Multiple sources of capital funding are necessary to rehabilitate a facility to serve those who are medically fragile and homeless. The estimated project cost is $2 million. The following revenue sources have been identified and or secured for the purposes of this capital project:
$930,041 – Emergency Housing and Assistance Program (EHAP) Capital Development funds have been awarded by the State of California for this project. EHAP is a 10 yr. loan with a simple interest of 3% that is deferred (as well as repayment) as long as the project is used as an emergency shelter or transitional housing program. At the completion of 10 years, the loan shall be forgiven.
$150,000 – Per the Contra Costa County Health Services Department (HSD), the Kaiser Foundation has indicated it will provide funds to support the project.
$100,000 – Per HSD, the Concord City Council is expected to approve the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds on April 27, 2009.
$470,000 – Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development CDBG funds (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 14.218 - Community Development Block Grants/Entitlement Grants) are pending until final approval by the Board of Supervisors in late April or early May.
$350,000 – Contra Costa County Health Services Department has approved and allocated funds towards the construction of the project.
No matching funds are required for any of the sources listed above.
On January 24, 2006, the Board of Supervisors approved submission of grant application #28-745 for the EHAP Capital Development funds to support the conversion of 2047-D Arnold Industrial Way, Concord, for the Respite Interim Housing and Service Program. The County currently operates a Homeless Shelter in the adjacent suite. On December 19, 2006, the State granted funds #28-745-1 for the construction of the Respite Program that will provide outreach, short-term shelter, goal-oriented counseling, and health services to medically fragile homeless individuals recently discharged from hospitals. Standard Amendment Agreement #28-745-2 extended the term of the Agreement, allowing the County’s Homeless Program to successfully complete the capital project by March 5, 2010.
Bid documents and specifications have been prepared by H & Y Architects, Inc. The general prevailing wage rates have been obtained and these shall be the minimum rates paid on this project.
Upon the Board’s authorization, the Clerk of the Board will publish a Notice to Contractors in accordance with Public Contract Code Section 22037 inviting bids for the work. The General Services Director, or designee, will mail notices to the construction trade journals specified in Public Contract Code Section 22036 at least 30 days before the bid opening date.
Bids submitted for this project will be subject to the County’s Project Labor Agreement (“PLA”) policy, which applies to all construction projects of $1 million or more awarded by the Board. As a condition of contract award, the successful bidder (prime contractor) is required to sign a project labor agreement with the Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council.
CEQA ANALYSIS
In 1994, Contra Costa County prepared and issued an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the “Homeless Shelter General Plan Amendment, North Concord Homeless Shelter and Housing Authority Administrative/Office Warehouse project” (County File #3-93-CO). The County elected to prepare the EIR after some owners of nearby properties had expressed opposition to the establishment of a proposed County homeless shelter within a portion of a commercial building at 2047 Arnold Industrial Way in the Concord area. At that time, the site and nearby properties were located within the unincorporated area of the County. In 2002, the subject site, as well as other nearby properties on the north side of Highway 4, was annexed into the City of Concord’s jurisdiction.
The 1994 EIR focused on certain environmental topics which might involve significant impacts and where substantial concerns had been raised by the public. The topics that were evaluated in the EIR were:
- Land Use
- Air Quality
- Traffic/Circulation/Parking
- Public Services
- Risk of Upset/Human Health
The 1994 EIR identified several potential impacts to the environment, but only one that was determined to reach a significant level, Land Use. To mitigate this impact to a less than significant level, the EIR identified implementation of house rules contained in Appendix G of that report. These measures provided for controls on shelter resident behavior, such as providing an evening curfew, and non-admittance if under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Following public review and comment and preparation of a Final Environmental Impact Report on May 10, 1994, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors certified the Final Environmental Impact Report, and approved the establishment of a permanent County Homeless Shelter within Suites A, B, and C at 2047 Arnold Industrial Way.
Determination that an Addendum to the 1994 EIR is Appropriate for the Proposed Homeless Shelter Expansion
The portion of the building at this location where the shelter has not been established, Suite D, has been used by the Contra Costa County General Services Department for storage purposes. The County is now proposing to expand the shelter into Suite D of the existing commercial building which has a floor area of approximately 8,100 square feet.
State and County CEQA Guidelines provide that when an EIR has been certified for a project, no subsequent EIR shall be prepared for that project unless the County determines that:
- Substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions of the previous EIR; or
- Substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous EIR; or
- New information of substantial importance which was not known shows that the project may result in one or more significant effects on the environment. (§ 15162).
Those Guidelines also provide that a lead agency shall prepare an addendum to a previously certified EIR if some changes or additions are necessary but none of the conditions described above calling for preparation of a subsequent EIR have occurred. An addendum need not be circulated for public review. (§ 15164)
In 2007, the County Department of Conservation and Development reviewed the proposed expansion for purposes of compliance with CEQA. That review included consultations with officials from the City of Concord. Based on that review, County staff has determined that only minor changes and additions in the documentation are needed to satisfy the requirements of CEQA, and that as a consequence, only an addendum to the 1994 EIR is required.