Agenda

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C.103

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	February 7, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Allocation of Funds from the Livable Communities Trust to YES Nature to Neighborhoods

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/07/2023

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Kristin Sherk 925-655-2889

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 7, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to execute a contract, subject to approval by the County Administrator and approval as to form by County Counsel, with YES Nature to Neighborhoods, a private non-profit corporation, in an amount not to exceed $150,000, for the non-construction design costs related to the renovation and expansion of permanent office space located at 3029 MacDonald Avenue in the City of Richmond, for the period of January 1, 2023 through August 31, 2025, as recommended by Supervisor Gioia.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No General Fund Impact. The $150,000 required for the contract will come from the District I allocation of the deposits into the Livable Communities Trust (Fund). The current available balance in the District I portion of the Fund is $195,202.07 (this total does not reflect the proposed $150,000 allocation).

BACKGROUND:

The Livable Communities Trust Fund (Fund) is a Special Revenue Mitigation Fund that was established by the Board of Supervisors on November 15, 2005, following the approval of the Camino Tassajara Combined General Plan Amendment Project, also known as the Alamo Creek and Intervening Property residential projects, and was required as a condition of approval. The Fund was established to implement the County's Smart Growth Action Plan. The residential developers pay an $8,000 per unit fee (excluding the affordable housing portions of the projects) into the Fund. The Department of Conservation and Development administers the Fund.

On December 3, 2013, the Board of Supervisors determined that revenue from the Fund should be spent equally among supervisorial districts. At complete build-out, deposits to the Fund will total $8,448,000. As of December 16, 2022, the account has collected $8,376,000 in revenue fees, and $932,753.57 in accrued interest with $4,383,769.93 remaining in uncommitted funds. The approved expenditures to date are attached.

As recommended by Supervisor Gioia, $150,000 is proposed to be awarded to YES Nature to Neighborhoods (YES) organization. YES is a non-profit organization in the City of Richmond that provides various youth, adult, and family programs with a mission of nurturing leaders, in partnership with nature, that champion the wellbeing of their community.

The Funds will be used for non-construction design costs to renovate and expand YES's permanent office space including the creation of indoor and outdoor spaces that will serve the needs of the community participants and staff for years to come. The office space has served as YES's administrative offices and community home base since 2012. Once the renovations are complete, onsite services will include environmental education, leadership workshops, and advocacy trainings. Other services may include field trip orientation to nearby nature and wild spaces, registration for YES outings including summer and family camps, graduations, and community partner meetings.

While the total project cost for the renovations will exceed the Fund allocation, the recommended $150,000 will pay for the non-construction design costs. The total cost of the YES renovation campaign is approximately $3.0 million, of which $1.33 million is estimated for construction, and $839,000 is estimated for architectural/engineering and related soft costs. As proposed, the architectural design phase is estimated to be completed in Summer 2023. Building permit and construction documents are estimated to take 6-9 months leading up to construction beginning Spring 2024. Construction is expected to take up to 9 months with completion late 2024 or early 2025.

The YES Nature to Neighborhoods project supports Smart Growth Action Plan goal number four: To promote economic revitalization in urban infill communities.