HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2023-034 N.C.S. 03/20/2023 DocuSign Envelope ID:OA22CD20-22E6-49BD-8D89-9B83A62913B3
Resolution No. 2023-034 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION OF THE PETALUMA CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO SUBMIT A JOINT APPLICATION WITH DANCO COMMUNITIES
SONOMA MARING AREA RAIL TRANSIT FOR FUNDING THROUGH THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSIG AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM FOR THE
MEREDIAN AT CORONA STATION AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT LOCATED
AT 890 NORTH MCDOWELL BOULEVARD
WHEREAS,the State of California,the Strategic Growth Council(SGC),and the Department
of Community Development(Department)issued a Notice of Funding Availability(NOFA)dated
January 30, 2023, under the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program
established under Division 44, Part 1 of the Public Resources Code commencing with Section
75200; and
WHEREAS,the City of Petaluma desires to apply for AHSC Program funds and partner with
Danco Communities and Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit(SMART)in submitting the Application
Package released by the Department for the AHSC Program; and
WHEREAS, the SGC is authorized to approve funding allocations for the AHSC Program,
subject to the terms and conditions of the NOFA, Program Guidelines, Application Package, and
Standard Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Department is authorized to administer the approved funding allocations of
the AHSC Program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma's General Plan promotes investment in alternative modes
of transportation, including the second SMART rail station at Corona Road as called out on the
Land Use Map (Figure 1-1); and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma's General Plan Policy 2-P-89 calls for collaboration with
regional and other agencies to create a new light rail transit station near Corona Road with high
intensity, transit oriented development; and
WHEREAS,the City of Petaluma's General Plan Policy 5-P-24 calls for a pedestrian network
and streetscape amenities near schools, transit, shopping, and mixed use corridors and Policy 5-P-
22 calls for a well-connected pedestrian network linking new and existing developments to
adjacent land uses; and
WHEREAS, General Plan Policy 5-P-42 calls for expansion of the bus transit system so that
it is convenient and provides frequent, regular service along major City corridors serving the
SMART park and ride lot; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma's General Plan supports efforts for transit oriented
development along McDowell Boulevard as called out in Policy 5-P-43; and
Resolution No. 2023-034 N.C.S. Page 1
DocuSign Envelope ID:OA22CD20-22E6-49BD-8D89-9B83A62913B3
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma's certified Housing Element (2015-2023), Goal 4 calls for
promoting the development of housing affordable to extremely low,very low, low- and moderate-
income households; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma's certified Housing Element (2015-2023), Policy 6.3 calls
for supporting efforts to provide transitional and supportive housing to those moving from
homelessness to independent living; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma's certified Housing Element (2015-2023), Policy 6.6
promotes the construction of rental units for larger families; and
WHEREAS, on December 7, 2020, in accordance with Government Code Section 6651(d),
the Petaluma City Council adopted Resolution No. 2020-179 N.C.S. establishing a policy to
authorize an increase in the allowable units in a by right supportive housing development as
prescribed by state Assembly Bill 2162 from 50 units or fewer to up to 131 units for the Meridian
at Corona Station Affordable Housing Project; and
WHEREAS, as a condition of the City Council's discretionary action in approving Resolution
No. 2020-179 N.C.S. for the Meridian at Corona Station Affordable Housing Project the applicant
was encouraged to seek creative partnerships and funding sources to expand infrastructure,transit,
and connectivity resources to the project and surrounding neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, on September 9, 2021 the City approved the Meridian at Corona Station
Affordable Housing Project; and
WHEREAS, Danco Communities wishes to develop the Meridian at Corona Station project
for 131 units of affordable units, including at least 33 units of supportive housing and associated
services and has requested City and SMART partnership to develop regional alternative
transportation infrastructure and affordable housing in part through the AHSC grant program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma considered this item at a duly noticed public meeting on
March 20, 2023, at which time members of the public were provided the opportunity to provide
written or oral comment; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Government Code Section 65651, subdivision(b),paragraph
(2), qualifying supportive housing projects under AB 2162 are not projects subject to the
requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA); and
WHEREAS, the item before the City Council is to authorize the City Manager to submit a
joint application for funding through the AHSC program and does not create a physical change in
the environment and is therefore not a project under CEQA; and
WHEREAS, the sustainable transportation and program activities identified by the City of
Petaluma for inclusion in the AHSC Grant application include infrastructure improvements on
North McDowell Boulevard to include additional bus stops, new and enhanced pedestrian
improvements within the public right of way, a new class II bike lane on Corona Road, and
enhanced transit operations on North McDowell; and
WHEREAS, the City's proposed activities consists of pedestrian, bicycle, and transit
infrastructure and transit service along N. McDowell Boulevard including 1,800 feet of safe and
accessible walkway on North McDowell Boulevard from the SMART rail crossing to Corona Road
Resolution No. 2023-034 N.C.S. Page 2
DocuSign Envelope ID:OA22CD20-22E6-49BD-8D89-9B83A62913B3
and on Corona Road from McDowell Blvd to the SMART rail tracks, 1,025 feet of safe and
accessible walkway on both sides of the road and 1,056 feet of Class II bike lane on Corona Road
from North McDowell Blvd to Sonoma Mountain Parkway, the purchase of ZEV buses,
construction of five new bus stops on McDowell Blvd, and operational funding to increase the
frequency of Petaluma Transit on North McDowell; and
WHEREAS,all improvements will occur within or immediately adjacent to the existing right-
of-way and there is negligible or no expansion of use beyond what currently exists and there are
no cumulative impacts, unusual circumstances or other factors that would make the exemption
inapplicable;Therefore,the project is exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (c),Existing
Facilities, including the addition of bicycle facilities, bicycle lanes, transit improvements and
service frequency, pedestrian crossings, and similar alterations that do not create additional
automobile lanes.
WHEREAS, the project is also exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (h),
Minor Alterations to land including the creation of bike lanes, sidewalks, and transit infrastructure
within the existing right-of-way; and
WHEREAS,the increase of transit service frequency is exempt under Public Resources Code
section 21080(b)(10) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15275 Specified Mass Transit Projects.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the Petaluma City Council as follows:
1. Finds that the above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated into this resolution as
findings of the City Council.
2. Finds that the action to authorize partnership in the AHSC grant funding application in and of
itself does not create a physical change in the environment and therefore is not a project under
CEQA.
3. Finds that the City's proposed activities consists of pedestrian, bicycle, and transit
infrastructure and transit service along N. McDowell Boulevard including 1,800 feet of safe
and accessible walkway on North McDowell Boulevard from the SMART rail crossing to
Corona Road and on Corona Road from McDowell Blvd to the SMART rail tracks, 1,025 feet
of safe and accessible walkway on both sides of the road and 1,056 feet of Class II bike lane
on Corona Road from North McDowell Blvd to Sonoma Mountain Parkway, the purchase of
ZEV buses, construction of five new bus stops on McDowell Blvd, and operational funding to
increase the frequency of Petaluma Transit on North McDowell.. All improvements will occur
within or immediately adjacent to the existing right-of-way. There is negligible or no
expansion of use beyond what currently exists and there are no cumulative impacts, unusual
circumstances or other factors that would make the exemption inapplicable. Therefore, the
project is exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (c),Existing Facilities,including the
addition of bicycle facilities, bicycle lanes, transit improvements and service frequency,
pedestrian crossings, and similar alterations that do not create additional automobile
lanes. Additionally, the project is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (h),
Minor Alterations to land including the creation of bike lanes, sidewalks, and transit
infrastructure within the existing right-of-way.
4. The increase of transit service frequency is exempt under Public Resources Code section
21080(b)(10) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15275 Specified Mass Transit Projects.
Resolution No. 2023-034 N.C.S. Page 3
DocuSign Envelope ID:OA22CD20-22E6-49BD-8D89-9B83A62913B3
5. The Council authorizes and directs Staff to work with Danco Communities to apply for and
submit to the Department the AHSC Program Application as detailed in the NOFA dated
January 30, 2023, in a total amount of approximately $6,000,000 for a grant for Sustainable
Transportation (STI) and Program (PGM) activities ("AHSC Grant") as defined the AHSC
Program Guidelines. This compliments the joint application with SMART in the amount of
approximately$7,000,000 for additional Sustainable Transportation(STI) and Transit Related
Amenities (TRA) activities associated with the Corona Station SMART rail station and with
Danco Communities in an amount up to $35,000,000 for the affordable housing project.
6. If the application is approved, the Applicant is hereby authorized and directed to enter into,
execute, and deliver a State of California Standard Agreement(Standard Agreement) in a total
amount of approximately $6,000,000, and any and all other document required or deemed
necessary or appropriate to secure the AHSC Program funds from the Department, and all
amendments thereto (collectively, the "AHSC Documents").
7. The City shall be subject to the terms and conditions as specified in the Standard Agreement.
Funds are to be used for allowable capital asset project expenditures to be identified in Exhibit
A of the Standard Agreement. The application in full is incorporated as part of the Standard
Agreement. Any and all activities funded, information provided, and timelines represented in
the application are enforceable through the Standard Agreement. Applicant hereby agrees to
use the funds for eligible capital asset(s)in the manner presented in the application as approved
by the Department and in accordance with the NOFA and Program Guidelines and Application
Package.
8. If awarded, the City will enter into an agreement with Danco Communities assigning the
construction and development responsibilities, including procurement, labor standards, and
other requirements of the Standard Agreement as necessary to complete the project to Danco
Communities, which will indemnify the City, assuming full responsibility for grant
performance.
9. The City Manager or her designate is hereby authorized to enter into and sign the grant
agreement and execute in the name of the Applicant the AHSC Program Application Package
and the AHSC Program Documents as required by the Department for participation in the
AHSC Program.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was adopted by the Council of the City Approved as to
of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 20'day of March 2023,by the Docusignedmrm:
following vote: 'vnJ(
Yney
AYES: Mayor McDonnell,Barnacle,Vice Mayor Cader Thompson,Healy,Nau,
Pocekay,Shribbs
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
DocuSigned by: DocuSignedd by:
ATTEST:
ity er ayor
Resolution No. 2023-034 N.C.S. Page 4