Overview of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression, and includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.
Implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
On January 10, 2009, a list of potential infrastructure projects was presented to the City Council at their annual retreat. On January 12, 2009, the list of potential projects was approved by the City Council. On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the Recovery Act into law.
Since the signing of the law, the City has been notified about the receipt of stimulus funds through existing Federal programs. Additionally, the City is actively pursing and evaluating additional grant applications within the Recovery Act. Listed below are the projects which are currently being implemented or pursued.
Programs, Projects, and Descriptions
Federal Program Allocations:
Federal Department: Department of Transportation
Federal Program: Federal Transit Administration Section 5307
Amount: $1.2 million
City Department: Public Works
Staff Contact: Elizabeth Ames - (650) 329-2502
Status: Awaiting E76 Authorization to Bid from Caltrans
Project Title: 2009 Street Maintenance Program - Asphalt Overlay Project
Project Description: Resurfacing San Antonio Road and Lytton Ave Street which are current Capital Improvement Projects.
Federal Department: Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Federal Program: Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Amount: $183,477 ($27,521 for Public Services, $18,347 for Administration and $137,609 for Capital Improvement Projects)
City Department: Planning & Community Environment
Staff Contact: Cathy Siegel - (650) 329-2108
For information about the status and further details please visit Palo Alto's CDBG Website
Federal Department: Department of Energy
Federal Program: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
Amount: $663,000
City Department: Utilities
Staff Contact: Joyce Kinnear - (650) 329-2652
Status: Preparing application
Project Title: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
Project Description: Projects being developed for the EECBG application include the early replacement of High Pressure Sodium (HPS) street lights on selected streets with Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights, and the implementation of a Home Energy Report for residential customers. The estimated EECBG funds to be allocated to the LED Streetlight Project and the Home Energy Report project are $450,000 and $213,000 respectively.
Federal Department: Department of Justice
Federal Program: Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants
Amount: $28,545
City Department: Police
Staff Contact: Pete Hazarian - (650) 329-2346
Status: Preparing application
Project Title: Racially Biased Policing - A Program to Facilitate Fair and Impartial Policing
Project Description: A series of workshops directed to law enforcement executives, command staff, supervisors and line-level, and community stakeholders. This training presents what is known about human biases and provides guidance for promoting fair and impartial policing in the areas of policy, training, supervision/accountability, leadership, recruitment/hiring, outreach, and measurement.
City Initiated Applications:
Federal Department: Department of Commerce
Federal Program: Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Amount: $45 million
City Department: Administrative Services & Utilities
Staff Contact: Joe Saccio - (650) 329-2288
Status: Comments filed with Department of Commerce. Preparing reports for application.
Project Title: Palo Alto Citywide Ultra-High-Speed Broadband
Description: Deployment of a citywide next-generation fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband network to over 28,000 premises in the City of Palo Alto (23,000 residential and 5,000 business). The network would be capable of delivering a minimum of 100 Mbps symmetrical service. The network would be operated on an open access standards-based platform that would promote competition among multiple content and application service providers. In 1997, Palo Alto installed a 41-mile fiber backbone that serves as a stepping stone towards fiber connectivity to every premise in the City. Building off of Palo Alto's existing fiber ring increases the speed with which network construction can commence and the project can be completed, resulting in immediate benefits in terms of jobs and infrastructure.
Federal Department: Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Program: Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund
Amount: 0% loan for $33 million
City Department: Utilities
Staff Contact: Nicolas Procos - (650) 329-2214
Status: Preparing reports for application
Project Title: Palo Alto Recycled Water Project
Project Description: Deliver recycled water to the Stanford Research Park. Future connections will expand the system further within the City and adjacent areas.
Federal Department: Department of Energy & California Energy Comission
Federal Program: Clean Cities Program - Petroleum Reduction #4 (Grants for Transportation Electrification)
Amount: $600,000
City Departments: Planning, City Manager's Office, Public Works & Utilities
Staff Contact: Karl Van Orsdol - (650) 329-2581
Status: Application complete and awaiting decision
Project Title: Installation of Electric Charging Stations
Project Description: Installation of electric charging stations at 5 public parking garages and at the MSC. The grant will also provide partial funding for 9 electric vehicles for use by the City. The total number of electric charging stations is approximately 270. this will enable commuters who are early adopters of the new electric vehicles and plug in hybrids to charge their vehicles while working and shopping in Palo Alto.
Non Awarded Grant Applications:
Federal Department: Environmental Protection Agency
Federal Program: Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund
Amount: $310,000
City Department: Utilities
Staff Contact: Romel Antonio - (650) 566-4518
Status: Application filed
Project Title: Reservoir Water Quality Enhancement
Project Description: Staff applied for a loan to install SolarBee(tm) reservoir mixing systems in 6 potable water reservoirs to prevent loss of disinfectant (chloramine) residual. Palo Alto ranked at 1,916 out of 2,020 projects listed. As such, Palo Alto unfortunately didn't make it to the final list based on the CDPH funding selection criteria.
Federal Department: Department of Justice
Federal Program: Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
Amount: $422,245
City Department: Police
Staff Contact: Pete Hazarian - (650) 329-2346
Status: Application filed
Project Title: COPS Universal Hiring Program
Project Description: Staff applied for federal funds to support the costs of one police officer for 3 years to provide proactive services in the middle schools and high schools. The grant was not awarded. The City’s overall score was 28.49, ranking in the 23rd percentile of applications. To place the City’s score in context, the highest score overall (City of Oakland, CA) was 75.77 while the lowest score received was 11.66. The last project in California that received funding had a score of 47.82. The applications were scored in two parts, 50 points for Fiscal Need and 50 points for a combination of crime statistics and community policing activities. The City ranked in the 3rd percentile for fiscal need and the 41st percentile for crime and community policing when compared to other agencies. The lower ranking in both categories is most likely the reason why the application was not funded. For further information please visit the COPS website.
Federal Department: Department of Homeland Security
Federal Program: Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant Program
Amount: $10.5 million
City Department: Fire
Staff Contact: Roger Bloom - (650) 329-2265
Status: Application filed on July 7, 2009
Project Title: Fire Station Replacement
Project Description: Staff applied for a grant to replace two existing fire stations (station 3 built in 1948 and station 4 built in 1953) due to extensive structural, code and operational deficiencies found in both buildings and the inability to meet the minimum requirements of the Essential Services Act. FEMA announced the awarding of $166 million in grants for the Fire Station Construction Grant Program as part of ARRA. Palo Alto did not receive any allocation.
Legislation:
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Additional Links:
United States Recovery Act Website
State of California Recovery Act Website
Staff Contact:
Kelly Morariu
(650) 329-2452
kelly.morariu@cityofpaloalto.org
