For City Council Meeting September 13, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Marcus Fuller, City Manager
FROM: Paul Gonzales, Community Development Manager
Title
Request City Council Approve the Submission of a Sustainable Communities Program Application to the Southern California Association of Governments for Technical and Material Assistance through the Civic Engagement, Equity, and Environmental Justice Call for Projects.
Body
BACKGROUND
The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is preparing to release the Civic Engagement, Equity, and Environmental Justice Call for Projects. As provided by SCAG, the Call for Projects is focused on:
• Racial and social equity,
• Inequities in historically disinvested communities and communities of color,
• Civic engagement, equity, and environmental justice including land-use and transportation planning activities,
• The digital divide, and
• Healthy equity.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The City is undertaking a General Plan Update which includes updates to the Land Use Element, Circulation Element, Safety Element and creation of a new Environmental Justice Element. At the July 27, 2022, Economic Development Committee meeting, Mayor Deborah Robertson directed staff to host extensive public engagement with a goal of reaching 10,000 community members. To help facilitate thorough engagement, staff has researched different opportunities for pursuing potential resources to accomplish more outreach.
With funding made available through SCAG’s Sustainable Communities Program, with the successful awarding of the grant, the City would have additional resources to bolster the public engagement activities currently included in the General Plan Update scope of work. Examples of enhanced public engagement are outlined in the following table.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. Submittal of an application is not a project as defined by CEQA.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
Community engagement contributes to one of the Community Values in the General Plan, which states that “Rialto is a family first community.” Through community engagement, members of the public may provide input and influence that supports a family first environment.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and supports this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
There is no operating budget impact. SCAG would be responsible for funding the project and there are no matching funds required of the City.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
There is no capital improvement budget impact.
Licensing
No business license is required for the requested action.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council Approve the Submission of a Sustainable Communities Program Application to the Southern California Association of Governments to Receive Technical and Material Assistance through the Civic Engagement, Equity, and Environmental Justice Call for Projects.