which will replenish the Non-Recurring General Fund expenditure (see Attachment 1: Budget Adjustment).
The City of Napa’s contribution is $77,725.00, or 24% of the total project budget of $327,725.00, and is considered in-kind in the form of staff time and effort. Staff will track time related to grant activities to account for this in-kind contribution.
Since the authorized award end date is September 30, 2025, grant expenses will cover multiple fiscal years, including FY 2023/2024, FY 2024/2025, and FY 2025/2026.
CEQA:
The Community Development Director has determined that the Recommended Action described in this Staff Report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060c.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Budget Adjustment No. 5P10
ATCH 2 - Award Letter
NOTIFICATION:
None