REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Accept a $963,000 Award from FY 2024 Federal Appropriations Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending in Support of the Public Safety Communications Infrastructure Project and to Approve the Related Budget Amendments
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
In early 2021, the House Appropriations Committee elected to bring back the former process of including member-requested projects as part of the appropriations process. The revised process, referred to as Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (CPFCDS), included transparency provisions to prevent any perceived conflicts. Additionally, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have limited requests to those made by public agencies or non-profit organizations. Since the process returned, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have allowed members to submit project requests annually, but the process can be halted at any time that the Committees choose.
For every year of funding, the CPFCDS projects are solicited and selected by the members of Congress and sent to the Appropriations Committees for consideration. If selected by the Appropriations Committee, the individual scope and funding amount for each of the CPFCDS projects is then written into law via the corresponding appropriations bill(s).
Since 2021, the City has submitted funding requests annually to Congressman Ro Khanna, Senator Alex Padilla, and the late Senator Dianne Feinstein through their respective processes, with the assistance of the City’s legislative consultant, Townsend Public Affairs (Townsend).
The City has had much success with securing funding for key priority projects through the CPFCDS process, including:
• $2.725 million for the De La Cruz Blvd, Lick Mill Blvd, and Scott Blvd Bicycle Projects (FY 2022)
• $3 million for the Anna Drive Neighborhood Flood Protection Project (FY 2023)
• $500,000 for the Fire Station Microgrid Project (FY 2023)
In 2023, the City submitted three requests for consideration through the FY 2024 Federal Appropriations CPFCDS process: Public Safety Communications Infrastructure, Great America Parkway Congestion Relief and Multimodal Improvements, and Harrison Street and North Winchester Drive Storm Drain Flood Protection Project.
DISCUSSION
The City’s Police and Fire Departments respond to the daily needs of the community, and routinely prepare to respond to critical incidents in the City, region, and throughout the State. In 2023, the Communications Center received 152,158 emergency and non-emergency calls for service resulting in 42,265 and 10,623 police and fire calls for service, respectively. Each call for service and subsequent communication related to the call is transmitted through a two-way radio. Many of the City’s portable and mobile radios are nearing the end of their serviceable life and are in need of replacement.
The City is a member of a countywide organization dedicated to facilitating interoperable voice and data communications known as Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority (SVRIA). This system operates on a P25 digital radio system that allows public safety entities throughout Santa Clara County interoperability in situations where a multi-jurisdictional emergency response is necessary, such as severe storm, flooding, fires, earthquake, active shooter, mutual aid situations, and domestic terrorism. Critical incidents that have required the use of these radios include the Gilroy Garlic Festival and Valley Transportation Authority shootings. This two-way radio infrastructure is also critical in managing large-scale events at Levi's Stadium as local, State and federal law enforcement is necessary to carry out each major event at this venue. SVRIA has sought group pricing for radio equipment through Motorola Solutions.
As part of the FY 2024 Federal Appropriations CPFCDS process, Congressman Ro Khanna submitted the City’s $3 million request for the Public Safety Communications Infrastructure project to the House Appropriations Committee. Through changes in leadership and negotiations in the House Appropriations Committee, the $3 million request was amended to $963,000. On March 9, 2024, HR 4366 was signed into law, which included $963,000 in funding for the City’s Public Safety Communications Infrastructure project.
Combined with alternate funding sources, staff plans to move forward with the purchase of replacement radios; a separate Report to Council is being brought forward for City Council for approval of the purchase of the portable radios in May 2024.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4) in that it is a fiscal activity that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potential significant impact on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The FY 2024 Federal Appropriations CPFCDS provides one-time funding to support the City’s need to address the replacement of its two-way radio infrastructure ($963,000). These funds will be used in combination with City funds and State funds ($1.75 million for Regional Public Safety Interoperable Radio Communications) allocated in the Communication Acquisitions Fund to replace the public safety radios. A separate memorandum will be brought forward to award the contract to replace the radios.
The budget amendment in the table below is recommended to recognize and appropriate the federal funding.
Budget Amendment
FY 2023/24
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Communication Acquisitions Fund |
|
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
Revenue from Other Agencies |
$1,750,000 |
$963,000 |
$2,713,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditure |
|
|
|
|
Capital Outlay |
$7,007,232 |
$963,000 |
$7,970,232 |
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the Finance Department, Police Department, City Manager’s Office and City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Accept and approve FY 2024 Federal Appropriations Committee Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (CPFCDS) funding to support the Public Safety Communications Infrastructure Project ($963,000);
2. Approve the following FY 2023/24 budget amendments:
a. In the Communication Acquisitions Fund, recognize Revenue from Other Agencies in the amount of $963,000 and increase the Capital Outlay budget in the amount of $963,000 (five affirmative Council votes required to appropriate additional revenue); and
3. Authorize the City Manager and Finance Director to sign any and all documents required to accept the described funding in final forms approved by the City Attorney.
Staff
Reviewed by: Pat Nikolai, City of Police
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager