Title
Staff Report for City Council Review of Projects for Presentation to the City’s Congressional Representatives and Administrative Departments During the March National League of Cities Conference in Washington D.C. for Inclusion in the Federal Fiscal Year 2015 Budget
Staffreport
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council review and authorize the list of recommended local projects for presentation to the City’s congressional representatives and administrative departments for consideration in the federal FY 2015-2016 budget.
BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS
Annually, members of the City Council travel to Washington, D.C. during the National League of Cities conference and lobby congressional delegates to include City projects for funding in the federal budget for the coming year. This process, coordinated by the City’s Federal advocacy representative Len Simon, may include meeting with various federal representatives, including members of Congress, their staff and/or federal agency representatives with presentation of written material in support of the City’s selected projects. These efforts have proven successful with partially funded projects in recent years, including the COPS grant, the East 14th Street improvements, the Davis/I-880 Interchange, and the expansion of the Lit San Leandro fiber optic loop.
While it is not clear what funding may be available at the federal level in the coming year, it is important to proceed with identifying beneficial projects. Staff prepared the attached packet of four project requests:
• Urban Greenway and Creek Walk
• San Leandro: A Smart City Model
• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Programs
• Next Generation Manufacturing and Workplace District
Next Steps
If authorized by Council, staff will include these summaries in the packet of materials that is delivered to Len Simon, the City’s federal advocate, who will attend the City Council Work Session on January 12th in order to discuss his workplan for 2015. These materials also will assist in any advocacy efforts carried out on behalf of the City of San Leandro by Mr. Simon, City Council members, or staff over the course of the year ahead.
Fiscal Impacts
The fiscal impact of these requests is unknown at this time. However, the projects identified may require some level of City funds as a match or to fill funding allocation shortfalls. Costs of attending the National League of Cities conference are already appropriated in the adopted current-year City budget.
ATTACHMENTS
• Urban Greenway and Creek Walk
• San Leandro: A Smart City Model
• CDBG and HOME Programs
• Next Generation Manufacturing and Workplace District
PREPARED BY: Eric Engelbart, Assistant to the City Manager, City Manager’s Office