Agenda

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C. 63

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

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Northern Waterfront Priority Production Areas Technical Assistance Project

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:

Alyson Greenlee, 925-655-2783

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 Director, Department of Conservation and Development, or designee, to apply for and accept grant funding of up to $750,000 from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for the Northern Waterfront Priority Production Areas Technical Assistance Project.

FISCAL IMPACT:

If awarded, the submission of the proposed grant materials is expected to result in a grant award of up to $750,000 from MTC to the Department of Conservation and Development to fund the technical assistance to support planning and infrastructure in the Priority Production Areas (PPAs) of the Northern Waterfront as described in this Board Order. There is no required match.

BACKGROUND:

On June 17, 2019, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) released an open call for letters of interest for a new pilot program that introduced Priority Production Areas (PPAs) as a new Priority Area designation. Priority Areas are specific locations well suited for a specific use and previously only included Priority Development Areas (PDAs) and Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs). PPAs were based on new criteria developed by ABAG/MTC that called for the enhancement and protection of industrial areas. The intention of the pilot program was to protect and support the Bay Area’s industrial and manufacturing sectors through the provision of resources and implementation of streamlining actions. Thus, these PPAs are districts that are consistent with current land use designations, have the capacity to add jobs, and spur economic growth.

On December 17, 2019, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 2019/636, nominating two County districts in Bay Point and Pacheco as Association of Bay Area Governments/Metropolitan Transportation Commission's recognized Priority Production Areas, and supporting the City of Antioch's nomination of the Wilbur Avenue corridor, in order to establish eligibility for grant funding and other resources. At that point in the pilot program, there was no associated grant funding.

In December 2022, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) released a solicitation for funding proposals for jurisdictions seeking planning grants and technical assistance for their Priority Production Areas (PPAs). The Priority Production Area (PPA) Pilot Program makes available technical assistance (TA) worth up to $750,000 for projects focused on developing shared analysis or frameworks for implementing programs/policies across multiple PPAs, with no match required.

Given the multi-jurisdictional nature of the Northern Waterfront Economic Development Initiative, staff investigated opportunities with neighboring agencies for a collaborative approach in order to increase our chances of success. It is expected that multi-jurisdiction Technical Assistance (TA) grants will provide the feasibility analysis, framework, and template materials necessary for local staff to get PPA-related programs or policies adopted. The Northern Waterfront Priority Production Areas Technical Assistance Project (“The Project”) is the identification and implementation of common tools for infrastructure improvements across multiple Priority Production Areas (PPAs) in the Northern Waterfront, namely those in the County and in the Cities of Concord, Pittsburg, Antioch and Oakley. The four cities are supportive of the County's proposal. The grant materials are being submitted to the Board with sufficient time to seek approval from the Board of Supervisors prior to the submittal deadline of February 23, 2023.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Failing to submit will prevent the Department of Conservation and Development from receiving a grant award for technical assistance from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to support the planning and infrastructure in the Priority Production Areas (PPAs) of the Northern Waterfront.