To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Kopchik, Director, Conservation and Development
Report Title: Allocation of Livable Communities Trust Fund District II
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. ALLOCATE $25,000 from the Livable Communities Trust (District II portion) to the Moraga Community Foundation (MCF) for the Chalda Way and Rheem Boulevard Crosswalk Enhancement Project in the Town of Moraga, as recommended by Supervisor Andersen; and
2. AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to enter into a contract with MCF in an amount not to exceed $25,000 for the Chalda Way and Rheem Boulevard Crosswalk Enhancement Project, subject to approval by the County Administrator and approved as to form by the County Counsel.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No General Fund impact. The $25,000 required for the contract will come from the District II allocation of the deposits into the Livable Community Trust. The current available balance in the District II portion of the fund is $1,502,050.67.
BACKGROUND:
The Livable Communities Trust (Trust) 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 Trust was established to implement the County’s Smart Growth Action Plan. The residential developers pay an $8,000 per unit fee (excluding the affordable housing portions of the projects) into the Trust. The Department of Conservation and Development administers the Trust.
On December 3, 2013, the Board of Supervisors determined that revenue from the Trust should be spent equally among supervisorial districts. At complete build-out, deposits to the Trust will total $8,448,000. As of February 6, 2025, the account has collected $8,376,000 in revenue fees, and $1,559,118.37 accrued interest with $3,596,619.73 remaining in uncommitted funds. The approved expenditures to date are attached.
Chalda Way and Rheem Boulevard Crosswalk Enhancement Project
With the support of and in coordination with the Town of Moraga, MCF has committed to raising $80,000 by May 2025 to help the Town of Moraga make crosswalk improvements, including pedestrian crossing with flashing lights to increase driver awareness on Rheem Blvd and Chalda Way, near existing and available on-street parking along Chalda Way. Construction is expected to be complete June 30, 2026.
The crosswalk improvements will provide safe access and an improved connection to a key trailhead used by many Moraga residents and visitors to access the hiking trails and scenic views at Painted Rock, a popular recreational area in the Town of Moraga, and trails located on adjacent open space lands. Therefore, the use of the funds towards the Chalda Way and Rheem Boulevard Crosswalk Enhancement Project supports Smart Growth Action Plan number 4: To promote economic revitalization in urban infill communities.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without the allocation of funds, the Moraga Crosswalk Improvements Project may not meet their fundraising goal by May 2025, delaying the proposed improvements to the project site.