HomeMy WebLinkAbout_4.6(b)-- Authorize Grant Application for Community Resilience Centers Program for Panorama Park
CITY OF REDDING
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
Recommendation
Approve the City of Redding as an applicant for $10 million from the California Department of
Food and Agriculture Community Resilience Centers Program grant for the Panorama Park and
Community Center (Project); and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute all
documents necessary to apply for the grant.
Fiscal Impact
The grant application will request up to the program’s maximum of $10 million to construct
Panorama Park and a community center. The grant does not require a match. However, the City
of Redding (City) has already secured $8.5 million from the Statewide Park Program and will
contribute $1.5 million from the Park Development Fund. The grant funds would supplement the
existing project budget. The emergency services functions will rely on existing programs and
operations by the City and its partners during Community Resiliency Center (CRC) events. With
award of the grant, the expansion of the project and associated services are not intended to place
an additional impact on the General Fund.
Alternative Action
The City Council (Council) could decline to apply for the funds under this grant opportunity or
provide staff with alternative direction.
Background/Analysis
The Panorama Park Project features a 10.5-acre community park with a 20,000-square-foot
community center. The project includes park amenities such as trails, landscaping, a playground,
a dog park, parking, and more. With the existing Statewide Park Program (SPP) grant and the
City’s Park Development Fund allocation, the project has a $10 million budget. Due to the SPP
grant award ceiling ($8.5 million) and inflationary factors since the application submittal in
MEETING DATE: February 21, 2023
ITEM NO. 4.6(b)
FROM:
***APPROVED BY***
kniemer@cityofredding.org
btippin@cityofredding.org
SUBJECT: 4.6(b)--Authorize Grant Application for Community Resilience Centers Program
for Panorama Park
Kim Niemer, Community
Services Director
Report to Redding City Council February 15, 2023
Re: 4.6(b)--Authorize Grant Application for Community Resilience Centers Program Page 2
2020, the current construction budget is inadequate. To address the construction cost deficiency,
the Community Services Department identified a strategy to seek opportunities for additional
funding by expanding the role of the community center. In this strategy, the community center
would serve a dual purpose as a CRC, allowing it to function during natural disasters, extreme
heat events, and other emergency or climate-related instances.
Staff is seeking to leverage existing project funding in the California Department of Food and
Agriculture (CDFA) Community Resilience Centers Program and elevate the design of the
community center by adding additional elements and capacity for both sustainability and
emergency operations. Elements of CRC infrastructure may include a heating and cooling area,
solar and backup power, clean air area, and extended emergency evacuation response centers
with community kitchen, shower facilities, broadband, and other community needs due to
wildfires, floods, and other emergencies or climate events. As seen in the Carr Fire, emergency
events can be dynamic, widespread and require multiple options and plans for emergency
centers. A successful CRC grant application will allow for the constructing a purpose-built
facility in the City’s northwest quadrant, thereby increasing the geographic distribution and
availability of emergency shelter infrastructure.
For this grant program, the CDFA Fairs and Expositions Branch was issued a one-time General
Fund allocation of $150 million for fairground and community resilience centers. Of that
allocation, $38 million will be awarded to community centers throughout the state. The City’s
application will request up to $10 million to supplement the project’s current budget , for a total
project budget of $20 million. The application is due February 27. If awarded, staff will need to
amend the current design contract with NJA Architects to expand the project’s scope and design
the additional square footage in the building.
Environmental Review
On June 22, 2021, the Planning Commission (Commission) adopted the Mitigated Negative
Declaration (MND) and the Mitigation Monitoring Programs (MMP) and approved the
Panorama Park Project, thereby satisfying the requirements of the California Environmental
Quality Act Guidelines §15074 (CEQA). At this meeting, the Commission also approved Site
Development Permit SDP-2021-00785, General Plan Amendment GPA-2021-0786, and
Rezoning Application RZ-2021-0787. No further actions are required at this time.
Council Priority/City Manager Goals
• Government of the 21st Century – “Be relevant and proactive to the opportunities and
challenges of today’s residents and workforce. Anticipate the future to make better
decisions today.”
• Economic Development – “Facilitate and become a catalyst for economic development
in Redding to create jobs, retain current businesses and attract new ones, and encourage
investment in the community.”