Title
Approving an Application to the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District Community Air Quality Grant to Support Greening Activities for the Franklin Boulevard Complete Streets Project (T15165500)
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FileID
File ID: 2025-01212
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Location
Location: Franklin Boulevard between Sutterville Road/12th Avenue and 38th Avenue, District 5
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution: 1) authorizing the Interim City Manager or designee to apply for up to $3,000,000 for the Franklin Boulevard Complete Streets Project through the Community Air Quality Grant solicitation from the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD); 2) authorizing the Interim City Manager or designee to submit any and all related documents necessary to support the grant application; and 3) authorizing the Interim City Manager or designee to execute the grant agreement and related documents to accept the grant funds, if awarded.
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Contact
Contact: Sarah Kolarik, Sustainability Analyst, (916) 808-1421, skolarik@cityofsacramento.org; Rachel Patten, Sustainability Manager, (916) 808-5016, rpatten@cityofsacramento.org;
Megan Johnson, Senior Engineer, (916) 808 1967, mejohnson@cityofsacramento.org;
Lucinda Willcox, Assistant Director, (916) 808-5052, lwillcox@cityofsacramento.org;
Department of Public Works
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Presenter
Presenter: None
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: In May 2025, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) issued a notification of funding availability for projects under the Community Air Quality Grant, making available over $12,000,000 for clean air quality projects in Sacramento County. Grant applications are due June 16, 2025.
The Community Air Quality Grant funding is available to install improvements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including replacement of existing heavy-duty vehicles with zero or near-zero-emission trucks and buses and install supporting infrastructure ($9,000,000), replace older farm and industrial equipment with equipment certified to current emission standards or better (at least $2,000,000), and fund tree planting and landscaping projects that reduce exposure to air pollution ($3,000,000). The City has recently received significant funding through SMAQMD to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure, so it is expected the City will be more likely to be successful in critical greening projects to support communities more vulnerable to heat and to build on current complete street efforts on Franklin Boulevard.
Greening activities are efforts to help the environment and make the city’s public spaces more sustainable. Examples include planting trees and gardens, using drought-tolerant landscaping, adding green space, and using materials like permeable pavers that are better for the environment.
Project applications will be ranked on a point system compared to other projects in the same category. Community greening projects will be evaluated on the following criteria:
§ Greenhouse gas emission reduction benefit;
§ Location in a Senate Bill (SB) 535 community, and/or Assembly Bill (AB) 617 community;
§ Description of community greening project, including type of vegetation;
§ Maintenance plan;
§ Community co-benefits; and
§ Applicant qualifications and community support.
Staff screened potential projects under each funding category for eligibility. Based on the grant criteria, available funding, and operational needs, staff are recommending submission of an application for greening activities in Phases 1 and 2 of the Franklin Boulevard Complete Streets Project (T15165500), with a grant request of up to $3,000,000 to plant, establish, and irrigate trees and other landscaping along the Franklin Boulevard corridor. The Complete Streets Project is currently funded with various federal grant programs and local transportation funds.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: The Franklin Boulevard Complete Streets Project (T15165500) supports the 2040 General Plan (Resolution 2024-0066) and Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (Resolution 2024-0067) policies for tree planting, active transportation, and greenhouse gas emission reductions. This project is also consistent with the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street Plan.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: None
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: California Environmental Quality Act: The requested action is to pursue state grant funds to support the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street Project. The action is an administrative activity that would not result in a direct or indirect significant effect on the environment and is exempt from CEQA review. CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5); 15060 (c)(3).
The City Council adopted the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring Plan on February 4, 2020. In addition, due to federal funding in the project, Caltrans issued a Categorical Exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on March 16, 2020.
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Sustainability
Sustainability: This action is consistent with the City’s sustainability goals by promoting greenhouse gas emission reductions through carbon sequestration and supporting active transportation.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: The recommended project meets all grant and readiness criteria and maximizes competitiveness based on the grant criteria.
Funding the planting and establishment of trees along Franklin Boulevard, in connection with its transformation to a complete street, will allow for greater greening in a corridor severely lacking in trees and shade. Trees and landscaping will support reduced heat, promote higher levels of active transportation, provide benefits in cleaner air and stormwater retention, and beautify the corridor.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: The proposed grant application would provide up to $3,000,000 in funds from the SMAQMD to support greening efforts for the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street Project (T15165500). If the grant is awarded to the project, staff will return to the City Council to make necessary budgetary adjustments for the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street Project.
The total project cost for the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street Project, Phases 1 and 2, is estimated at approximately $29,500,000. This grant award would supplement existing federal grant programs and local transportation funding sources for the project and would not require any additional local funds as match.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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