To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Prioritized Funding Requests for Congressionally Directed Funding
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the prioritized list of funding requests for Congressionally Directed Funding; and
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board to sign documentation required to submit requests to Senator Alex Padilla, and direct the County Administrative Officer to transmit the requests.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
County Administrative Office - Management & Budget Team (1100-103), All federal funding bills
DISCUSSION:
The federal Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy on April 26, 2021 announced that Congress would restore, on a bipartisan basis, the authority to approve congressionally-directed funding items, otherwise known as “earmarks” or “community project funding” in the 12 major federal appropriations bill that comprise the 2022 budget. In practice this means the Appropriations Committee will be accepting member requests for earmarked projects for potential inclusion into the appropriations bills.
Senator Padilla on Wednesday, May 12 announced that he is accepting proposals from agencies throughout California for him to consider including in his list of requests for community project funding. Per Senator Padilla’s requirements, requests must have a nexus to federal funding, be of regional significance, should be able to be obligated quickly, and if more than one request is submitted they must be prioritized. The senator is requiring each project submitted receive two letters of support; one from the requesting party’s governing body and another party.
It should be noted that the practice of earmarking federal funds was banned by Congress in 2011 due in large part to concerns that it led to frivolous spending. In response, committee leaders are instituting a number of reforms to the previous earmarking process, including banning for-profit recipients and requiring members display their requests online. In addition to individual appropriations measures, congressional Democrats are allowing members to seek earmarks as part of other bills (e.g., surface transportation reauthorization, WRDA, etc.).
The House of Representative is also accepting members requests with additional rules, including limiting to 10 the number of requests members can submit. Humboldt County submitted 11 requests to Representative Jared Huffman in April and Huffman chose three county projects to include in his 10 requests - Hammond Trail Bridge Replacement (Attachment 1), Project Rebound - Update to the County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (Attachment 2), and Crisis Stabilization Unit (Attachment 3). Humboldt County was the only agency to have more than one project chosen by Rep. Huffman. Based on this feedback, and advice from the county’s federal lobbyist, Paragon Government Relations, staff is recommending submitting the following prioritized list of projects to Sen. Padilla. Full project details are included in attachments 1-12.
Proposed List of Congressionally Directed Funding Requests
1. Hammond Trail Bridge Replacement Project
2. Project Rebound - Update to Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
3. Crisis Stabilization Unit Youth Treatment Project
4. Garberville Complete Streets Project
5. Community Corrections Re-Entry Resource Center Project
6. Courthouse Entrance and Restroom Modification Project
7. Mattole Road Repair and Paving Project
8. One Stop Permitting Center
9. Briceland Thorne/Shelter Cove Road Rehabilitation and Paving Project
10. Ferndale Veterans Building and ADA Barrier Removal Project
11. Public Works Office Renovation and ADA Barrier Removal Project
12. Alderpoint Road Evacuation Safety Route Improvement Project
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Each of the requests above include local funding that has either already been spent or obligated, or would be spent if the request is ultimately funded.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by seeking outside funding sources to benefit Humboldt County needs .
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Federal Government
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board Discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Hammond Trail Bridge Replacement Project
2. Project Rebound - Update to Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy
3. Crisis Stabilization Unit Youth Treatment Project
4. Garberville Complete Streets Project
5. Community Corrections Re-Entry Resource Center Project
6. Courthouse Entrance and Restroom Modification Project
7. Mattole Road Repair and Paving Project
8. One Stop Permitting Center
9. Briceland Thorne/Shelter Cove Road Rehabilitation and Paving Project
10. Ferndale Veterans Building and ADA Barrier Removal Project
11. Public Works Office Renovation and ADA Barrier Removal Project
12. Alderpoint Road Evacuation Safety Route Improvement Project
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A