City Council

(26) 14-1174-S109 CD 1 CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS COMMITTEE REPORT relative appropriating up to $569,641 plus all remaining interest in CRA/LA Excess Non-Housing Bond Proceeds (EBP) from the Westlake Redevelopment Project Area (Taxable Series 2006-A and 2008-B) and up to $249,654 plus all remaining interest from the Pico Union 2 Redevelopment Project Area (Taxable Series 2003-A and 2008-B) for the Liechty School Safety Project. Recommendations for Council action, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR: 1. DETERMINE that the Liechty School Safety Project (Project), consisting of new bike routes, pedestrian-scale lighting, leading pedestrian interval signal timing, pedestrian-activated flashing beacons, curb extensions, high-visibility crosswalks, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps, and speed humps, is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines and Section 15301. The Project is also exempt under the City CEQA Guidelines Class 1(3), which exempts projects involving the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing highways, streets, sidewalks, and gutters, where there is negligible or no expansion of use and no removal of scenic resources. City CEQA Guidelines Class 4(13) further exempts the creation of bicycle lanes on existing rights-of-way, while Class 1(15) exempts the installation of traffic signs, signals, and pavement markings, including traffic channelization using paint or raised markers. Lastly, Class 1(20) categorically exempts modernization of existing highways or streets through localized improvements such as the addition of auxiliary lanes for turning. None of the exceptions listed in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies to this project. 2. APPROVE up to $569,641 in taxable CRA/LA EBP plus all earned interest (Interest) available to Council District (CD) 1 from the Westlake Redevelopment Project Area (Project Area) to be utilized for the Project. 3. APPROVE up to $249,654 in taxable CRA/LA EBP plus Interest available to Council District (CD) 1 from the Pico Union 2 Project Area to be utilized for the Project. 4. AUTHORIZE the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (DOT) to be the lead coordinating and implementing department for activities related to the Project. 5. AUTHORIZE the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) to be the fiscal agent for the EBP, consistent with the Bond Expenditure Agreement (BEA) (C- 125212) between the City and CRA/LA and the procedures of the CRA/LA Bond Oversight Committee (BOC). 6. AUTHORIZE the DOT to approve, negotiate, and execute contracting documents and/or amendments as required with its duly procured contractor(s) to effectuate the Project and prevailing wage requirements. 7. AUTHORIZE the Controller, subject to the availability of funds, to expend up to $569,641 plus Interest from the EBP Fund No. 57D, Account Nos. 22L9ST and 22S9ST Westlake Taxable Series 2006-A and 2008-B, for activities related to the Project upon presentation of proper documentation reviewed and approved by DOT, and satisfactory review and approval of EWDD in accordance with the terms and conditions of the BEA. 8. AUTHORIZE the Controller, subject to the availability of funds, to expend up to $249,654 plus Interest from the EBP Fund No. 57D, Account Nos. 22L9OT and 22S9OT Pico Union 2 Taxable Series 2003-A and 2008-B, for activities related to the Project upon presentation of proper documentation reviewed and approved by DOT, and satisfactory review and approval of EWDD in accordance with the terms and conditions of the BEA. 9. AUTHORIZE the General Manager, EWDD, or designee, to prepare Controller instructions and/or make technical adjustments that may be required and are consistent with this action, subject to the approval of the CAO, and authorize the Controller to implement these instructions. Fiscal Impact Statement: The CRA/LA Bond Oversight Committee reports that there is no impact on the City’s General Fund from the proposed appropriation of EBP. The EBP Fund No. 57D is funded solely from transfers of approximately $88.4 million in pre-2011 tax allocation bond proceeds from CRA/LA to the City (C.F. 14-1174, 14- 1174-S36 and 14-1174-S78), and subsequent earned interest. Said transfers have been deposited with the Office of the Controller.