To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Allocation of $40,000 from the Livable Communities Trust (District II portion) to the Public Works Department to participate in the San Ramon Valley Street Smarts Program
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE allocation of $40,000 from the Livable Communities Trust (District II portion) to the Public Works Department to participate in the San Ramon Valley Street Smarts Program for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No General Fund impact. This action allocates $40,000 from the District II portion of the Livable Communities Trust Fund (Fund). The current balance in the District II portion of the Fund is $1,469,160.52.
BACKGROUND:
The Livable Communities Trust Fund (Fund) is a Special Revenue Mitigation Fund that was established by the Board of Supervisors on November 15, 2005, following the approval of the Camino Tassajara Combined General Plan Amendment Project, also known as the Alamo Creek and Intervening Property residential projects, and was required as a condition of approval. The Fund was established to implement the County's Smart Growth Action Plan. The residential developers pay an $8,000 per unit fee (excluding affordable housing portions of the projects) into the Fund. The Department of Conservation and Development administers the Fund.
On December 3, 2013, the Board of Supervisors determined that revenue from the Fund should be spent equally among supervisorial districts. At complete build-out, deposits to the Fund will total $8,448,000. As of November 14, 2023, the account has collected $8,376,000 in revenues fee and $1,194,667.61 in accrued interest with $4,530,168.97 remaining in uncommitted funds. The approved expenditures to date are attached.
San Ramon Valley Street Smarts Program
The San Ramon Valley Street Smarts Program ("Street Smarts Program") is a collaborative effort among the County Public Works Department, the City of San Ramon, the Town of Danville, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, and the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District to support traffic, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety for school children. The Street Smarts Program supports goal/outcome five of the Smart Growth Action Plan to help fund transit and other transportation improvements that foster smart growth principles. The County has participated in the Street Smarts Program since 2004 by funding a share of the costs to implement the program. For Fiscal Years (FY) 2023/24 and 2024/25, the City of San Ramon is administering the program, and is requesting that the County fund a total of $20,000 for program support ($10,000 each fiscal year) and $20,000 for administrative support services ($10,000 each fiscal year), for a total request of $40,000 to be utilized during FY 2023/24 and FY 2024/25.
The Street Smarts Program campaign is implemented through the collaborative effort of the Street Smarts Advisory Committee ("Advisory Committee"), which meets periodically to implement program components. The Advisory Committee has adopted several large-scale programs to be implemented. They include the following:
• Street Smarts Media Annual Press Release: An annual press release will be sent out at the beginning of the program year outlining the upcoming Street Smarts Program. The release will encourage members of the media and the public to learn about Street Smarts' traffic safety education activities for the upcoming school year.
• Traffic Safety Assemblies: Street Smarts devised an elementary and middle school assembly designed to teach students the basics of pedestrian and bicycle safety. On-site assemblies educate students about the lessons of traffic safety in a fun and entertaining environment.
• Bike Rodeos/Festival: As a component of Street Smarts' Safe Routes to School Efforts, bike rodeos are an after-school activity that allows elementary school students to practice their cycling and traffic safety skills in a controlled, supervised environment. Bike rodeos include an interactive bicycling course, bike maintenance station and individual helmet check to ensure a proper fit. These activities reinforce street safety concepts.
• Community Outreach Efforts: Street Smarts staff attends over two dozen community events as part of its outreach efforts. At the events, Street Smarts representatives staff an informational booth with traffic safety educational program materials and activities for children and teen drivers.
The Street Smarts Program advances traffic, bicyclist, and pedestrian safety within the San Ramon Valley. For these reasons, Supervisor Andersen recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve the County’s continuing participation in the program during Fiscal Years 2023/24 and 2024/25 and allocating an award of $20,000 annually from the Livable Community Trust (District II portion) for program support and administrative services of the Street Smarts Program.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Contra Costa County will no longer be a participant in the Street Smarts Program.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The Street Smarts Prog am supports Outcome 5: Communities are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families.