Item 13 - Downtown Business Improvements Initiative

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Downtown Business Improvements Initiative August 6, 2024 Page 2 The second project focuses on enhancing City -owned parking structures by upgrading lighting, signage, elevators, security cameras, and accessibility features. Improving the aesthetics and functionality of the structures will yield a safer environment, increased utilization and revenue, serve as a boost to local businesses, and provide some energy efficient cost savings. To attract and retain patrons to shop and dine in the downtown area, critical infrastructure improvements to the downtown parking structures are urgently needed. Since being built in the 1980s, all three of the downtown parking structures continue to operate with the parking equipment from 2018 and need major upgrades. The equipment is becoming more expensive to maintain, resulting in inefficiencies and maintenance downtime. With the support of this grant, these upgrades include refurbishing and repairing elevators, installing security cameras in all parking structure levels to provide much needed surveillance and safety, improved lighting on each level of each parking structure to provide safety for visitors and businesses, the addition of anti -vandalism covers to light fixtures and the re-routing of electrical wires away from easy access, the improvement of ADA access with rails, ground striping, and new upgraded pay stations with current technology. The second component of the initiative includes improvements to the overall Wi-Fi, internet, access, and/or fiber infrastructure improvements throughout the downtown area. Providing faster Wi-Fi infrastructure would benefit business owners, residents, and vistors, which ultimately enhances economic development efforts. The Community Development Agency (CDA), in collaboration with the Public Works Agency and Information Technology Department (IT), will procure the appropriate contractors/consultants in compliance with grant regulations to develop design plans, obtain necessary permits, and complete the infrastructure improvements as indicated in the grant agreement. CDA will oversee the project, prepare the necessary grant reports, and coordinate with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ensure project completion by Fall 2027, while acknowledging Congressman Luis Correa's Office for its support of local businesses in Santa Ana. FISCAL IMPACT Approval of the appropriation adjustment will recognize a total of $2,500,000 in Federal Grant funds to revenue account (41818002-52001 Federal Grant -Direct) and appropriate same to the following expenditure accounts. Any remaining balances not expended at the end of the fiscal year will be presented to the City Council for approval of carryovers to FY 2025-26. The grant agreement allows up to 10% or $250,000 to be used for indirect and administrative costs.