REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL July 25, 2019 FROM: WILMA QUAN, City Manager Office of the Mayor & City Manager BY: LAURA MERRILL, Deputy City Manager Office of the Mayor & City Manager COURTNEY ESPINOZA, Program Implementation Manager Office of the Mayor & City Manager SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the 2017 Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Grant and Transform Fresno Plan project regarding the Inside Out Community Garden: 1. Adopt a finding that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to the Class 4 Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15304(b); and 2. Approve a Sub-Recipient Agreement with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (EOC) for the Inside Out Community Garden totaling $98,000. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council approve a Sub-Recipient Agreement with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission for Project 14 regarding the Inside Out Community Garden and authorize the City Manager to execute all related documents to the administration, modification, monitoring and closeout of the Sub-Recipient Agreements for Project 14. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On February 28, 2019, the City Council unanimously voted to approve a Master Grant Agreement (MGA) with the Strategic Growth Council (SGC) for the TCC grant award with the understanding that the Sub-Recipient Agreements between the City and Partners who will be receiving funds to implement components of the Transform Fresno Plan would be brought forward for subsequent Council consideration as they meet the required SGC readiness thresholds and receive a notice to proceed from SGC. The following project has met the necessary thresholds and is ready to begin implementation. * Project 14 Inside Out Community Garden BACKGROUND The Transform Fresno Plan was created by a participatory steering committee comprised of community stakeholders from the Chinatown, Downtown and Southwest Fresno neighborhoods. On February 28, 2019, the City Council unanimously approved the MGA which binds the City and SGC with the understanding that Sub-Recipient Agreements between the City and Partners who will be receiving funds to implement components of the Transform Fresno Plan would be brought forward for subsequent Council consideration as they meet the required SGC readiness thresholds and receive a notice to proceed from SGC. The projects referenced below have met those thresholds and are ready to begin implementation: Project 14 Inside Out Community Garden The project will build a community garden at Sunset Community Center (1345 West Eden Avenue) that will include site preparation, garden construction and planting, volunteer recruitment, and community engagement on garden maintenance, harvesting, and cooking demonstrations. The Lead Entity and partners will survey the community for produce preferences, plant trees and vegetables with community volunteers, and conduct regular community events teaching proper nutrition and tasting a variety of recipes. The garden will include fruit trees, an ADA accessible planter box, benches, a tool shed, and composting box. The grounds and trees will be maintained long term in accordance with the existing Agreement between the City of Fresno and Fresno EOC. Project 14 has not incurred any changes in budget or scope as originally shown in the MGA. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Project 14 falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in CEQA Guidelines, Section 15304(b)/Class 4 of the State of California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines. None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Section 15304(b)/Class 4 consists of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation that do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not considered based upon conditions of state funding. FISCAL IMPACT There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding for Transform Fresno Plan projects lead by Partners will be a direct pass-through of TCC grant funds and will be distributed on a reimbursement basis. Attachments: 1. Sub-recipient Agreement with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission for Projects 14 2. Sub-Recipient Agreement Status Summary